Xtool D1 User manual

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Focusing on Laser Imaging and Decorating xTool D1 Laser Engraver/Cutter
FIG. 1. e xTool D1, available as either a 5W or 10W version,
is the company’s first entry in the diode laser market. Credit: xTool
Construction. e D1’s solid aluminum alloy construction is
noteworthy since the xTool opted for the strongest materials,
yielding a laser head that glides smoothly on stainless steel wheels
along a wear-resistant guide rail structure, producing very im-
pressive laser spot accuracy and consistency, with a minimum
of vibration. e X and Y axis movement is controlled with
two stepper motors, contained within the frame, advancing the
pre-installed belts that deliver the laser head to its required co-
ordinates. With the stepper motors, belts, and electronics con-
cealed and protected within the frame, the overall look of the
D1 is exceptionally clean, sleek, and high-tech.
Assembly. e assembly process can take as little as 15 minutes
for an experienced assembler, or 30 to 45 minutes for a beginner.
e fit-and-finish of the parts is exceptional. Several of the com-
ponents, such as the belts, stepper motors, and motherboard
have been pre-assembled, not only reducing assembly time, but
ensuring that precision parts have been factory set.
Focus. Since focus is a critical element in producing usable out-
put, the D1 is notable since it offers a best-in-class solution.
A finger screw on the left side of the laser head loosens it so
that it can be moved up and down, closer or further from the
workpiece, along the Z-axis. e amount of upward movement
is significant, since it determines how high or thick the materi-
al that can be processed. A focus device, called the ranging rod
(FIG. 2), is built into the right side of the laser head and is held
in place magnetically. e user flips the rod down, adjusting the
laser head until the rod touches the workpiece. e laser is now
in focus, the set screw is tightened, and rod is returned to its
upright position. e built-in rod is not only convenient, but it
is always immediately accessible.
e maximum speed of the laser head is 10000mm/min. which
is considered exceptionally high.
e rated electric power of the laser head is 40W, outputting a
laser power of 10W. Rather than sell the device as a 40W laser,
xTool only touts its true laser strength of 10W. is honest as-
sessment of the true laser rating is, unfortunately, a rarity in the
industry.
e laser head is a bit of an engineering marvel, given that it
contains two 5W laser emitters; one directed straight down, and
a second directed at a 45 degree mirror (FIG. 3). ey are cooled
by a built-in fan, that despite its strength, is relatively quiet. e
dual lasers produce a very small, square laser spot of 0.08mm
x 0.08mm which produces high-resolution images, and clean,
FIG. 2. e ranging rod, shown here in mid-position, offers the eas-
iest solution to setting accurate focus quickly and consistently.
e xTool D1 10W Laser Engraver/Cutter
e xTool D1 10W (FIG. 1) has been engineered by industrial designers who have produced high-end CO2
laser engraver/cutters, and who have applied their design and manufacturing know-how to enter the diode la-
ser market. e xTool D1 is the result of their mission to enter the hobbyist market with a machine that excels
in significant ways, including a motion accuracy precision of up to 0.01mm.
e parent company of xTool is Makeblock, a world-renowned company in the STEAM education space,
founded in 2013. It is a leading provider of technologies for education, with more than 100 worldwide dis-
tributor partners. xTool was launched in 2019 with its first product, the xTool Laserbox CO2 laser engraver/
cutter.
©2022, Michael Kleper, Boynton Beach, FL. All rights reserved. is entry is an excerpt from
Focusing on Laser Engraving and Decorating: Affordable, Versatile, and Creative Marking, Engraving and Cutting,
publication summer, 2022 on Amazon.

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Focusing on Laser Imaging and Decorating
smooth cuts. e square dot shape is superior to other lasers,
such as the Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro, which is rectangular.
FIG. 3. xTool rates the power of the two 5W laser beams combined
to be equivalent to a single 15W laser cutter. Credit: xTool
e work area of the D1 is about 17” x 16” which is more than
sufficient for accommodating most of the projects that would
be appropriate for such a device. Despite its size it weighs only
about 5kg (about 11 pounds), meaning that it can be moved and
repositioned easily by one person.
e D1 is provided with legs that raise it off of the worksurface
to accommodate a range of workpiece thicknesses. e space on
all four sides of the frame allows the user to slide materials into
the active work area. Additional-cost legs can be purchased to ex-
tend that height to allow for the additional space as required for
a rotary device. ese optional legs screw easily into the attached
base legs and match their size and color (FIG. 4).
Another unique element of the laser head is a built-in red cross-
hair light that indicates where the laser will fire. is indicator
is safe to view without safety goggles, and despite the fact that it
is offset from the actual laser lens, the software accounts for this
discrepancy and properly positions the laser when firing. Users
should not underestimate the importance of accurately aligning
the laser head in relation to the workpiece.
Safety. e D1 was designed to provide an effective, efficient
work experience with safety considerations built-in. e bottom
of the laser head, closest to the workpiece, is surrounded with
a light shield. e shield, a custom-fit piece of orange acrylic,
allows the user to easily see that the laser is functioning, and pro-
tect others in the vicinity who may not be wearing safety goggles.
Of course, proper eye protection should be worn by everyone
within the work environment. e operation of the laser will
stop automatically when the machine senses movement or a tilt,
FIG. 4. e purchase of the xTool Rotary attachment includes this
set of extension legs that easily screw into the device’s built-in legs to
raise the unit.
as well as when USB or WiFi communication is interrupted.
During operation, the heat of the laser, reacting to the surface of
the workpiece, will produce, to varying degrees, noxious smoke,
soot, and other odors. Adequate ventilation, with the use of an
enclosure and exhaust fan, repositioning the laser device near a
window, or using fans to direct the airborne contaminants out
of the environment, should solve this issue.
Workflows. e xTool D1 is unique in that the user is provided
with three connection options: e standard USB cable con-
nection, WiFi, and offline, with the use of the provided TF
card. e TF card can contain only one job at a time. When a
new job is sent, it overwrites the current job. A job on a TF card
is processed by pressing the device button on the right front of
the machine frame. ese options mean the connection is not
limited to the length of an available USB cable.
e D1 has one of the most direct and simple workflows, as-
suming that the connection has already been made:
1. Position the workpiece
2. Adjust the focus.
3. In the software…
a. Select the connection mode
b. Select Engrave, Cut or both
c. Select the workpiece type
d. Position the laser head relative to the work-
piece
e. Press Start

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Focusing on Laser Imaging and Decorating xTool D1 Laser Engraver/Cutter
Software. Bundled with the D1 is proprietary software called
Laserbox Basic (FIG. 5), which is a version of the software used
with the CO2 laser engraver marketed by xTool. e software,
which uses G-code to set the position of the laser head, has ru-
dimentary capabilities that will help the user, particularly those
new to the technology, get up-and-running quickly. It incorpo-
rates the machine settings that are needed to get good results
from a wide variety of materials, such as various woods and
acrylics, without the need for running time-consuming tests
(FIG. 6).
e program incorporates its own options for Undo, Redo, Cut,
Copy, Paste, Delete, and Select All, in the Edit Option in the
main menu, rather than use the commands from the Operat-
ing System directly; although the key commands do work (FIG.
7). e program provides primitive shapes, including line, rect-
angle, rounded, oval, star, heart, and text. e Outline option
(FIG. 8) creates a simplified line art tracing from a shape, saving
the laser the time and energy necessary to fill it in.
Before a job is sent to the laser the user must ensure that the
laser head is properly placed, so that the job will be burned in
the exact position necessary. e first step is for the user to po-
FIG. 5. e Laserbox Basic work area is uncluttered, with only the core capabilities available.
FIG. 6. e user has only to select the workpiece material and the
program will set the necessary power and speed.
sition the laser using the red cross-hairs, and then hit the Frame
button to see where the image will appear. Based on the outline
revealed by the cross-hairs, the user can either adjust the posi-
tion of the laser head or the workpiece.
e travel of the laser head during this framing step is controlled

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Focusing on Laser Imaging and Decorating
e iPhone/Android app is very simplistic, offering only two op-
tions (FIG. 10). e user can engrave an image that they have
captured on their phone, or engrave one that is among the small
number in the contained gallery (FIG. 11).
Fortunately, xTool D1 is compatible with LightBurn, unlocking
its full capabilities. LightBurn is considered the software stan-
dard for controlling laser engravers and cutters.
FIG. 7. e Laserbox Basic menu provides only
the most rudimentary commands.
FIG. 8. e Outline option creates an outline of a shape to reduce
processing time.
using the Laserbox Control Panel (FIG. 9). e user can set the
speed that the cross-hair will advance, and how much it will
advance with each step, as executed using the compass arrows.
FIG. 9. e user can define
the incremental movement
of the laser head as it
frames its intended image
FIG. 10. e two default
options for the xTool D1 iPhone
app are Quick Engrave and
FIG. 11. e built-in gallery
contains vector images in cat-
egories that include animals,
food, flora, and others.
Laser Positioning. Unlike the Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro, which
uses absolute positioning, the D1 uses relative positioning.
What this means is that the Ortur uses built-in limit switches to
ensure that the laser head always starts from, and returns to, the
0,0 starting coordinates, or Home. In LightBurn, for example,
when the user places their design at a certain set of coordinates,
the Ortur knows how to position itself at precisely that loca-
tion. e D1 uses relative positioning, meaning that the user
positions the laser head using the lighted red cross-hair, and
indicates in the software, where on the design the laser should
begin working.
e always-on red cross-hairs are a significant benefit, since the
user can position a workpiece anywhere in the laser bed, and
manually move the laser head to the desired start position.
Workbed. e proprietary Honeycomb Working Panel set is an
optional accessory made from aluminum and iron (FIG. 12).
It fits on the working space of the D1, protecting the surface
on which the D1 sits, and diverting the exhaustion of smoke
through its channels. e surface is magnetic, making it possi-
ble to secure workpieces in place, either directly, if they are thin,
like paper or cardstock, or indirectly, for thicker workpieces, in
custom user-made magnetic jigs.
FIG. 12. e xTool
Honeycomb Working
Panel consists of two
pieces: the honeycomb
top panel, with im-
printed mm incre-
ments along the left
and bottom sides, and
a rigid aluminum
base. Credit: xTool

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Focusing on Laser Imaging and Decorating xTool D1 Laser Engraver/Cutter
Air Assist. An air assist attachment adds a proven and trusted
method for removing smoke and other harmful airborne par-
ticulates from around the tip of the laser (FIG. 13). In addition
to keeping the laser lens cleaner, it is also the primary means by
which smoke, char and burn marks are reduced or eliminated
from the surface of workpieces when laser cutting. Particularly
noteworthy is that the use of air assist can reduce the number
of passes required for cutting, thereby reducing processing time.
e xTool D1 air assist, designed as an integrated unit for the
D1, is distinguished by its small, quiet, pump, its low level of
vibration, and its significant amount of air movement.
FIG. 13. An air assist unit, such as the one designed for the xTool
D1, is an essential add-on, producing higher quality output in less
time. Credit: xTool
Rotary Attachment. e D1 rotary attachment (FIG. 14), unlike
the Ortur Rotary, comes completely assembled. It is engineered
to work seamlessly with the Laserbox Basic, engaged by simply
selecting the “toggle for cylindrical” option in Laserbox Basic.
To connect the device to the D1 the user simply plugs its cable
into the control board, and it is ready to use.
e rotary enables synchronized engraving on cylindrical ob-
jects, such as water bottles, drinking glasses, and mugs. It slowly
turns the object as the laser head traverses, burning the design
onto its surface.
Maintenance. e laser head has an expected life expectancy of
8000-10,000 hours, and will, as is the nature of lasers, degrade
over time. One of the things that will shorten its life is run-
ning the power at 100% for extended periods. is should be
avoided. Rather than running at 100% the user can decrease the
speed, or increase the number of passes.
Routine maintenance is fairly easy. e light shield must be
cleaned regularly as well as the laser lens. e light shield tends
to trap soot and smoke and negatively impact the clarity of the
FIG. 14. e xTool Rotary attachment enables the engraving of cy-
lindrical objects.
lens. An air assist can help keep the air circulating around the
lens.
When cleaning the light shield or the laser head, disconnect the
power from the machine. Use alcohol on a lint-free cloth or pa-
per towel to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the shield. Use
an alcohol-soaked cotton swab to clean the laser lens and the
cross-hair sight. A helpful video can be viewed at https://youtu.
be/lh53_cg6tW0.
Lubrication of the steel shafts is critical to preventing rust and
maintaining the smooth travel of the x-axis wheels. For these
purposes xTool includes a small container of grease in the assem-
bly kit package (FIG. 15).
FIG. 15. Super Lube, recommended for use on
the xTool D1, is a multi-purpose, safe, synthet-
ic lubricant. Due to some shipping limitations
it may not be included with all assembly kits.
It is available from Amazon at https://amzn.
to/35vpwIT. Credit: Amazon
e tension on the belts is a critical setting. If the belts are too
loose they will cause deformation of the engraved or cut pattern.
Tightening the belts, although an uncommon need, is easily
done with an Allen wrench.
Contact: Shenzhen MakerWorks Technology Co., LTD, US
Address: Maker Works Technology Inc., 16035 Arrow Hwy.,
Irwindale, CA 91706, https://www.xtool.com, xTool Customer
Service: [email protected].