xTool Creative Space (XCS) is an all-in-one software for graphic designing and editing, laser process setting, and machine controlling.

Download and connect to XCS

Minimum and recommended requirements for mobile phones

• With the minimum configurations, all the functions of XCS can be used properly. When you import a complex image, however, XCS may fail to run smoothly.
• With the recommended configurations, XCS can run more smoothly when you import and edit a complex image, the software delay may be shorter, and the performance is better.
   

Download and install XCS

(1) Search for "xTool Creative Space" in App Store or Google Play or visit xtool.com/software to download the app and install it on your mobile phone.

(2) Open XCS. On the top-right corner, tap and select the language you use.

Connect xTool F1 Ultra to XCS

You can connect xTool F1 Ultra to XCS through hotspot mode, Wi-Fi, or IP address.

Hotspot connection

(1) On the home screen, tap Connect device > Hotspot. Tap Allow location access to permit XCS to access your precise location.

(2) Ensure that xTool F1 Ultra is turned on, and check the touchscreen of xTool F1 Ultra.

• If there is an "AP" icon in the top-left corner of the screen, it indicates that the device is in hotspot mode. Go to the next step directly.
  
   
• If there is no "AP" icon in the top-left corner of the screen, press the XTOOL Start/Stop button on the touchscreen controller for 5 seconds until it beeps and displays the AP icon.
  
  

(3) Reenter the Hotspot connection mode, wait for a while, and you can see your device name on the list. Tap it to connect to it.

Wi-Fi/IP connection

(1) Follow the instructions to Connect xTool F1 Ultra to a Wi-Fi network. in desktop XCS.

(2) Ensure that your mobile phone connects to the same Wi-Fi network as xTool F1 Ultra. Then, on the home screen of XCS, tap Connect device.

(3) Select Wi-Fi and tap your device name on the list to connect it. Or select IP, and then enter the IP address of your device to connect it.
 

Note: If you cannot find your device through Wi-Fi, try IP connection instead.

Note: If there is an "AP" icon in the top-left corner of the screen, it indicates that the device is in hotspot mode. Press the XTOOL Start/Stop button on the device for 5 seconds until it beeps and the AP icon disappears, and then connect the device through Wi-Fi or IP address again.

Set up xTool F1 Ultra in XCS

(1) On the home screen, tap the device name to view the device information.

Device name: Tap to change the device name.
User guide: Tap to view the user guide for the device.
Firmware version: Check for updates and update the firmware if a new version is available.
Wi-Fi setting: Connect the device to a Wi-Fi network.
Hotspot password: Set a hotspot password for the device, so that if others want to connect to your device in Hotspot mode, they need to enter a password.
 

(2) At the bottom, tap Device settings, and set up the device for work.

Flame alarm: If a flame is detected, xTool F1 Ultra will pause processing and raise the alarm. Low means low detection sensitivity; High means high detection sensitivity.
Stops when moved: If xTool F1 Ultra is moved or tilted during processing, it will pause processing.
Stops when enclosure opened: If the protective enclosure is opened during processing, xTool F1 will pause processing.

Buzzer reminders: Turn on or off the beeping sound of the device.
Fill light brightness: Adjust the brightness of the fill light in the working area.
Exhaust time after processing: The time duration the exhaust fan continues to work after a processing task ends.
Z-axis homing: Tap Homing to return the laser module to its original position.

Export .xf file: Export the current project as a .xf file for offline processing.

Fiber IR and blue-light laser calibration: Calibrate the laser module to compensate for some mechanical errors due to long-distance transportation.

Process a material in XCS

1. Create a new project

On the bottom of the home screen, tap the + icon > + New project.

2. Select the processing mode and material name

(1) In the bottom-right corner of the project editing page, tap Setting.

(2) Select a processing mode. Here we use Process on flat surface as an example.

Note: For now, mobile XCS doesn't support the Use conveyor-batch mode.

(3) Select the name of your material, and click Confirm. If you can't find the name of your material, you can select User-defined material.

Note: You can click + Material EasySet Library at the bottom to search among more materials.

Note: After you select a material on the material list or material library, 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.
If you select User-defined material, you need to set the processing parameters by yourself.

3. Place the material and perform laser focusing

(1) Lift the protective enclosure, and place the material on the baseplate, allowing the blue light spot to fall on the surface of the material.

Note: 
- To cut a material, you are advised to place the slatted panel under the material, so as to reduce the burned area on the back of the material and protect the baseplate.

- If the material is too light, you are advised to use tools such as tape to fix the material. Otherwise, the airflow of the exhaust fan may cause the material to move during processing.

(2) Hold down on the Up/Down button for laser module to lift or lower the laser module. When the red and blue light spots overlap, the focus is successfully set.

Note: The blue light spot does not move. If the laser module moves up, the red light spot moves towards the left. If the laser module moves down, the red light spot moves towards the right.

After you finish focusing, you can see the measured material thickness in Processing setting in XCS.

Note: xTool F1 Ultra supports auto-focus and manual-focus. Here we use manual-focus. For more information on how to use auto-focus, see Focus the Laser.

4. Shoot background and design processing objects

(1) In the bottom-left corner of the project editing page, tap Snapshot preview > Refresh.

Note: XSC takes a photo of xTool F1 Ultra’s processing area and uses it as the canvas background. You can position processing objects based on the background.

Note: To ensure positioning accuracy, set the laser focus before shooting the background.

(2) Use the tools on the bottom to design processing objects on the material. 

Note: You can import images, insert shapes, enter text, draw vector graphics, and so on. For more information on how to use XCS to design objects, see Software Learning Center.

5. Edit objects and set processing parameters

(1) Select objects on the canvas and set parameters for them.

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.

Processing type

Image - Engrave: Laser beams hit the surface of the material to change the color of the surface. By creating different shades of color on the material surface, xTool F1 Ultra prints an image on the material.

Vector - Score: Laser beams walk along the path of the vector graphic, drawing the vector on the material with lines.

Vector - Engrave: Laser beams walk through the entire area enclosed by the vector path, engraving the vector on the material with monochromatic fillings.

Vector - Cut: Laser beams cut the material along the path of the vector graphic.

Setting

If you have saved settings for the same type of material before, you can use your saved settings.

If you want to manually set the parameters, select User-defined parameters. Then, tap EasySet panel below to set parameters.

Note: For a detailed explanation of each parameter, see The Processing Parameters for xTool F1 Ultra.

(2) You can edit the objects further by using the other features in the Design panel.

Note: For more information on how to use XCS to design objects, see Software Learning Center.

6. Set the processing path

In the bottom-right corner of the project editing page, tap Setting. Set the processing path on the bottom.

(1) Set the Processing path.

• Auto planning: XCS automatically plans the processing path based on intelligent algorithms.
• User defining: Manually set the processing paths for some objects.

(2) Turn on or off the Evade smoke mode.

When this feature is enabled, the device follows a path less affected by the smoke to process the material.

Note: You are advised to enable this feature for scoring on materials such as wood and corrugated paper that produce heavy smoke. Otherwise, the heavy smoke may block the laser beams and interfere laser processing.

7. Preview the processing area

You can preview the processing area on the material by framing. Framing means laser dots walk along the border of the processing objects on the material. Take the following steps to start framing:

(1) In the top right corner, tap Process. Set the framing parameters first.

● Light power: Sets the laser power for framing.

● Mode: 
In the Rect mode, laser dots walk along the rectangle border of the processing objects.
In the Outline mode, laser dots walk along the outline of the processing objects.

(2) Tap Framing in the software. The laser dots will move along the boundary of the processing objects on the material, allowing you to preview the processing area.

To stop framing, tap Stop Framing in XCS.

Note: If the processing area is not ideal, you can adjust the material position or adjust the object positions in the software.

8. Start processing

(1) After previewing and confirming the processing area, tap Process.

(2) Preview the processing pattern and path.

Click the button, and XCS will show you the processing path.

(3) Close the protective enclosure. In XCS, click Start. When the software shows “Ready”, press the XTOOL Start/Stop button on the touchscreen controller to start processing.

Note: During laser processing, keep the protective enclosure closed or wear goggles that can shield laser beams of 455 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths.