This Laser Cutter Changed My Workshop — Here’s Why

The Xtool S1 is a compact, powerful, and modular diode laser cutter that’s ideal for desktop use. What really sets it apart is its interchangeable laser modules — you can choose between a 10W, 20W, or 40W blue diode, or even a 2W infrared laser. That gives you the flexibility to work with a wider variety of materials and scale up capabilities depending on your budget and needs.

It has a sturdy riser base for tackling thicker items, smart software with no subscription fees, and a unique positioning system that doesn’t rely on a webcam. While it’s not suited for batch production, it’s one of the most capable, safe, and easy-to-use enclosed diode lasers I’ve used.

Why You Can Trust Me

I’ve been reviewing all kinds of crafting machines, from enormous 3D printers, to various types of laser engravers, for the past decade. I was sent the Xtool S1 for testing purposes, but the review is not sponsored and the brand has had no input. The opinions stated are entirely my own, formed over a period of at least 6 months worth of testing.

What Is a Diode Laser Engraver (And Why It Matters)

Laser engravers typically use either a diode or CO₂ laser, though you’ll also find fiber on the really high end.

Diode lasers are compact, quieter, safer for home use, and significantly cheaper, but they’re limited in the materials they can cut — especially when it comes to transparent or lightly colored acrylics, glass, metals that sort of thing.

CO₂ lasers are more powerful and cut and engrave a broader range of materials, but they’re bigger, louder, and cost much more.

The 20W S1, as reviewed, starts at around $1700, whereas the CO₂-based Xtool P2, starts at $4000. If you’re unsure what materials you’ll be working with and it’s strictly for home use, not portable, your budget will likely be the deciding factor.

Unboxing and Design

Before you unbox the Xtool S1, think about where it’s going to live. It’s more compact than some machines, but it still demands a solid 80x60cm of space and 55cm of height clearance to open the lid comfortably. The optional riser base adds even more height.

The working area is 498mm wide by 319mm tall, which is enough to fit an A3 sheet.

There’s also the air assist unit and a heavy-duty exhaust hose to consider — either routed out a window or through an optional purifier.

Setup was straightforward thanks to a great guide, though you’ll need to remove a number of shipping locks with the supplied hex tools and screwdriver before powering it on — and don’t forget the “key”, a tiny USB stick that needs to be inserted around the back. Also, while you’re around the back, plug in the air assist hose and the USB-C cable that powers it. There are three USB-C accessory ports, for optional safety features like the fire safety system.

The Xtool S1 weighs about 20kg, which is manageable solo but easier with help. I set mine up on a heavy-duty shelf next to a window, using the windowsill to support the exhaust hose and air assist box.

Safety-wise, the fully enclosed design and viewing window (green or orange, depending on the model) mean you don’t need laser safety goggles to observe the action. However, fumes are still an issue—especially when using the riser base, which creates another escape point. Using the optional purifier helps, but it’s not 100% smell-free.

As always, make sure the materials you’re cutting are safe—PVC, for instance, can release toxic gases and should never be used in any laser cutter. Also, keep your materials tray clear of debris to minimize any fire risk.

Software: Xtool Creative Space

The Xtool Creative Space (XCS) is one of the best desktop laser apps I’ve used. It works offline, runs on Mac or PC, and doesn’t require any kind of subscription to access the core features. Compared to software for Glowforge or Cricut, this is a breath of fresh air.

It includes basic shape tools, text, grouping, layering, per-object settings, and even a test pattern generator for trying out new materials. All of that is free, included with your purchase, and doesn’t run in the cloud. There’s a built-in database of suggested power/speed settings for common materials, but you can override anything and fine-tune as needed.

I want to really emphasize how important the software side of things is. Cheaper machines won’t have specific software and will instead just use Lightburn, which is competent but not the most user-friendly. It suffers precisely because it’s generic software for nearly every laser engraver out there. While that can have benefits in that if you’re already familiar with it then you’re off to a flying start, you lose out on advanced features that Xtool is able to offer because they’ve got their own custom package.

On the other hand, sometimes custom software can be limited and just badly designed, but Xtool really has developed an incredible bit of software to go along with such capable and well-designed machines, and it’s what makes the Xtool package as a whole so unique in the world of laser engravers.

Positioning Your Work (Without a Camera)

Most mid-to-high-end laser engravers rely on cameras to help you align your design, but the Xtool S1 uses a different approach. In conjunction with the desktop software, you’ll physically move the laser head to the key points of your material and tap a button on the front.

It’s a surprisingly accurate system, and you can even mark a circle by selecting three edge points.

This has one major benefit: it’s repeatable. If you forget to make a hole or must redo a cut, you can easily go back over the same material and match up precisely. That’s very difficult with camera-based systems due to distortion or angle shift.

The downside is that it’s not well suited to working with multiple objects at once, which is where camera systems shine. The Xtool software even has a batch production feature: If you have lots of the same object, it’ll use some sort of visual algorithm to repeat the design on all the work pieces. You can’t use that with the S1. It does have a way to link with your phone camera, but it’s not quite the same.

So if you’re aiming for high-speed, multi-item production, the S1 is not ideal.

Performance & Materials Testing

To test the 20W diode module, I started with 3mm MDF, which it cut cleanly albeit slowly.

Quick tip: If your material has a protective film layer on, leave it while cutting, then remove it for engraving. That’s easy with the positioning system of the S1.

1.5mm MDF and balsa cut like butter, with very smooth, clean cuts. Remember that I’m testing the 20W version of the machine; the 40W would be even faster, but isn’t available in Europe.

I moved on to 3mm translucent green acrylic. It barely scratched the surface at the default settings, and took forever to do so.

Darker acrylic performed a little better; I successfully cut black acrylic with two passes, though you can clearly see the result on the sides, and it’s not a clean cut.

It’s worth reiterating that diode lasers will struggle with most acrylics, and cutting them remains a slow process; which means a greater risk of burnt, melted edges and unsatisfying results. This is simply a limitation of the diode laser wavelength — the type of light it produces can’t be absorbed easily by the material.

If acrylic work is your focus, you’ll need to consider a CO₂ machine instead. Even the 40W version of the S1 won’t fix this entirely — it’s a wavelength issue, not just power.

However, after removing the protective film, engraving black acrylic was sharp and with a beautiful contrast. If you can get pre-cut black acrylic blanks, you’ll love the results.

Using the 2W Infra Red Module

I mentioned one of the most unique features of the Xtool S1 is the ability to swap the laser head; I was also supplied with a 2W IR laser module for testing.

Swapping the modules involves two screws and unplugging the hose, connector cable, and distance probe; the whole process takes less than five minutes.

Don’t be fooled by the lower wattage of the IR module. The 1,064nm infrared laser works on an entirely different wavelength, and it produces a much tighter, more focused beam. This makes it perfect for engraving on metals—aluminium, stainless steel, gold, silver, bronze are all possible.

The IR laser also provides different effects on plastics and acrylics, so it’s worth testing with different settings to see what gives the best result. For instance, you can actually mark PLA 3D printed objects; it’ll burn away the pigment. You’ll get the best results with black PLA, but as ever, experimentation is key, and it’s here that the built-in test card generator in Xtool Creative Space really comes in handy. Pictured below: 20W diode vs 2W IR laser on PLA.

That said, the IR laser still can’t cut or engrave clear acrylics.

Optional Extras and Advanced Features

There are a number of optional advanced features which I haven’t taken much advantage of, but are worth mentioning.

The riser base gives you another 10cm or so of depth that you can work with for larger pieces: blocks of wood, or a suitcase, that sort of thing. It’s also critical if you’re looking to use the RA2 Pro rotary attachment, which allows you to engrave on curved surfaces. The rotary tool swaps your Y-axis for a rotation, so instead of moving back and forth, the laser head only moves left and right, while the rotary tool turns the object. It’s a little more complex to wrap your head around than your standard XY cutting and engraving, so I wouldn’t suggest getting it off the bat. Wait until you’re comfortable with the main features. And, again, you won’t be able to engrave glass, and will need the IR module for metals like insulated flasks.

The Xtool S1 can also work with curved surfaces without the rotary tool, to some extent — 15 degrees is the maximum angle of change it can accommodate. I haven’t tested this; I don’t have a suitable curved material, and it’s quite a niche use case.

Lastly, Xtool have a separate screen printing product. I’ll be looking at that in more detail in a separate review, but it’s designed to work alongside the S1 with a special bracket. You fix the screen into the S1 and laser away your design, leaving only a fine metal mesh. Then transfer your screen plate to the printer, and squeeze paint through the screen and onto your material.

Should You Buy the Xtool S1?

The Xtool S1 is a well-designed, safety-first, highly capable mid-range machine with superb software. It bridges the gap between cheap open-frame engravers and high-end CO₂ models. It’s compact, relatively quiet, and safe for home use, with a powerful diode module and clever positioning system that’s technically superior to some camera-based alternatives.

It’s also modular, so you can upgrade or swap heads later depending on your needs. But it is still a diode laser, and that comes with inherent limits — mainly when it comes to cutting clear or lightly-colored acrylics. If your projects depend on those materials or you need batch processing, you’ll want to consider the more expensive Xtool P2 or other CO₂ options. If you want to offer personalized engraving at events, the portable Xtool F1 is even better, though it offers a much smaller working area.

But for a do-it-all, workshop-friendly, modular laser cutter, the Xtool S1 hits a sweet spot.