Minimum and recommended PC requirements

Download and install XCS

Quick start example

1. Select a language

2. Connect xTool D1 to XCS

3. Place a material

4. Create a new project, open a project file, import an image, or create your design on XCS

Create a new project

Click New to create a new project. Confirm whether to save the previous project or not.

• Open a project file (supporting .xcs files only)

• Import an image (supporting .jpg/.jpeg/.gif/.png/.bmp/.svg/.dxf files)

After importing an image, you can directly use the image or edit it to make your own design. You can add a filter, set the sharpness and grayscale, invert its color, trace its outline, and further edit it.

Note: Currently, XCS cannot parse texts included in an SVG file imported. If you want to design some texts in design software and then import them into XCS, you need to convert the texts into vector paths, export them as an SVG file, and then import it into XCS. 

• Create your design

You can insert a shape, enter a text, draw vector paths, generate an image through xArt, or generate a code on the canvas.

5. Set the processing type, mode, and parameters

Select each design element and set the processing type, mode, and parameters for it.

Note: For user-defined materials, you can set the power, speed, and pass parameters according to the settings recommended in the user manual.

6. Start processing

Click Process to start processing.

The Preview window is as follows:

Click Framing to preview whether the design elements are to be processed as expected in the expected area. If yes, click Start to start the processing.

You can click Cancel to cancel the processing.

This is the general process of using XCS to create your works. For details of the functions of XCS, see Function description.

Device settings

Connect a device 

1. Use the USB cable to connect your device to your computer, turn on your device, and open XCS.

2. Click Connect Device on XCS.

Wait for XCS to search for available devices.

3. Select your device.

View device information and set its functions

After connecting a device to XCS, you can view basic info and set functions for it.

Basic info

• Device name: sets the name of your device
• Laser model: displays the model of the laser module
• Serial number: displays the serial number of your device
• Firmware version: displays the firmware version of the device. You can click Check for updates to check for later versions and update the firmware.
• Wi-Fi setting: sets the WiFi name and password to set a Wi-Fi connection

Working parameters

After connecting to the device, click Working Parameters to set up. XCS provides two laser positioning modes, namely Red cross and Laser spot, which can't be enabled at the same time.

• Positioning mode
  • Red cross: Red cross is the default laser positioning mode when you use your machine and XCS for the first time. The center of the red cross can help you to locate the laser beam.

Note: The center of the red cross may be 1 mm to 2 mm away from where the laser beam actually falls. When this happens, you can set the offset to perform calibration.

• Laser spot: Laser spot refers to a low-power beam emitted by the laser module, which can help you locate the start position for processing. After selecting Laser Spot mode on the Working parameters, you can enable or disable the Laser spot mode on the Preview page.

Tips: In Red cross mode, the processing length along the x-axis is 1 cm shorter than that in laser spot mode. If you want to have the largest processing area, the laser spot mode is recommended.

• Export elements on the canvas as Gcode: Click Export to export the canvas content as the Gcode file. Gcode file can be used in Lightburn. (xTool D series support to export Gcode only)

Processing settings

Note:

• If you use a material launched by xTool, you can select it from the material list and use the default parameter settings.
• If you use a material produced by another manufacturer, you can modify the parameters based on the settings recommended for xTool materials or your own tests.

General parameters

① Processing type

• Laser flat: processes flat materials by using laser beams
• Laser cylindrical: processes cylindrical materials by using laser beams
• Laser extension kit: processes long materials

② Material

If you use a material launched by xTool, set the processing parameters based on the recommendations provided in the user manual. If you use materials purchased from another manufacturer, set the processing parameters based on those recommended for xTool materials or your own tests.

③ Processing mode

Select an element and set the processing mode.

• Score: engraves only the outline of an element

• Engrave: engraves the fill of an element

• Cut: cuts the outline of an element

④ Output

Sets whether an element is to be processed.

When you select an element and enable Output, the element is processed based on the parameter settings (processing mode, power, speed, and pass). When you disable Output, all the parameter settings for the element do not take effect, the selected element is not detected during framing or displayed in the Preview window, and the element will not be processed.

⑤ Power

Sets the power for engraving or cutting

⑥ Speed

Sets the speed at which engraving or cutting is to be performed

⑦ Pass

Sets the number of processing times

Additional parameters for image engraving

⑧ Bitmap mode

• Grayscale

Transforms an image into the grayscale mode. A grayscale image has pixels that are formed by the shade of gray between black and white, which may be the darkest one in black or the brightest one in white. The darker the grayscale pixel, the deeper the engraving.

• Bayer

Looks like adding a special grid mosaic filter to an image.

• Floyd

Dithers the image by using the Floyd algorithm that diffuses the error to neighboring pixels. And the dithering is extremely subtle, resulting in a fine, less distorted, and detailed image. It is recommended for highly-detailed images but not for images with monochrome.

• Stucki 

Stucki is a dithering mode that processes slightly faster than Jarvis mode and produces a cleaner and sharper image.

• Atkinson

Dithers in a similar algorithm to Jarvis and Sierra that preserves details well. But we do not recommend using it in a very dark or bright environment, where exposure may occur.  

• Jarvis 

Jarvis is a dithering mode that provides a softer transition between pixels than Floyd mode and renders good results on almost all images.

• Sierra 

Sierra dithers based on Jarvis mode and they process with similar results on images. But the sharpness of Sierra is higher. 

With the other settings unchanged, the output of an image on a wooden board varies according to image mode, as shown in the following figure. You can select a mode as required.

⑨ Lines per cm

Set the number of lines in one centimeter. This parameter determines the resolution of the image to be engraved.

Start processing

After setting the parameters, click Process to start processing the material. 

The Preview window is displayed.

• Move laser module: Moves the laser module forward, backward, to the left, or to the right.
  • Speed: sets the speed at which the laser module moves; setting range: 1–150 (mm/s)
  • Distance: sets the distance the laser module moves at each time; setting range: 1-300 (mm)
• Laser spot: Enable or disable the laser spot mode and set the power
  • Setting range: 1%-10%

Note:

• The laser spot is automatically disabled after you exit the working page or the processing starts.
• To use the laser spot positioning function, you need to select this function in Working parameters. 

Safety tips: Do not allow the laser beam to fall in the same position of a material for a long period. Otherwise, the material may get burnt.

• Origin: sets the start point of the processing on design elements
• Estimated time: displays the estimated processing time
• Framing settings: supports custom power and speed of framing 

Note: 

• Turn on Laser Spot if you want to set up the framing settings
• If the power is excessive, it may leave a burn mark even burn the materials because different materials have different properties. Please adjust the power according to the materials.
• Framing: shows the area to be processed on the material
• Start: If the design elements are to be processed as expected in the expected area, click Start to start the processing and wait for the processing to complete.
• Cancel: cancels the processing and goes back to the canvas