xTool Discount Codes & Vouchers

xTool builds desktop laser cutters and engravers for makers and small businesses, and the first thing to understand is that the laser type decides what the machine can and cannot do.

Diode, CO2 and fibre, and what each one cuts

Diode lasers are the affordable entry point and handle wood, leather, card, acrylic in darker colours and marking on some coated metals. CO2 lasers cut thicker organic materials far faster and handle clear acrylic that diodes struggle with. Fibre and infrared lasers are for marking bare metal, which the other two cannot do properly. A machine that engraves beautifully on oak may be the wrong tool entirely for stainless steel, so start from the material list rather than the wattage.

Extraction is not an optional extra

Cutting and engraving produces smoke and fine particulate, and some materials produce genuinely unpleasant fumes. An enclosure and proper extraction to the outside, or a filter unit, should be budgeted as part of the purchase rather than added later. Never cut PVC or unknown plastics: chlorinated materials release corrosive gas that damages both lungs and machine. Laser-safe eyewear matched to the wavelength is the other non-negotiable.

Beyond the laser

The catalogue now runs wider than cutting, taking in heat presses and printing equipment for personalised goods, along with rotary attachments for engraving curved objects such as tumblers, and honeycomb beds and air assist kits that improve cut quality. For someone building a small personalisation business, the accessories often matter more to the finished result than the headline machine.

Materials, software and the learning curve

Settings vary by material, thickness and even by batch, so the first hours are spent running test grids rather than finished pieces. Buying material from a supplier who publishes tested settings shortens that considerably. The design software is included, and file preparation is where most beginners lose time, so it is worth working through the sample projects before committing expensive stock.