You can use xTool F1 with the rotary attachment to process cylindrical materials. With Rotary Attachment 2 Pro, you can also process spherical and irregular materials.
This page describes how to use xTool F1 with the rotary attachment for processing.
Note: No rotary attachment is included in the pack of xTool F1.
Set up the rotary attachment
Rotary Attachment 2 Pro supports two working modes: Roller mode and Chuck mode. Rotary Attachment 1 and Rotary Attachment 2 support only Roller mode.
Assemble and set up the rotary attachment based on your need.
- If you use the Roller mode, you can set the rotary attachment to A, B, or C level.
Level A | Level B | Level C |
Diameter of material: 3 mm≤d≤50 mm | Diameter of material: 45 mm≤d≤60 mm | Diameter of material: d>60 mm |
- If you use the Chuck mode, you can install jaw chuck components and jaw components based on your need.
Note: For detailed information and instructions on how to use the rotary attachment, see User Manual for Rotary Attachment 2 (RA2).
Connect the rotary attachment to xTool F1
- Use the connection cable to connect the rotary attachment with xTool F1.
Note: If the connection cable included in the rotary attachment pack is incompatible with xTool F1, you need to purchase a compatible one.
- Take out the removable baseplate and place it on the right side of the base of xTool F1.
- Place the rotary attachment across the xTool F1 base and the removable baseplate. Depending on the working mode and level setting of your rotary attachment, align its front bottom edge to the corresponding marking lines on the xTool F1 base.
Note: There are three groups of marking lines on the base of xTool F1.
- If you use the rotary attachment in Roller mode and set it to Level A, align its front bottom edge to Group 1 marking lines on the xTool F1 base.
- If you use the rotary attachment in Roller mode and set it to Level B, align its front bottom edge to Group 2 marking lines on the xTool F1 base.
- If you use the rotary attachment in Roller mode and set it to Level C or use the Chuck mode, align its front bottom edge to Group 3 marking lines on the xTool F1 base.
Start processing with XCS on your computer
1. Place the material
- If you use the rotary attachment in Roller mode, place the material between the two rollers.
- If you use the rotary attachment in Chuck mode, fix the material on the jaws.
There are two processes available for the following steps.
To design a pattern and set parameters from scratch, please follow the procedure of "Option 1".
To use a previously saved project, please follow the procedure of "Option 2".
Option 1:
2. Select the processing mode and material name
(1) On the right side of XCS, select Laser cylindrical.
(2) Select the name of your material.
Note:
If you can't find your material in the list, you can click + More to search among more materials in the xTool SELECTED online material center.
If you still can't find the name of your material, you can select User-defined material.
Note:
After you select a material on the material list or xTool Selected online material center, the software will automatically set parameters for laser processing.
The default settings apply to xTool materials. You can adjust the settings based on your needs.
Note：
- Supported materials of blue laser: black alumina, metal name card, rock coaster, acrylic, aluminum sheet, wood, corrugated paper, cobblestone, etc.
- Supported materials of infrared laser: black alumina, metal name card, rock coaster, acrylic, aluminum sheet, copper sheet, stainless steel, etc.
(3) Select the working mode of the rotary attachment.
- Roller
If you use the rotary attachment in Roller mode, select Roller.
- Chuck
If you use the rotary attachment in Chuck mode, select Chuck and enter the Perimeter or Diameter of the material.
3. Set the laser focus
(1) Check whether the red and blue light spots are both on the top surface of the material. If not, follow the steps in "Connect the rotary attachment to xTool F1" to readjust the position of the rotary attachment.
(2) Turn the knob to move the laser module up and down. When the red and blue light spots coincide, the focus is successfully set.
Note: If you turn the knob clockwise, the laser module will move up, and the red light spot will move toward the left. If you turn the knob counterclockwise, the laser module will move down, and the red light spot will move toward the right.
Note: When the bottom of the laser module reaches the highest point, stop turning the knob up.
4. Design objects for processing
(1) Use the tools to the left side of the canvas to create objects. You can import images, insert shapes, enter text, or draw vector graphics.
Note: XCS supports importing the following image formats: SVG, DXF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIF, CR2, etc.
(2) Select objects and use the toolbar above the canvas to further edit the objects.
Note: If you select an image object, you can edit the image by using the tools on the right side of the canvas.
5. Set parameters for processing
Select objects on the canvas. Then, on the right side of the XCS home screen, set parameters for the selected objects.
Note:
You need to set parameters for every object. A missed object may fail to be processed.
The parameters that can be set for bitmap objects and vector objects are different. You can select multiple objects of the same type and set parameters for them at once.
Note：xTool F1 integrates blue laser with infrared laser. You can select Laser type for each object based on your needs,
- Supported materials of blue laser: black alumina, metal name card, rock coaster, acrylic, aluminium sheet, wood, corrugated paper, cobblestone, etc.
- Supported materials of infrared laser: black alumina, metal name card, rock coaster, acrylic, aluminium sheet, copper sheet, stainless steel, etc.
For bitmaps
For vectors
Note: For a detailed explanation of each parameter, see support.xtool.com/hc/en-us/categories/9157502370455-XCS.
6. Preview the processing area
(1) At the bottom right corner of the software, click the setting icon next to the Framing button to set the parameters for framing.
(2) Click Framing in the software or press the framing button on xTool F1 to start framing. The laser spot will move along the boundary of the processing pattern on the material so that you can preview the processing area.
By default, xTool F1 performs framing for all the elements to be processed. To preview the boundary of one or more particular elements, you can select the elements on the canvas of XCS during framing. The laser spot will move along the boundary of the selected elements, as illustrated by the following pictures.
- Default framing:
- Selected elements framing:
If the area is not ideal, you can adjust the element positions in XCS during framing. xTool F1 will adjust the framing area accordingly, allowing you to preview the processing area in real time.
Note: Before framing, pull down the protective enclosure and wear goggles that can shield laser beams of 455 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths.
Note: To stop framing, click Stop framing in the software or press the framing button on xTool F1.
7. Start processing
(1) On the bottom right corner of the software, click Processing.
(2) Preview the processing objects in the software. Then, in the upper right corner of the software, click Processing.
(3) Pull down the protective enclosure. Then, press the knob on xTool F1 to start processing.
Note: Before processing, pull down the protective enclosure and wear goggles that can shield laser beams of 455 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths.
Option 2:
2. Open a saved project
(1) In the upper left corner of XCS, click File > Open project.
(2) Select an xTool Creative Space Project (.xcs) file and click Open.
Note: A project file contains objects for processing and processing configurations for each object. You can adjust the objects and parameter settings before you start framing and processing.
For more information about how to save and use projects, see support.xtool.com/hc/en-us/categories/9157502370455-XCS.
3. Preview the processing area
(1) At the bottom right corner of the software, click the setting icon next to the Framing button to set the parameters for framing.
(2) Click Framing in the software or press the framing button on xTool F1 to start framing. The laser spot will move along the boundary of the processing pattern on the material so that you can preview the processing area.
By default, xTool F1 performs framing for all the elements to be processed. To preview the boundary of one or more particular elements, you can select the elements on the canvas of XCS during framing. The laser spot will move along the boundary of the selected elements, as illustrated by the following pictures.
- Default framing:
- Selected elements framing:
If the area is not ideal, you can adjust the element positions in XCS during framing. xTool F1 will adjust the framing area accordingly, allowing you to preview the processing area in real time.
Note: Before framing, pull down the protective enclosure and wear goggles that can shield laser beams of 455 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths.
Note: To stop framing, click Stop framing in the software or press the framing button on xTool F1.
4. Start processing
Note: Using the infrared laser for bitmap engraving at a low temperature may lead to unsatisfying engraving results. To ensure better engraving results, you can preheat the laser module before processing.
(1) On the bottom right corner of the software, click Process.
(2) Preview the processing objects in the software. Then, in the upper right corner of the software, click Process.
(3) Pull down the protective enclosure. Then, press the knob on xTool F1 to start processing.
Note: Before processing, pull down the protective enclosure and wear goggles that can shield laser beams of 455 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths.
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