Understanding the xTool F1 Ultra

The xTool F1 Ultra combines two laser sources in one enclosed machine: a fibre infrared laser and a blue-light diode laser.

Fibre infrared laser

This source is generally relevant to suitable metals and selected plastics, subject to the exact material and desired effect.

Blue-light diode laser

This source is generally relevant to compatible wood, coated surfaces and selected non-metal materials.

The machine does not remove the need for testing

Two products may look identical but use different alloys, paint systems or clear coatings. Settings that produce a clean result on one batch can produce a different result on another.

Choosing the Correct Laser Source

Metal Pens vs Tumblers vs Business Cards

How to Personalise Metal Pens

Metal pens are suitable for employee welcome sets, conferences, customer appreciation, graduations and executive gifts.

Suitable engraving content

• Recipient name
• Company logo
• Department
• Event name
• Short appreciation message
• Serial or membership number

Best layout direction

Use short horizontal information that remains readable when the pen is held normally. Keep the artwork clear of the clip, mechanism, grip and barrel joint.

Check writing orientation

Determine whether the name should face the writer, face outward when clipped to a pocket or align with the manufacturer’s existing branding.

Inspect the mechanism

Confirm that loading, clamping and cleaning do not affect the click mechanism, twist mechanism, cap or refill.

Pen Materials and Coatings

Common possibilities

• Anodised aluminium
• Painted aluminium
• Powder-coated metal
• Stainless-steel component
• Chrome-plated component
• Plastic barrel with metallic appearance
• Mixed metal and plastic construction

Do not identify a pen by appearance alone

A silver barrel may be polished metal, plated plastic or painted aluminium. A black barrel may be anodised, powder-coated or lacquered.

Coating-removal effects vary

The laser may expose silver-coloured metal, a darker base, a different coating layer or an uneven surface. Approve the real result rather than describing the outcome only as “white engraving.”

Pen Positioning and Jigs

A simple multi-position jig can hold several identical pens with their clips and engraving areas aligned.

The jig should control:

• Pen rotation
• Barrel direction
• Clip position
• Engraving height
• Spacing between pens
• Loading sequence

Use separate jigs for different models

Small differences in barrel diameter, taper, clip height or centre of gravity can change alignment.

Protect the product finish

Contact surfaces should be clean and should not scratch or transfer residue to the pen.

How to Personalise Tumblers and Flasks

Tumblers provide a larger personalisation area than pens, but their curved surface introduces additional setup and alignment requirements.

Suitable artwork

• Recipient name
• Company logo
• Event title
• Department
• Simple decorative pattern
• Short quotation or message

Check the product shape

• Parallel-sided or tapered
• Handle or no handle
• Lid width
• Raised seam
• Base ring
• Coating transition

Confirm the coating

Powder coatings, paints and decorative finishes can respond differently. Even tumblers from the same supplier may change between colours or batches.

Using a Rotary Attachment

A compatible rotary attachment rotates the product while the laser processes artwork across a cylindrical surface.

Roller mode

Roller mode supports suitable cylindrical items resting on rotating rollers. The product must sit securely without sliding.

Chuck mode

Chuck mode grips a suitable product using approved jaws or supports. It can provide more controlled rotation for certain objects.

Before processing, confirm:

• Rotary attachment compatibility
• Product diameter
• Product length
• Taper
• Correct roller or chuck mode
• Stable product support
• Correct circumference or diameter entry
• Safe clearance from the laser head

Tumbler Artwork Layout

Choose a defined decoration zone

Keep the artwork clear of handles, seams, lid transitions, base rings and strongly tapered areas.

Small front logo

A small logo or name on the front is generally simpler than a large wraparound design.

Wraparound design

A larger design requires accurate circumference measurement, rotary calibration and consideration of start-and-end alignment.

Names of different lengths

Use an approved maximum width. Decide whether longer names should shrink, wrap onto two lines or require customer review.

Handle orientation

For handled drinkware, confirm whether the artwork should face a right-handed user, a left-handed user or face outward during display.

How to Personalise Metal Business Cards

Flat metal business cards are efficient for batch work because multiple cards can be placed in a controlled jig and engraved using a fixed layout.

Suitable content

• Name
• Job title
• Company
• Telephone
• Email
• Website
• QR Code
• Membership or serial number

Suitable commercial uses

• Premium business cards
• VIP membership cards
• Event passes
• Limited-edition promotional cards
• Recognition cards
• Product authentication or information cards

Use a flat multi-card jig

The jig should control card orientation, spacing and edge position while protecting previously printed or coated surfaces.

Metal Card Materials and Finishes

Possible card constructions

• Black anodised aluminium
• Coloured anodised aluminium
• Painted aluminium
• Coated stainless steel
• Brushed metal
• Mirror-finish metal
• UV-printed and laser-personalised metal card

Black cards

Black anodised or coated cards may provide strong contrast when the surface layer is modified or removed, but the final tone depends on the construction.

Silver and reflective cards

Reflective cards can make marks difficult to evaluate under one lighting angle. Inspect them under direct and diffuse lighting.

Printed cards

Keep the laser-personalisation area separate from UV-printed ink unless the complete printed structure has been reviewed and tested for laser processing.

Variable Names, Titles and Personalisation Data

Use one controlled spreadsheet for personalised quantities rather than creating individual files manually.

Data checks

• Spelling
• Capitalisation
• Honorifics
• Leading zeros
• Duplicate records
• Long names
• Unsupported characters
• Correct product and colour

QR Codes, Barcodes and Serial Numbers

xTool Studio includes code-generation and batch tools that can support QR Codes, barcodes and automatic numbering.

QR Code recommendations

• Use a stable destination
• Keep a clear quiet zone
• Use strong foreground-to-background contrast
• Avoid placing the code over curved or tapered areas where possible
• Do not place the code near card edges or pen clips
• Test every produced code

Serial-number recommendations

• Use a consistent prefix
• Choose a fixed number of digits
• Preserve leading zeros
• Avoid accidental duplicates
• Record rejected and replaced numbers

Artwork Preparation

Preferred artwork

• AI
• Editable vector PDF
• SVG
• Suitable high-resolution bitmap for photographs

Separate artwork elements

• Fixed company logo
• Variable recipient name
• Variable title
• Serial number
• QR Code
• Product outline
• Safe engraving area
• Jig reference

Convert approved fonts carefully

Outlining helps preserve the design, but retain an editable master for spelling corrections and future additions.

Avoid extremely thin details

Fine lines and small counters inside letters can disappear or become uneven according to the material and engraving size.

Review How to Prepare Vector Artwork for xTool Creative Space.

Text Size and Long-Name Handling

The smallest workable text depends on the font, material, contrast, laser settings and viewing distance.

Create a name-width rule

Establish the maximum width for each product and decide what happens when the name exceeds that width.

Possible rules

• Reduce the font size within an approved range
• Use a narrower approved font
• Split the name into two lines
• Remove an optional title
• Request customer approval for exceptional names

Test the longest name first

A layout that works for “Lee” may not work for a longer name. Include the longest expected name in the sample stage.

Create a Material Test Grid

A test grid compares controlled changes in laser settings on a spare or representative sample.

Possible variables

• Power
• Speed
• Frequency where available
• Line interval
• Number of passes
• Focus position
• Laser source

Evaluate:

• Contrast
• Detail
• Surface damage
• Coating removal
• Depth
• Residue
• Cleaning result
• Consistency across the product

Record the complete result

Store the supplier, product code, colour, batch, date, machine, laser source, settings and photograph of the approved result.

Sample Testing and Approval

The approval sample should use:

• The final product model
• The intended colour
• The final coating
• The approved artwork size
• The intended jig or rotary setup
• The proposed name layout
• The final cleaning method
• The intended packaging

Approve appearance and position

Confirm mark contrast, depth, alignment, spelling and viewing orientation.

Photographs may not show the complete finish

Reflective metal, engraved depth and coating variation can appear differently under changing light. A physical sample may be necessary for significant orders.

Recommended Production Workflow

1. Confirm the approved order.
   Check product, material, colour, quantity, artwork, names and completion date.
2. Inspect incoming products.
   Remove scratched, dented, contaminated or inconsistent units.
3. Verify the product model.
   Confirm that it matches the approved sample and jig.
4. Prepare the variable data.
   Import only approved rows and check long names and duplicates.
5. Load the correct machine profile.
   Confirm laser source, settings and fixture.
6. Run the first production piece.
   Check position, spelling, contrast, depth and surface condition.
7. Approve the first piece.
   Record the operator and approved result.
8. Process the controlled batch.
   Maintain product and data sequence.
9. Inspect during production.
   Check for movement, focus changes and coating variation.
10. Clean using the approved method.
    Avoid damaging the coating or nearby printed areas.
11. Match each item to its packaging.
    Confirm recipient, product colour, accessories and label.
12. Reconcile the final quantity.
    Record approved pieces, rejects, replacements, samples and spares.

Batch Personalisation

Batch processing reduces repeated manual editing when each product uses the same layout but different names, numbers or codes.

Suitable batch work

• Employee names on pens
• Attendee names on tumblers
• Membership numbers on cards
• Sequential serial numbers
• Individual QR Codes
• Different department labels

Keep physical products in sequence

Use numbered trays, jig positions or temporary labels so the physical product remains matched to the correct spreadsheet row.

Replace rejected products carefully

A replacement item should use the same variable record. Record the rejected item so the same serial number is not produced twice unintentionally.

Quality-Control Checklist

Inspect every variable item

Sample-based inspection alone is not sufficient when each name, serial number or QR Code is different.

Cleaning and Handling

Use an approved cleaning method

The correct method depends on the coating, material, residue and any nearby printed decoration.

Avoid:

• Unapproved strong solvents
• Abrasive pads
• Metal scrapers
• Excessive rubbing
• Stacking unprotected metal cards
• Loose tumblers contacting one another
• Oily handling gloves

Use suitable protection

• Clean lint-free cloths
• Soft product trays
• Interleaving sheets
• Individual pouches
• Clean gloves where appropriate

Packaging and Recipient Matching

Metal pens

Use individual pen boxes, sleeves or trays that prevent the pen from moving and scratching.

Tumblers

Protect the body, lid and accessories. Use a suitable outer carton for courier delivery.

Metal cards

Use sleeves, envelopes or individual pouches to prevent metal-to-metal contact and surface scratching.

Variable product control

Keep a sequence number on the temporary tray or packing label until the personalised product is sealed inside the correct package.

Final packing check

• Correct recipient
• Correct product
• Correct product colour
• Correct accessories
• Correct message card
• Correct delivery label

How to Price Pens, Tumblers and Metal Cards

Product costs

• Blank product
• Colour or model variation
• Supplier minimum quantity
• Replacement pieces
• Accessories

Preparation costs

• Artwork preparation
• Vector redrawing
• Variable-data preparation
• QR Code generation
• Jig preparation
• Rotary setup
• Sample testing

Production costs

• Machine setup
• Engraving time
• Loading and unloading
• Cleaning
• Individual inspection
• Rejected-product allowance
• Recipient matching
• Packaging

Use a minimum setup charge

A one-piece personalised order can require artwork review, testing, jig setup and administration similar to a larger order.

Review How to Price Custom Laser-Cutting and Engraving Jobs.

Customer-Supplied Pens, Tumblers and Cards

Request:

• Product model
• Material
• Coating
• Supplier information
• Dimensions
• Spare units for testing
• Replacement availability
• Written agreement on testing risk

Possible issues

• Unknown coating
• Different colours using different coating systems
• Silicone or oil contamination
• Hidden plastic components
• Heat-sensitive adhesive
• Existing scratches
• Inconsistent diameter or taper

Safety and Material Identification

Before processing

• Identify the exact product material
• Identify coatings and decorative layers
• Remove flammable packaging
• Confirm suitable extraction or purification
• Confirm safe fixture clearance
• Follow the machine’s enclosure and supervision requirements

Do not process unknown materials

A metallic-looking product may contain plastic, vinyl, adhesive or another layer that is unsuitable for laser processing.

Drinkware precautions

Keep lids, seals, plastic handles and internal components outside the laser-processing area unless their suitability has been confirmed.

No food-contact claim

Personalisation on the external surface does not automatically establish food-contact compliance, dishwasher suitability or cleaning durability.

Review Laser Safety, Ventilation and Material Identification.

Common Production Mistakes

Information Needed for an Accurate Quotation

What Image Magic Recommends

Important Material, Appearance and Durability Note

Frequently Asked Questions