XTool F2 Ultra laser

TEMPORARY: Only the Redsail OR the xTool lasers can be used at a time, NOT both. This is a ventilation issue and work is being done to remedy the situation. If the red light is blinking on the Redsail, turn off the xTool power strip, if they are not being used. (updated 2026-01-07)

IMPORTANT: Please ensure you close the cover when you are done using the laser. The laser lens is very large and collects dust easily.

There will be an online course for this machine at some point.

F2 Ultra info and user guide

Quick start:

Power on Redsail laser (this turns on main ventilation), power on xTool power strip (on wall behind xTool lasers; this turns on the xTool ventilation).

Ensure the F2 Ultra is powered on by checking the lighted power button on the right side of the machine, or looking at the remote display laying to the right side of the machine.

Open xTool Studio (installed on the design workstation PC, though you are welcome to install it on your personal computer / laptop).

You can start a new project, open an existing one, or "explore" the xTool marketplace (there are LOTS of nice, free designs to use) - on the network drive, there is a folder for laser designs, available for anyone to use; Please feel free to add your designs to the folder, with a descriptive name. xToll studio project file extension is .xcs

xTool Creative Space (XCS) supports the following file formats for import:

• SVG
• DXF
• PNG
• JPG/JPEG
• BMP

If you have an xTool account, sign in / out at the top right of the window (looks like a robot). If you are signing up for a new account, you automatically get 200 "credits" that can be spent on designs, "AI" usage, etc. Each point seems to have a value of 1 US cent.

For each new account signed into xTool studio, it will make you watch a ~2 minute laser safety video.

Please use the ribbed square plate to place material on, especially when you are learning this machine.

ALWAYS CLOSE THE SAFETY COVER!

DO NOT RUN IT WITH THE COVER OPEN! While it is useful when using larger material, it is an extreme safety issue, until we come up with a safe setup for handling bigger materials, please do not attempt to use it open.

The software is very user friendly, and will help you get started quickly.

Color Engraving

Stainless Steel Engraving

The color engraving technology enables multi-color effects on specific materials. To achieve these effects, just like the image shown below, you can work with xTool F2 Ultra, which supports color engraving of vector fill images and bitmap objects.

Color formation mechanism on stainless steel

• Oxide coloration Under laser irradiation, stainless steel's metallic elements produce colored oxidation products.
• Transparent oxide film (thin-film interference) A transparent oxide layer forms, creating color through light interference effects.

Key findings & recommendations

Minor variations in power, focus, or energy can significantly alter the engraved color. For consistent results, calibrate personalized color-engraving parameter settings based on the machine’s performance and material used.

Before color engraving

Color engraving results can be affected by multiple factors including laser energy, material type, ambient humidity, and temperature fluctuation.

In this case, you're advised to first test your material with a parameter array to identify desired colors, then record and save the corresponding settings for consistent, high-quality output.

Color engraving steps

1. Click Unknown material in the upper right corner and select the target setting.
2. Import or create a vector fill image or bitmap object.
3. Click the object. If the object is an image, click Color Separation in the upper bar.
4. Click an object part, choose C-engrave in the right panel, and configure processing settings.
5. Click Preview processing results of the reference setting under One-click set.
6. Repeat the previous step until all parts of the object have been set properly.
7. Start processing your material.

Note:

- If you want to engrave a bitmap image on the material, please ensure that the image meets the following requirements:

* Solid color blocks

* No gradients, transitional colors, or small color pixels

- Tiny color blocks (with few pixels) can be deleted—they won't noticeably affect the final piece.

Brass Color Engraving

Just like with the previous two metals, color engraving on brass also relies on using a test matrix to determine the best parameters. You can refer to the following settings and steps to create a test array:

Power 30–75%, Speed 100–1000 mm/s, Lines per cm 5000, Pulse Width 2 ns, Frequency 1950 kHz

The Holographic Effects

Once you’ve mastered color engraving, an even more advanced technique is using the laser to reshape the surface of the material to control how light is reflected, diffracted, and absorbed—creating stunning holographic effects.

This effect is achieved by engraving extremely fine lines on the metal surface, hundreds of times thinner than a strand of hair. These microscopic lines act like a tiny diffraction grating. When light hits the surface, it is diffracted and interferes, splitting white light into its spectrum of colors—much like a prism. As the viewing angle changes, different wavelengths of light reach the eye, producing a dazzling, multicolored shimmer that shifts with perspective.

You need to use 304 mirror-finish stainless steel for this project. Only a highly reflective surface can effectively reflect the diffracted light and create a clear holographic effect, while brushed or matte finishes make this difficult to achieve.

This file requires engraving mode. Be sure to tap Auto Focus first, then manually add 1 mm to the focus distance. This process is called defocusing, and it’s essential for achieving the holographic engraving effect. We recommend a defocus of 1–2 mm, though the exact value may vary depending on your machine, so test multiple times to find the best setting for your setup.

Most importantly, remember to set the fill angle before processing. We used 45° to achieve this effect.

Laser Type: MOPA

Power: 12%

Speed: 240mm/s

Passes: 2

Lines per cm: 220

Pulse: 60ns

Frequency: 115 kHz

Engraving angle: 75

Incremental mode.

Glass Engraving

Glass Paint the surface with black tempera. make sure hat the surface is completely covered and that no light can be seen through.

Select the material in Xtool Studio and test this settings

Power: 30%

Speed: 190mm/s

Lines per cm: 160

Passes: 1 or 2

For black engraving: Instead of black tempera use Titanium Dioxide

Embossing Metal

Mode: Embossing

Layers: 256

Power: 100%

Speed: 1500mm/s

Passes: 1

Lines: 300

Angle: 137

Pulse Width: 500ns

Frequency: 60kHz

Descend at the z-axis:

for every N layers: 10

by Nmm: 0.03

Embossing Wood