In this review and benchmark test, we are taking a close look at a machine that legitimately opens up a brand-new era for laser engraving. The xTool X1 is easily the most technologically advanced laser system I have ever had my hands on, combining all the best laser technologies right into a single machine.
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The xTool X1 – The Next-Gen All-in-One Laser
This is the xTool X1 [get it in the official store], and I call it the iPhone of lasers. It is exceptionally well-built and feels like a truly premium piece of hardware. From the outside, the design is sleek and minimalist, but underneath that shell hides an absolute engineering masterpiece!
The xTool X1 core setup features a 55-watt CO2 laser cutter—the industry workhorse for slicing cleanly through wood, leather, and acrylic—paired alongside a 20-watt diode gantry-mounted galvo module engineered for high-speed engraving over large working areas.
On top of that foundation, it supports two modular additions:
- A 60-watt MOPA fiber laser galvo backpack capable of engraving all types of metals, stone, and select plastics.
- A 5-watt galvo UV laser module backpack, which is the undisputed king for marking plastics and glass without scorch marks on organics like wood and leather, while also unlocking internal 3D subsurface crystal engraving.
All of this capability is housed inside a single chassis. In the near future, it will also support CMYK color printing modules—similar to the technology introduced on the xTool M2—which I look forward to testing as well on the xTool X1.
In this article, I put the core CO2 and diode galvo combo through its paces, alongside both the 5W UV and 60W MOPA fiber backpack add-ons.
Heavy-Duty Build Quality & Motion Architecture
UniCast Die-Cast Aluminum Frame
The main stars of the xTool X1 are the two modules mounted directly on the gantry:
- The left assembly: The galvanometer housing, which also contains the 20W diode laser module.
- The right assembly: The dedicated 55W CO2 laser cutting head.
The entire machine is remarkably rigid. Most of the structure is built from thick, solid cast aluminum, which does not just give it a premium feel—it delivers exceptional long-term mechanical stability and structural fire safety. That cast aluminum structure ensures the chassis will not lose precision or square over years of heavy use or workshop moves.
xTool’s proprietary UniCast design replaces nearly 100 individual parts and 268 screws with just three unified aluminum frames produced by a 4,000-ton die-casting process. This delivers superior rigidity, stability, and repeatable accuracy. Even the fragile CO2 glass tube is housed inside its own protective cast cage. Mounted up on the lid, you will find a built-in camera alongside what appears to be a dedicated fire sensor.
CoreXY Mechanics & Motorized Leveling Bed
The mechanical drive system steps away from traditional gantry designs. It utilizes a CoreXY kinematic configuration, where both primary stepper motors are fixed securely to the outer frame rather than carrying a heavy X-axis motor back and forth along the gantry. Stripping that dead weight off the moving Y-axis dramatically reduces mechanical inertia and boosts overall travel speed, which is a massive performance advantage.
Over on the side of the chassis, there are two dedicated expansion ports for accessories:
- Conveyor Feeder: Natively expands the working area for processing extra-long boards and continuous sheet goods.
- Fire Safety Set: Actively monitors the enclosure and automatically suppresses open flames using pressurized CO2 gas if material ignites while unattended.
- Rotary attachment
- and much more!
For the work surface, the machine comes standard with removable knife slats, though a dedicated honeycomb panel is available separately. The bed itself features independent motorized leadscrews in every corner, providing fully automated Z-axis lifting for focus adjustments as well as motorized bed leveling.
The Modular Laser Swap System & Calibration
Four Wavelengths, One Frame
For this test, I evaluated all four currently available laser sources:
- 55W CO2 (10,600 nm)
- 20W Blue Diode (455 nm)
- 5W UV (355 nm)
- 60W MOPA Fiber (1,064 nm)
The add-on modules are remarkably compact and are engineered to mount cleanly to the rear of the machine. The fiber laser utilizes a dedicated red optical lens, while the UV laser requires a purple lens. Fortunately, the onboard diode module works seamlessly with either optic installed, so you do not need to constantly swap lenses back and forth when switching between diode and external galvo sources.
Step-by-Step Backpack Installation
Installing the external modules is surprisingly straightforward:
- Mount the galvo assembly to the gantry, securing it with four screws and a single ribbon cable that tucks cleanly away inside the laser head.
- Locate the auxiliary power port at the rear of the machine to supply power directly to the external module. (The installation process is identical for both the UV and fiber units.)
- Peel off the protective optical port seal, align the module onto the machined metal locating pins, and tighten down the three mounting screws.
- Plug in the two control cables, install the protective optical window, and mount the steering mirror that directs the rear laser beam straight into the internal gantry galvo head.
Automated Optical Alignment
Once bolted down, you run the calibration routine in xTool Studio. Beam alignment on external optical paths is notoriously tedious on conventional machines, but xTool’s engineers made it virtually foolproof.
The xTool X1 runs automated vibration diagnostics, fires a test alignment grid onto a target card, reads the burned result using the built-in camera, and locks in the alignment parameters automatically. It takes a wildly complex optical calibration and turns it into a painless, one-click process.
Camera Precision & Automated Material Alignment
For the first benchmark, I wanted to put the machine’s camera positioning through its paces. The X1 handles the entire alignment workflow automatically:
- Automated Focus: Select the exact point on screen where you want to measure. The laser head moves to that coordinate, reads the surface height, and raises or lowers the motorized bed to lock in focal depth.
- Near-Field Camera: In addition to the wide-angle lid camera, a near-field camera mounted directly on the laser head provides high-precision close-up positioning. You can capture individual high-detail inspection areas or stitch multiple close-up shots together for ultra-precise placement across the entire bed.
- Software Presets: Materials can be selected directly from the built-in xTool Studio library, which comes pre-loaded with optimized speed and power parameters.
To test dual-head alignment accuracy, I placed two vector arrows pointing dead-center at the intersecting corner of a few cut squares I cut with another UV laser in one of my previous reviews, assigning one arrow to the diode and the other to the CO2 beam. The machine executed both graphics in a single continuous file, switching between beam sources automatically. The positioning was dead-on—the arrow points aligned perfectly with zero visible offset.
55W CO2 Laser Cutting & Engraving Benchmarks
Poplar Plywood: P2S vs. xTool X1
I started cutting benchmarks using the 55W CO2 laser across 3mm, 4mm, 6mm, and 10mm Poplar plywood. The machine performed brilliantly.
Compared to the older xTool P2S(click for reading my review), the xTool X1 cut noticeably faster and produced significantly cleaner cut edges. It is impressive how much extra performance xTool squeezed out of the same 55W rating through upgraded optical efficiency and improved air assist delivery.
Deep Wood Cutting: 18mm Solid Spruce
Next, I ran several cut passes through an 18mm solid spruce board at speeds ranging from 3 mm/s to 7 mm/s:
| Feed Rate | Penetration Result | Edge Quality |
| 7 mm/s | Partial cut | Minimal discoloration |
| 5 mm/s (Optimal) | Complete, clean cut | Balanced kerf with minimal charring |
| 3 mm/s | Complete cut | Heavy scorching and excess kerf width |
At 5 mm/s, the machine achieved a full, clean drop with an ideal balance between speed and minimal edge charring.
Thick Cast Acrylic Torture Test: Up to 26mm
Cast acrylic testing pushed the limits of the CO2 beam delivery:
- 3mm Acrylic: Sliced effortlessly at speeds up to 25 mm/s.
- 10mm Acrylic: Parted cleanly and reliably at 5 mm/s.
- 15mm Acrylic: Cut cleanly through at 3 mm/s (running at 4 mm/s left a few uncut bridges).
- 22mm Acrylic: Severed completely at 2 mm/s with a surprisingly smooth edge profile.
- 26mm Acrylic (Torture Test): Though technically well beyond the rated specifications of the machine, it cut completely through in a single pass at 1 mm/s. This demonstrates the exceptionally long depth of focus achieved by this optical assembly.
Transparent acrylic also engraves cleanly with the CO2 beam, leaving a smooth, frosted finish.
Multi-Source Synergy: Running CO2 and Galvo in One Job
The most powerful capability of the xTool X1 is running multiple distinct laser sources inside a single automated job file.
To test this multi-laser workflow, I set up a layered test file on plywood mixing vector scoring and raster engraving across different beam sources:
- Engraving Modes: I compared the metal-oriented color engraving profile, the ultra-fast random-fill mode, and conventional bidirectional scanning.
- Automated Tool Switching: The controller automatically passed operations between the CO2, diode, and galvo heads without any manual intervention.
Watching this run highlights why a moving galvo head is superior for raster fills: the galvo diode engraved at least 5× faster than rastering the entire CO2 gantry back and forth. When it came time to cut the perimeter, the CO2 beam took over and sliced through the wood instantly.
Multi-Beam Surface Results
- Random-Fill Mode: Produced a unique, stippled matte finish that works well for artistic textures.
- Color-Engrave Profile: Left an interesting contrasted mark, though it is fundamentally tuned for metal rather than wood grain.
- 55W CO2 Laser: Produced the deepest, widest vector score lines. Its raster fills were clean and light in contrast, though significantly slower to run.
- 5W UV Laser: Delivered the crispest, razor-thin vector score lines and the highest micro-detail in bidirectional scanning mode.
Software Workflow: xTool Studio & The Atomm Library
Parametric Projects & Built-In AI Generation
A major advantage of the xTool ecosystem is the Atomm.com community design library. It provides a vast database of ready-to-run projects, vector assets, and parametric design templates that you can scale to your exact project dimensions. Many projects come pre-configured for specific machine profiles, allowing you to load the file and hit start immediately. Selected templates also feature integrated AI tools to generate or modify artwork directly inside the workspace.
Seamless Galvo Tiling & The AI Jigsaw Puzzle
To test real-world project assembly, I selected a jigsaw puzzle template and generated custom artwork for the surface using the built-in AI tool:
- CO2 Raster Estimate: 60 minutes.
- Diode Galvo Estimate: 20 minutes (a 3× speed improvement).
Because the gantry galvo engraves by stepping across the bed in localized tiles, I watched closely for tile seams or alignment stitching errors. To prevent cut pieces from dropping through, I rested an extra honeycomb panel from my xTool P2S directly on top of the knife slats.
The finished puzzle showed zero visible seams or stitching lines across the entire design. The air assist eliminated smoke stains across the wood surface, and the perimeter puzzle cuts came out razor-sharp with no charring. To finish it off, I used the Atomm box generator to output a custom-dimensioned wooden storage box for the puzzle pieces.
5W Galvo UV Laser Benchmarks
Thanks to its cold-marking wavelength (355 nm) and microscopic focal spot size, the 5W UV laser module excels at ultra-fine detail and heat-sensitive materials:
Business Cards & Textiles
Patina Business Cards: Using the close-up camera for placement, I engraved an intricate vintage card design in a few minutes. Edge sharpness and tiny text fidelity were exceptional.
Denim Apparel: UV ablates surface indigo dye without scorching organic cotton fibers. The large bed accommodates full adult jeans for seamless, high-contrast apparel customization without weakening the fabric.
Rigid Plastics & Deep Relief Leather
Cosmetic Plastic Lids: Marked a photographic portrait onto a white plastic lid using vector masks. The software automatically feathers the tile boundaries, leaving a clean, injection-molded-quality photo mark with no thermal distortion or visible seams.
Genuine Leather Carving: UV allows for extremely deep relief carving without burning or charring the material. While the CO2 beam created soot that required wiping down with a damp cloth, the UV cut cleanly through the grain. (Extremely deep UV carving did cause the leather to curl slightly due to material removal, but edge fidelity remained sharp.)
Glass Surface Mapping & Subsurface 3D Crystal Engraving
Flat Architectural Glass: The large bed allows for large decorative glass panes. The UV beam ablates the glass directly, producing a smooth, frost-like finish without tile seams.
Curved Surface Mapping: I tested a cylindrical glass jar by placing masking tape along the contour and running the automated surface scanning routine in xTool Studio. The software generated a 3D height profile, and the motorized Z-bed actively adjusted height in real time during the burn. Aside from a minor operator slip where I bumped the jar while peeling the tape (this is why the right side didn’t engrave), the etch was deep, uniform, and crisp.
Subsurface 3D Crystal Engraving: By installing the internal alignment bracket and switching to “Inner Engraving” mode, the UV laser focuses internally inside optical K9 glass blanks. I tested two rendering modes on identical marine graphics:
Dotting Mode on the left produced sharper micro-details in intricate areas (such as fine tentacles), but required roughly 30% longer runtime. (Power should be dialed back slightly to prevent internal micro-fracturing.)
Scanning Mode on the right: Significantly faster runtime with clean, uniform internal voxel density.
Unlike dedicated desktop crystal engravers that are constrained by small optical lens fields, the X1’s gantry movement allows you to process enormous crystal blocks or large batches of blanks in a single setup.
60W MOPA Fiber Laser Backpack Benchmarks
Switching to the 60W MOPA infrared fiber laser (1,064 nm) unlocks industrial-grade metal marking and thin sheet cutting:
Fine Metal Marking & Anodized Aluminum
Running the same business card graphic previously tested on the UV laser produced a brighter mark on the fiber module. However, because the infrared beam has a slightly larger focal spot than the UV, microscopic text had slightly less definition.
Where the fiber module dominates is speed on anodized aluminum. Combined with the near-field camera, it is an ideal production setup for high-speed batch runs of dog tags, serial plates, and keychains.
Stainless Steel & Surface Coatings
Fill Modes on Stainless Steel: Testing bidirectional fill against random fill produced two distinct textures. Bidirectional fill rendered fine vector details with superior sharpness, while random fill created a textured, stippled finish that felt noticeably deeper.
Powder-Coated Flasks: Random fill disperses thermal energy across multiple non-linear passes, preventing heat buildup on thin-walled metal drinkware. The coating vaporized cleanly, leaving a bright silver finish that required zero post-cleanup.
Black Cast Acrylic: The fiber laser produces an opaque, bright white contrasting mark on black acrylic. This allows you to engrave logos with the fiber or UV beam and immediately cut the final part outline using the CO2 tube.
Sheet Metal Cutting Benchmarks
To configure the fiber module for cutting, you install the narrow-aperture galvo shield, which directs concentrated air assist straight into the kerf while protecting internal optics from spatter:
0.7mm Brass Sheet: Dropped out cleanly after roughly 20 rapid passes. Cutting with high-speed multi-pass runs produced clean, square edges with minimal heat discoloration.
1.0mm Stainless Steel: Required careful tuning. Too much peak power caused molten slag to weld itself shut behind the beam path. With optimized frequency and slight beam wobble applied, the 60W MOPA source has more than enough punch to clear 1mm plate.
3D Deep Relief Embossing
For heavy metal and stone ablation, installing the galvo extraction hood pulls airborne particulates directly into the exhaust before abrasive dust can settle onto guide rails or electronics:
Slate Relief: A 32-pass relief map carved into natural slate completed in just 12 minutes. The extraction hood prevented stone dust from collecting in the cuts or diffusing the beam.
Aluminum Deep Relief: Pushing an aluminum blank to 64 passes produced an intricate, high-relief coin medallion with crisp vertical sidewalls.
Is the xTool X1 The Future?
Combining a heavy-duty 55W CO2 cutter and an ultra-fast on-gantry diode galvo inside a rigid cast aluminum chassis eliminates the need for separate machines cluttering your shop floor.
What makes the platform especially practical for small businesses is its modular backpack architecture:
Low Initial Overhead: You do not have to purchase every laser source on day one. You can start with the core CO2 and diode platform to handle cutting and standard engraving.
Expand on Demand: As client jobs demand metal cutting or cold glass marking, you can add the 60W MOPA fiber or 5W UV backpacks and even CMYK color printing modules when revenue justifies the investment.
Future-Proof Design: The modular optical port allows xTool to release upgraded, next-generation laser sources down the road without requiring you to replace the entire motion system.
The ability to seamlessly cut thick stock with the CO2 tube and engrave micro-details at galvo speeds within a single software file makes the xTool X1 one of the most versatile, capable, and well-engineered laser platforms currently available.
Get the xTool X1 here and use code “JT50” and get a $50 consumables voucher with the purchase of an X1 machine!
What are your thoughts on the xTool X1? Which material or multi-laser project would you like to see benchmarked next on the test bench? Drop your questions and project ideas in the comments below!
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This post was written by JT Makes It.
JT Makes It is an engineer, hobbyist, and DIY-er armed with a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and over a decade of professional experience in the industry. From an early age, JT Makes It was pushed by an insatiable curiosity, spending countless hours disassembling, understanding, improving, and creating various gadgets and products. This lifelong passion led to a broad spectrum of technical expertise ranging from electronics, woodworking, metalworking, and CNC machinery, with a particular focus on laser engravers.
For the past 9 years, he has shared his expertise through engaging videos on his YouTube channel. With the last three years dedicated to scrutinizing and testing laser engravers, he also created this website and emerged as a recognized authority in the field. His expertise extends across the spectrum of laser technologies, ranging from diode lasers, CO2 lasers, and fiber lasers, paying attention to details and providing practical insights.
With JT Makes It, expect a blend of technical expertise, backed with hands-on experience, and a genuine passion for innovation and creation, making him a trusted source in the realm of DIY and laser engraving enthusiasts alike.
*The links on this website can be affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. When you buy through these links you will support this website, which helps me to run this website(which cost money and a TON of time) and provide all these extensive reviews and information to you for free, without any paid membership.
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