The best machine depends on whether the job is sheet cutting, portable marking, deep metal engraving, MOPA colour work or UV processing. This guide separates those process classes before comparing products.
For enclosed sheet cutting: start with S1 for a compact diode workflow or P3 when CO₂ throughput, transparent acrylic capability and a much larger 915 × 458 mm working area justify the footprint and budget.
For portable marking: F2 is the sensible entry point. For deeper metal engraving: F1 Ultra is the value step into 20W fibre. For metal production: F2 Ultra is the higher-throughput 60W MOPA option. For glass and heat-sensitive detail: F2 Ultra UV is a different process class, not an “upgrade” to the MOPA machine.
| Machine | Laser source | Working envelope | Best engineering use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | Switchable diode; optional 1064 nm IR | ~498 × 319/330 mm | Enclosed wood/acrylic sheet work, fixtures, labels, panels | Diode cutting/marking is not a substitute for CO₂ or fibre on every material |
| P3 | 80W CO₂; optional 5W IR | 915 × 458 mm | Higher-throughput cutting, larger acrylic/wood work, batch production | Large capital/space commitment |
| F2 | 15W diode + 5W 1064 nm IR | 115 × 115 mm; 400 × 115 mm with extension | Portable metal/plastic marking plus general engraving | Small field; not a metal-cutting platform |
| F1 Ultra | 20W fibre + 20W diode | 220 × 220 mm; 220 × 500 mm with conveyor | Deep metal marking/engraving, mixed material batch work | More expensive and less portable than F2 |
| F2 Ultra | 60W MOPA + 40W diode | 220 × 220 mm; 220 × 500 mm with conveyor | Metal colour, embossing, deeper engraving and production throughput | Overkill for occasional nameplates or simple marking |
| F2 Ultra UV | 5W 355 nm UV | 200 × 200 mm surface; 70 × 70 mm inner engraving | Glass, crystal, technical plastics and fine low-heat processing | Specialist process; not the default cutter or metal-production choice |
The S1 makes sense when the dominant jobs are sheet materials, fixtures, packaging prototypes, control-panel labels, templates and general workshop engraving. The current UK S1 page lists a Class 1 machine configuration, up to 600 mm/s working speed and a working area around 498 × 319/330 mm depending on module. The important engineering advantage is not merely power: the enclosure, interlocks and switchable modules make it easier to build a controlled process than with a bare open-frame diode system.
The sensible baseline for an enclosed, general-purpose laser workstation where wood, opaque acrylic, leather and coated/painted materials dominate.
D&L view: Strong recommendation for a first enclosed workshop laser when CO₂ throughput is not required.
Check current price at xTool UK →The P3 moves into a different process envelope. xTool specifies an 80W CO₂ source, a 36 × 18 inch (915 × 458 mm) working area, up to 1200 mm/s maximum speed and an ACS workflow that combines camera positioning, autofocus/LiDAR and automated height control. CO₂ also matters because its interaction with organics and acrylic is fundamentally different from a visible diode. If transparent acrylic cutting is part of the requirement, that source difference is more important than a simple wattage comparison.
A high-ticket production machine for users who can exploit the larger bed, CO₂ material compatibility, automated setup and batch workflow.
D&L view: Recommended where CO₂ is genuinely required and utilisation can justify the footprint/capital.
Check current price at xTool UK →F2 combines a 15W blue diode with a 5W 1064 nm infrared source. The 50 MP camera and 6000 mm/s maximum scanning speed make it attractive for on-site or low-volume customisation, and the IR source gives it a much better route into metals and plastics than a diode-only engraver. But 5W IR should not be confused with the metal-removal capability of a higher-power fibre/MOPA machine.
Best when portability, camera alignment and broad marking capability matter more than depth or large field size.
D&L view: Strong recommendation for portable and small-batch marking.
Check current price at xTool UK →F1 Ultra pairs 20W fibre with a 20W diode and expands the field to 220 × 220 mm, with a conveyor option to 220 × 500 mm. xTool specifies up to 10,000 mm/s and publishes metal cutting limits in sub-millimetre sheet ranges. For engineering users, the important change is that the fibre source can remove more metal and produce deeper, more durable marks than the lower-power IR source in F2.
A good fit for serialised components, durable equipment marking, metal tags and deeper engraving where F2 would be too light.
D&L view: Recommended as the balanced fibre/diode machine in the current range.
Check current price at xTool UK →The F2 Ultra uses a 60W MOPA source plus 40W diode and xTool lists dual 48 MP cameras, a 220 × 220 mm field and up to 15,000 mm/s. MOPA architecture provides more control over pulse parameters than a conventional fixed-pulse fibre source; that is why colour marking on stainless steel and process tuning across metals are central to the machine’s value proposition. If the work is only occasional QR codes on anodised aluminium, it is difficult to justify. If the work is repeat metal engraving, embossing and colour marking, it is a much more coherent purchase.
The metal-production choice in this shortlist when process flexibility and throughput justify the cost.
D&L view: Strong recommendation for sustained metal work; unnecessary for light marking.
Check current price at xTool UK →The UV model uses a 5W 355 nm source, dual 48 MP cameras and a 200 × 200 mm surface field. Its shorter wavelength and high photon energy make it attractive for fine material removal and marking with a smaller heat-affected zone. That is why glass, crystal, plastics and fine detail are the relevant comparison set rather than deep metal cutting.
A specialist machine for glass/crystal, technical plastics and fine low-heat marking where a fibre/MOPA process is the wrong mechanism.
D&L view: Recommended when UV capability is the requirement; not as a general-purpose first laser.
Check current price at xTool UK →Extraction, duct routing, filter maintenance, fire controls, material identification and operator procedures should be specified at the same time as the laser. A Class 1 enclosure does not mean the process produces no hazardous fume.
For transparent acrylic and higher-throughput sheet cutting, a CO2 machine such as the xTool P3 is the stronger process fit. Diode systems are better treated as a different material/process class.
F2 is a compact entry route for marking; F1 Ultra provides a stronger fibre route for deeper engraving; F2 Ultra adds 60W MOPA capability for higher-throughput metal work and colour marking.
You need an effective fume-control strategy appropriate to the material and site. That may be external extraction, filtration, or a combination; the machine purchase alone does not determine exposure control.
