Laser cutter and engraver — xTool S1 (40 W)
Permission and an S1 introduction from Alex Lopez required — ask in #laserskärare. Stay with the machine the whole time.
Known issue (since May 2026): running the Redsail and the xTool lasers at the same time can cause problems. If the red 🚨 light blinks on the Redsail, turn off the xTool power strip.
Enclosed 40 W blue diode (455 nm) laser cutter and engraver. Different from the Redsail CO₂ laser — Redsail settings don't transfer.
xTool S1 (manufacturer photo, 10 W module shown — ours is 40 W)
Access | Permission and introduction from Alex Lopez |
Booking | Laser booking portal — shares ventilation with the Redsail |
Work area | 498 × 319 mm |
Software | xTool Studio (USB or Wi-Fi) |
Help / faults | Slack #laserskärare |
Materials
Only identified, approved materials — see Laser materials. Redsail settings do not transfer.
Material | Notes |
|---|---|
Wood, plywood, MDF | Test settings on your stock |
Paper, cardboard | Watch for ignition |
Leather | Vegetable-tanned only — no chrome-tanned, coated or synthetic |
Acrylic | Dark opaque only. Clear, white and blue acrylic can't be cut with a blue laser; clear can't be engraved. Use the Redsail. |
Metal / coated surfaces | Not a metal cutter. Ask before any metal work. |
Never: PVC/vinyl, chlorine-containing or unidentified plastics, ABS, POM/acetal, polycarbonate, polystyrene, circuit boards, coated fabrics.
Settings: start from the xTool materials library (select S1 / 40 W), test on scrap, and record power, speed (with units), passes, focus and air assist.
Tested settings:
Material | Process | Thickness | Power % | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Aircraft plywood | Cut | 1 mm | 91 | 15 |
Setup
Ventilation: press the Redsail's green button (not the black one) to start its ventilation, and switch on the black fan box under the table. Check there's actual airflow.
Material height: max 42 mm on the baseplate, 34 mm on slats, 15 mm on honeycomb (fit/focus limits, not cut thickness). Never cut into the bare baseplate.
Air assist blows at the cut; exhaust removes smoke — they're separate. Lower airflow for engraving, higher for cutting.
Positioning: no camera — the red cross and recorded points are used to mark the area.
Not fitted: rotary, riser, conveyor, IR module. No riser or open-roller use on this machine.
Screen-printing frames are available — get instruction first.
Safety
Stay with every job — flame detection doesn't replace you.
Keep the lid closed and the enclosure intact. Never defeat the interlock.
Approved materials and working extraction only.
Keep the head's whole travel area clear.
How to use
Check the bed, lens protector and exhaust. Find the emergency stop and fire equipment.
Start the ventilation (see Setup). Power on the S1.
In xTool Studio, connect and confirm S1, 40 W module. Close other laser software.
Choose Process on baseplate. Place flat stock on the support; clamps clear of the head's travel.
Import or create the design. Check size, units and each object's process (engrave first, inner cuts before outer).
Move the red cross over the material, retract the distance probe, Auto-measure.
Mark the area: move the cross to each vertex and press the machine button. Place the artwork.
Close the lid, Frame, press the machine button. Check clearance.
Preview, then Process/Start and press the machine button.
Watch it. Short press = pause, long press = cancel.
Let the smoke clear before opening. Remove scraps, vacuum the interior, switch off ventilation if no one else needs it.
Controls
Control | Function |
|---|---|
Machine button, short press | Pause / resume / start a ready job |
Machine button, long press | Cancel |
Emergency stop | Cuts power — reset only after fixing the cause |
Troubleshooting
Problem | Action |
|---|---|
Sustained flame, uncontrolled smoke | Stop, emergency stop if needed, warn others. Call 112 if necessary. |
Smoke leaking | Stop; check extraction; follow the red-beacon rule above. |
Won't start / lid warning | Check key, emergency stop and lid. Never bypass. |
Weak or incomplete cuts | Check settings, focus, air assist and lens protector. |
Artwork misplaced / collision risk | Cancel, clear, redo measure, area marking and frame. |
Lens-cleaning reminder | Clean the lens (below). |
Maintenance
After use: power off, let it cool, unplug. Vacuum the interior and support; keep the exhaust clear.
Lens: clean about every 30 min of processing, with lint-free cloth per xTool's procedure. Burnt or damaged optics: report.
Fan cleaning, rail lubrication, filter/protector replacement and repairs: instructed people only.
Specifications
Model | xTool S1, 40 W blue diode |
Wavelength | 455 nm |
Work area | 498 × 319 mm |
Spot size | 0.08 × 0.10 mm |
Max speed | 600 mm/s |
Software | xTool Studio (successor to XCS); LightBurn supported via USB with limitations |