I used to be the guy who bought three different laser cutters before finding the one that actually fit my workflow. That was my fault—not the machines'. I assumed 'heavy duty' meant 'for metal,' assumed 'precision' meant 'for fine details,' and assumed a low price meant I was being smart. Turns out, I was just being cheap twice over.
The vendor failure that finally changed my mind happened in November 2023. I had a rush order for 80 stainless steel dog tags, each needing a serial number and a small logo. My CO2 machine couldn't touch the metal. My cheap diode laser couldn't mark it fast enough without burning the edges. I ended up sending them out to a local shop, paying $4.50 per tag plus a $75 setup fee. Total cost: $435 for a job I should have done in-house for about $50 in materials and an hour of run time. That's when I started looking at the xtool F1 Ultra seriously.
The F1 Ultra is a 20W fiber and diode dual-laser engraving and cutting machine. That combo is the single most practical solution for a small fabrication shop or prototyping workspace that I've seen in the last five years. Here's why I'm convinced it's the only laser cutter most small shops will ever need.
My Argument: One Machine Beats Three Specialists
I think the obsession with 'specialized' laser cutters is a trap. People get sold on the idea that you need a CO2 for wood and acrylic, a fiber laser for metals, and maybe a diode laser for delicate organics. But that's three machines, three sets of maintenance, three software workflows, and a ton of floor space.
The F1 Ultra's core advantage is that it combines a 20W fiber source and a 20W diode source in one chassis. The fiber laser handles metals and engraved plastics with speed. The diode laser handles wood, leather, acrylic, and even some colored stones. You flip a switch, not swap a machine. That's not a minor convenience—it's a fundamental workflow improvement.
The Hidden Cost That Made Me Switch
Let's talk about the money. I'm not going to pretend the F1 Ultra is the cheapest option. It's not. But I've learned to ask 'what's NOT included' before 'what's the price.'
When I compared my old setup (a 40W CO2 tube machine and a separate 20W fiber laser) to the F1 Ultra, the numbers were ugly for my old approach.
- My old CO2 machine: $1,800. Needed chiller ($400), ventilation ($150), and regular tube replacement (every 2,000 hours, $300). Floor space: about 6 square feet.
- My old fiber laser: $3,200. Separate software, heavy, needed a dedicated 110V outlet.
- The F1 Ultra: Around $2,500. Enclosed, built-in filtration, single software (XCS), and sits on a desk.
Granted, the F1 Ultra doesn't have the raw power of a dedicated 40W CO2 tube on thick acrylic. But for 95% of what a small shop cuts—thin plywood, leather, fabric, paper, and up to 0.08-inch acrylic—the diode laser handles it perfectly. The fiber laser on the same machine does the metal marking and thin sheet metal cutting.
To be fair, if you're cutting 1/4-inch acrylic all day every day, a dedicated CO2 is still better. But if you're like most small shops—doing prototypes, custom gifts, small production runs, and repair work—the F1 Ultra is way more than enough.
The 'Is It a Fiber Laser?' Question
A lot of people ask: Is the xtool F1 2W IR laser a fiber laser? The short answer is no. The IR laser is a 2W infrared diode laser. It's good for marking on some plastics and anodized aluminum, but it's not a true fiber laser.
Here's where the F1 Ultra gets it right: the 20W fiber laser in the Ultra is a real MOPA fiber source. That means it can pulse, which gives you deep engraving on steel without overheating, and it can also do high-speed marking on anodized aluminum without burning the color. The 2W IR laser on the standard F1 is a separate source, not a replacement.
I assumed the cheaper F1 model would be good enough for metal marking. Didn't verify. Turned out the 2W IR diode on the base model is slow for deep marks—about 3–4 passes to match what the fiber does in one. That mistake cost me about $200 in wasted test materials and a lost weekend. I should have just bought the F1 Ultra from the start.
Why Transparency Matters More Than Price
The vendor who lists all the specs upfront, even if the total looks higher, usually costs less in the end. This sounds obvious, but I've been burned by companies that advertise a 'complete kit' only to find out the rotary attachment, honeycomb bed, or air assist costs extra.
xtool is not perfect here—their 'base kit' and 'full kit' options can be confusing. But the F1 Ultra comes with both lasers integrated, an enclosure, and a built-in air assist. The only thing you might need to add is a rotary if you engrave cylindrical objects. Contrast that with my old setup, where I had to order a separate chiller, air pump, and ventilation kit for the CO2 machine, all of which arrived on different days and needed separate installations.
That extra work isn't free. It's time you could spend actually making money. The F1 Ultra is plug-and-play compared to the typical hobbyist setup.
Addressing the Skeptics
I know some people will say: 'But the F1 Ultra's cutting depth is limited on wood. It can't cut through 1/4-inch plywood in one pass.' That's true. It takes two or three passes. But here's the thing—most small shops using laser cutters are engraving or cutting thin materials. If you need to cut thick plywood regularly, you should be looking at a CO2 machine or a CNC router. The F1 Ultra isn't trying to replace those; it's trying to replace two or three other machines in a single footprint.
Others will argue that a dedicated 30W fiber laser is faster on metals. Also true. But it costs twice as much and only does metals. The F1 Ultra does metals and organics. For a $2,500 machine, that's a bargain.
Bottom Line
I'm not saying the F1 Ultra is perfect. I wish it had a larger working area (400x400mm would be nice, but 290x290mm is decent). I wish the software had more import options for AI files without conversion issues. But for anyone running a small workshop, a maker space, or a custom gift business, the F1 Ultra is the most versatile tool under $3,000 I've ever used.
Don't hold me to this, but I think it saved me about $1,200 in spoilage, outsourced jobs, and extra equipment costs in the first three months alone. That's a pretty good return on investment.
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