Is the xTool F1 Ultra Worth It? 7 Questions Every Buyer Asks (Honest Answers)

I manage purchasing for a mid-size design and prototyping firm. I'm not a laser engineer, I'm the person who has to figure out if a piece of equipment is worth the budget, if it'll actually get used, and if it'll cause a nightmare for the accounting team. The xTool F1 Ultra came across my desk as a request from our production lead. I had a lot of questions. Maybe you do too. Here's what I found—good, bad, and ugly—from a buyer's perspective.

1. Can the xTool F1 Ultra actually cut metal?

Short answer: Yes, but with limits. The F1 Ultra is a dual-laser machine (20W fiber + diode). The fiber laser is what handles metals like stainless steel, aluminum, and even gold. It can engrave them easily and make light cuts (think thin sheet metal, < 0.5mm). The diode laser is for organics (wood, leather, acrylic). So if your use case is cutting 1/4" steel plate? You need a dedicated fiber or CO2 laser. But for marking tools, cutting thin brass nameplates, or engraving stainless steel tumblers? It does it well. I've seen our team cut aluminum foil-thin sheets without issue.

2. How does the rotary tool work? Is it just for cups?

Honestly, the rotary attachment is better than I expected. It's not just for cylindrical objects like tumblers or bottles. You can also engrave on tapered items (like a champagne flute) or even irregularly shaped objects if you mount them carefully. It rotates the object while the laser head stays stationary, so the engraving is consistent around the curve. Ours came with a set of chucks that fit different object sizes. It's not a 100% set-and-forget tool—you still need to adjust focus and speed—but it's not overly complicated either. A solid plus if you're thinking about personalized drinkware or promotional items.

3. Does it replace a vinyl cutting machine (like Cricut or Silhouette)?

No, and don't fall for that assumption. The F1 Ultra etches and cuts materials, but it doesn't cut adhesive vinyl sheets. For that, you still need a dedicated vinyl cutter. However, the F1 Ultra can engrave templates onto materials (like cutting guides or jigs). So if your workflow involves template-based assembly, it's a nice complement—but not a replacement. If you primarily need to cut vinyl decals, keep your Cricut. The F1 Ultra is for marking and cutting rigid materials.

4. "Things to laser engrave and sell"—is this a realistic business machine?

In my experience managing supplies for a small production run: yes, but only if you're focusing on personalization. Think custom jewelry engraving, pet tags, small metal signs, or branded gifts. The F1 Ultra's speed and dual-laser capability mean you can switch between a gift for a client (metal) and a packaging insert (wood) without changing machines. That's a big time saver. But if you're planning high-volume production (like 1,000 identical parts per day), you'd want a higher-powered system with automated feeding. For a side hustle or small shop? It's a solid choice.

5. Is it worth the price? A buyer's cost breakdown.

Here's where I take a stand: don't look at the unit price alone. I see a lot of procurement people compare the F1 Ultra to a cheap 5W diode laser and think, "Why pay more?" The real cost isn't the machine—it's the time. Without the fiber laser, you can't engrave metal quickly (or at all). You'd have to outsource metal engraving, wait a week, and pay per piece. I did a rough total cost of ownership (TCO) calculation for our firm:

• Outsourcing metal engraving (100 pieces): Approximately $4-6 per piece + shipping + 5-day lead time = $500+ per batch.
• In-house with F1 Ultra: Machine cost amortized over 3 years + electricity + material cost ≈ significantly less per batch after initial capex. And we can do same-day turnaround.

Yes, the initial price is higher. But if you're doing 10+ metal engraving projects a year, the machine pays for itself. To me, that's value. The cheapest option (buying a cheap diode) would have wasted time. The cheapest overall (outsourcing) would have killed our flexibility.

6. What about software and workflow? Is it a pain to set up?

This is something technical people often skip when selling to someone like me. The software (XCS) is free and works with standard file types (SVG, DXF, etc.). It's not as polished as LightBurn (which the F1 Ultra also supports). But it's functional. The learning curve for the dual-laser switching is maybe a day—mostly understanding when to use fiber vs. diode and the different focus heights. Our production lead had it running in an afternoon. So no, it's not a nightmare. Just plan on a few hours of setup and test cuts.

7. What's the worst thing about it? Be honest.

Alright, real talk. The work area is small. The engraving area is about 115mm x 115mm (roughly 4.5" x 4.5"). If you want to engrave something bigger, you have to reposition it manually—which can be imprecise. Also, the air assist (which is built-in and good for preventing scorching) creates a fine dust. You absolutely need ventilation. And the price? It's not cheap. But you already knew that. My main frustration? The user manual could be better. I spent 20 minutes looking for the recommended settings for cutting 3mm plywood. Found it in an online forum, not the manual. So temper expectations about official support materials.

Take this with a grain of salt: I'm not a laser engineer, so I can't speak to the finer points of galvo calibration. But from a practical, day-to-day purchasing and management standpoint, the F1 Ultra delivers what it promises. It's a versatile tool for a specific range of tasks. If that range matches your needs, it's a solid investment. If not, you'll be frustrated by its limitations. As of early 2025, it's still one of the better dual-laser options in its price bracket.