xTool S1 40W Settings & Speeds

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Heavier card needs more power. Still fast single pass.

Very light touch for surface marking on card.

Fast cut at low power. No air assist — can blow lightweight paper.

Single pass. Cork cuts cleanly — use masking to keep surface clean.

Cork engraves very quickly. Low power to avoid burning through thin areas.

Same as slate sheet. Coasters vary in surface finish — test first. Invert image.

Fractures surface to reveal lighter material beneath. Invert image — engraved areas appear lighter.

Same as black ano sheet. Lower speed slightly for deeper ablation on thicker tags.

Black ano gives the best contrast. Single pass at 254-300 DPI. Clean with IPA after.

Ablates anodizing to reveal bare aluminum. Clean with IPA first. Black anodized gives highest contrast.

Cuts cleanly. Air assist prevents edge melting.

PU/faux leather engraves well at lower power. Avoid high power which melts the backing.

Score fold lines. Very light power to avoid cutting through.

Single pass for 2-3mm leather. Thicker hides may need 2 passes.

Veg-tan leather engraves with excellent contrast. Chrome-tanned produces toxic fumes — avoid.

Engrave from the back side — the mirrored coating faces forward in the final piece.

Engrave from the back for mirror-finish results. Cut from front.

Clear acrylic needs lower power to frost surface without melting.

Two passes. Extruded clear acrylic cuts well; cast gives polished edge.

Lower power for cleaner engraving on black acrylic — avoids surface melting.

Two passes for clean edge. Air assist keeps cut channel clear of melt.

Pine grain gives natural variation in burn depth. Test across grain.

Pine resin can flare — air assist essential. Single pass on 3mm.

Two passes. MDF off-gasses significantly — use strong ventilation.

MDF engraves dark — reduce power for lighter results.

MDF cuts cleanly in one pass. Air assist reduces soot buildup on lens.

High speed for lighter, detailed engraving on thin stock.

Very fast single pass — reduce speed to 900 if edges char.

Two passes at full power. Air assist critical on thick ply.

Birch engraves with good contrast. Test at 55-65% to match your batch.

Single-pass cut. Baltic birch is denser than basswood — may need 2 passes on knots.

Deeper burn for bolder results on thicker stock.

Two passes recommended. Refocus between passes for cleanest edge.

Score lines for folding or detail work.

General wood engraving. Lower speed for darker burn; raise for lighter.

Single-pass cut. Air assist essential. Mask surface to reduce char.

What materials can the xTool S1 40W engrave or cut?

The xTool S1 40W has community-tested settings for Cardstock 300gsm, Cardstock 160gsm, Cork 3mm, Slate (coaster), Slate, Black Anodized Aluminum Dog Tag, Black Anodized Aluminum, Anodized Aluminum, and 13 more. Results vary by material batch, focus, and ambient conditions — always test on scrap first.

Is the xTool S1 40W compatible with LightBurn?

Yes, the xTool S1 40W works natively with LightBurn, as well as xTool Creative Space.

What is the work area of the xTool S1 40W?

The xTool S1 40W has a work area of 498×319 mm (approximately 20×13 inches).

What settings should I use to cut Cardstock 300gsm on the xTool S1 40W?

A community-tested starting point is speed 2000 mm/min, power 60% in a single pass. Always run a test cut on scrap to confirm before committing to your project.

Can the xTool S1 40W engrave metal?

Diode lasers can mark anodized aluminium, coated metals, and powder-coated surfaces without any spray. For bare steel, brass, or copper you need a marking compound like Cermark or Dry Moly. Fiber lasers mark bare metal directly without any coating.