Beginner’s Guide
Are you looking to start a new hobby or hoping to turn your creativity into a business — then we’ve got you covered.
If you are brand new to lasers and not sure where to start or what machine would best suit your needs then you have landed in the right place.
We will take you through each machine and explain the differences and then do a one-on-one tutorial of the software and give you one-on-one help creating your first project.
We remember starting out and how overwhelming it was. Let us take your hand and guide you one step at a time through your amazing creative journey.
Let’s get you set for success by providing you with the tools and training that will ensure you have strong foundations to tackle any project.
What are you waiting for? Take my hand and let the adventures begin.
4 Laser Types: Differences Explained
Blue/Diode Laser
What is a Diode Laser?
Diode laser engravers are considered the most accessible and budget-friendly entry point into the world of laser technology.
Many people use them to create all kinds of crafts to make homes sweeter, use them as gifts, or sell them to have an extra income.
The wavelength of the emitted light is 450nm. This wavelength makes diode laser engravers excel in working with organic materials and some synthetics:
Engraving:
- Wood
- Plywood
- MDF
- Bamboo
- Leather
- Paper
- Some dark and opaque acrylic
- Rubber
- Silicone
- Glass (with coating)
- Stone
- Ceramics (with coating)
- Plated/coated metal
- Stainless steel
- Fabric
- Cork
Cutting:
- Wood
- Plywood
- MDF
- Bamboo
- Leather
- Paper
- Some dark and opaque acrylic
- Felt
- Cork
-
However, diode laser engravers struggle with uncoated metals, glass, ceramics, and transparent materials due to wavelength absorption limitations.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Budget friendly for beginners and hobbyists
- Compatibility with a wide range of materials
Cons
- Can not directly engrave on transparent materials, like glass and clear acrylic
- Limited engraving depth.
Infrared Laser
Best for: Precision marking on metals and electronics
F1, F1 Ulra, F2 Ultra coming soon
Infrared lasers (~1064nm) are ideal for etching metal surfaces like gold, silver, copper, and aluminum. Typically used for marking rather than cutting, they’re available as module add-ons to desktop lasers, making them flexible for high-detail work.
Material compatibility: ✅ Jewellry metals, anodized aluminum. ❌ Wood, acrylic, plastics.
Co2 Laser
Best for: Versatile non-metal cutting, commercial-scale use
CO2 lasers (10.6μm) use a gas-filled tube to cut and engrave a wide range of materials including acrylic, wood, leather, and glass. These machines offer large bed sizes and high power (40W–150W), making them ideal for production environments. Requires water cooling and more setup space.
Engraving:
- Wood
- Plywood
- MDF
- Bamboo
- Leather
- All Acrylics
- Rubber
- Silicone
- Glass (with coating)
- Stone
- Ceramics (with coating)
- Plated/coated metal
- Stainless steel
- Fabric
- Cork
Cutting:
- Wood
- Plywood
- MDF
- Bamboo
- Leather
- All Acrylics
- Felt
- Cork
Material compatibility: ✅ Wood, clear acrylic, fabric, glass, leather, stamps, slate engravings, ❌ Most metals without coating.
Fiber Laser
Best for: High-speed deep engraving on metals
Fiber lasers (~1064nm) specialize in marking and engraving all types of metals with extreme precision and speed. Ideal for industrial and high-volume production tasks. The working area is smaller, and cost increases significantly with size.
F1, F1 Ulra, F2 Ultra coming soon.
Material compatibility: ✅ Stainless steel, brass, titanium, tools. ❌ Wood, acrylic, paper
F2 Ultra Mopa + Diode
Coming soon to Australia
6 Applications: What Can You Do With It?
Festival crafts
Signage
Personalised jewellery
Home decor
Apparels
Photo printing
3 Profitable Approaches:
Turning a Hobby Into a Business
Local Engrave-On-Demand Service. Markets
Investing in a quality laser engraving machine can help businesses offer on-demand engraving services such as custom signage and personalized gifts, generating a steady income with effective marketing.
Sell Laser projects online (your own website, Amazon, Etsy, Shopify etc)
Use laser engraving machines to create personalized items and sell them online on platforms like Etsy and Amazon. With a high-quality machine and innovative designs, you can produce precise and detailed products that appeal to a large audience and generate a steady stream of income.
Promotional Items
Laser engraving is a great way for companies to add their logo or branding to items like pens, keychains, and phone cases, which can then be used as promotional giveaways or thank-you gifts. This helps businesses stand out and increase brand recognition.
4 Advantages:
Why Choose xTool?
Free Software
xTool offers free software XCS and provides numerous project files and step-by-step guides, making it easier for laser beginners to learn quickly and start earning.
One-stop Solution
xTool provides laser engraver and cutter machines, project ideas, and tutorials. They also offer high-quality plywood or acrylic sheets, compatible accessories, and extensions to expand machine capacity as your business grows.
Different Lasers For All Needs
xTool’s laser machines come in various sizes and power levels to meet different cutting and engraving needs across materials, from wood and acrylics to metals and plastics.
Helpful Community
xTool has active Facebook groups where thousands of real users share ideas, offer assistance, and exclusive deals. Beginners can benefit a lot from this supportive community.
6 Considerations:
Before Buying a Laser Machine
Budget and Price
How much you can afford?
xTool’s laser machines come in various sizes and power levels to meet different cutting and engraving needs across materials, from wood and acrylics to metals and plastics.
Size and Weight
Portability and flexibility
Desktop lasers are about 610mm x 610mm (24″ x 24″) with a working area of 400mm x 400mm (15.75″ x 15.75″). They are lightweight (~5kg) and portable. Larger CO2 and fiber lasers may require special equipment or multiple people to move and won’t fit through standard door frames
Extensions and accessories
How versatile the machine can be?
Accessories can be crucial for engraving/cutting larger or taller objects. Brands that don’t provide extensions/accessories should be avoided. xTool provides solutions for potential pain points.
Laser types and materials
What do you intend to use for?
Before purchasing a laser, determine the type of operation you intend to perform. CO2 lasers work best with clear acrylics, blue diode lasers are great for wood, while galvo or fiber lasers are needed for engraving metals or faster operations.
Size and Weight
The extra cost of time and money
Software is a key consideration when buying a laser. Most lasers don’t come with software, so you may need to download third-party software or purchase it separately like LightBurn. Consider the cost and the learning curve, especially if you’re new to laser technology. xTool lasers come with free, beginner-friendly software (XCS).
Extensions and accessories
How fast you can get business rolling?
Start your laser side hustle journey with a desktop diode laser. These machines are lightweight, easy to use, and have low maintenance. CO2 and fiber lasers are more maintenance-intensive and require specific skill sets. Progression usually goes from desktop laser to CO2 to fiber.