Use xTool Creative Space (XCS) to Operate Laserbox

Updated Dec 15,2023

This page describes how to use xTool Creative Space (XCS) to operate Laserbox.

Minimum and recommended PC requirements

Item	Minimum configuration	Recommended configuration
Processor	Intel Core i5-6200U	Intel Core i5-11600
Operating system	Win 10 (64-bit) macOS 10.14 or later
RAM	8 GB	16 GB
Display resolution	1280 × 720 (pixels)	1920 × 1080 (pixels) or higher
Hard drive	8 GB	12 GB

With the minimum configurations, all the functions of XCS can be used properly. When you import a complex image, such as an image larger than 50,000,000 pixels or an SVG image larger than 1 MB, 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) Download the xTool Creative Space software: https://www.xtool.com/pages/software

(2) Double-click the software you've downloaded to install it.

Click Yes when you are asked "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?" and then continue the installation as prompted.

Processing modes

XCS supports the Laser flat processing mode for Laserbox Startup and Pro, and supports the Laser flat and Laser cylindrical processing modes for Laserbox Rotary.

Laser flat: to process flat materials

Laser cylindrical: to process regular cylindrical materials. In this mode, you need to use xTool Rotary Attachment 1. Laserbox Rotary supports xTool Rotary Attachment 1. For details, refer to the example projects.

Note: To process cylinders, you need to use the rotary attachment. Only Laserbox Rotary supports the rotary attachment and the processing of cylinders.

Example projects

You can start with a simple project. The following are some examples.

Engrave a star on a 3 mm basswood board

1. Insert the star shape on the canvas.

You can use the XCS editor to design your own objects for processing. For details about the editor functions of XCS, see "xTool Creative Space (XCS) Editor Function Description."

2. Select the Laser flat processing mode.

3. Measure the thickness of the material.

4. Place a basswood board on the baseplate, and move the object to the position where you want it to be processed.

5. Set processing parameters for the object to be processed.

6. Press the Process button.

7. Preview the object and click Process.

8. Press the button on Laserbox Rotary to start processing.

9. Wait for the processing to complete.

This is what you get.

Engrave on a cylinder

Note: To process cylinders, you need to use the rotary attachment. Only Laserbox Rotary supports the rotary attachment and the processing of cylinders.

1. Install the rotary attachment on the machine.

(1) Turn off the machine, open the lid, remove the two screws in front of the honeycomb panel, remove the tray, remove the screws and blocks on the two sides of the honeycomb panel, and remove the honeycomb panel.

(2) Remove the six screws on the back of tray, remove the plate, and place the tray back to the machine.

(3) Set the roller level of the rotary attachment as described in the following table.

(4) Place the rotary attachment in the lower right corner of placement area, and connect it to the machine.

(5) Place the material on the rotary attachment.

(6) Connect your machine to XCS.

(7) Select the Laser cylindrical processing mode.

(8) Set the gear (roller level) and enter the diameter of the material.

Note:

If the diameter of a material is less than 30 mm, you need to use a flat object to raise the rotary attachment up. For example, if the diameter of a cylinder is 17 mm, you need to use a flat object of 13 mm (30–17) or thicker to raise the rotary attachment up and enter the thickness of the object into Z-offset.

The sum of the thickness of the raising object and the diameter of the material, however, can't exceed the upper limit of the roller level. The upper limit of each roller level is described as follows.

For example, if you use gear 1 (level 1) and the diameter of the cylinder to be processed is 20 mm, then the thickness of the raising object can't exceed 30 mm (50–20).

(9) Move the object to the right side of the yellow line, and align its left side with the yellow line.

Tips: Pay attention to the direction of the object. You may need to reflect it to get what you want.

(10) Set the processing parameters for the object.

(11) Click Process to complete the processing as prompted.

XCS editor functions

You can use the XCS editor to design your own objects for processing. For details about the editor functions of XCS, see "xTool Creative Space (XCS) Editor Function Description."

Device settings

Connect a device

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

2. Open XCS and click Connect Device.

Wait for XCS to search for available devices.

3. Select your device.

You can also connect your machine to XCS in Wi-Fi, IP, or Ethernet mode. The Ethernet mode is similar to the USB mode, only that you need to connect your machine to the PC with a Network cable.

For details about how to connect your machine to XCS in Wi-Fi or IP mode, see how to connect your device in Wi-Fi or IP mode.

View device information and set its functions

After connecting your machine to XCS, you can view operating information and set functions for it.

Basic information

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: displays the IP address of your device. You can click Setting to enter the Wi-Fi name and password to set a Wi-Fi connection.

Working information

Working time: displays the total time the device processes materials
Operating times: displays the total number of times the device has been operated
Standby time: displays the total time the device is on standby
Work log: You can click Export to export the work log of the device.

Setting

Purifier check: enables or disables purifier check
Import Gcode: allows you to import a GCode file from the local disk. GCode files applicable to your device, exported on LightBurn, can be imported on XCS.

Working parameters

Time the purifier continues to work: sets the time the purifier continues to work after a processing task is complete
Lowest output power: sets the lowest power input of the machine to ensure the optical output of the laser module. Theoretically, when the laser module produces laser beams properly, the output power is the same as the power input. As time goes by, however, the output power may be slightly lower than the power input. If your machine works properly, you don't need to set this parameter.

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.

Material settings

① Processing mode

You need to choose a processing mode based on your material.

The processing modes are described as follows:

Laser flat: to process flat materials
Laser cylindrical: to process regular cylindrical materials. In this mode, you need to use xTool Rotary Attachment 1. Laserbox Rotary supports xTool Rotary Attachment 1. For details, refer to the example projects.

② Material

If you use a material launched by xTool, select your material from the drop-down list box. If you use one purchased from another manufacturer, set it to User-defined material, and set the processing parameters based on those recommended for xTool materials or your own tests.

③ Thickness

If you use a user-defined material, you can click Quick-measure to enable XCS to measure the thickness of the material. If the automatic measurement fails, use a caliper to measure it and enter its thickness.

Object settings

Vector settings

① Object type

Displays the type of the selected object, either vector or image

② Output or Ignore

Sets whether an element is to be processed

When you select an element and select Output, the element is to be processed. When you select Ignore, the element will not be processed.

③ Processing type

Sets the processing type of the selected object

The processing types are described as follows:

Score: engraves only the outline of an element

Engrave: engraves the fill of an element

Cut: cuts the outline of an element

④ Setting selection

Selects a setting

A setting is a set of parameters (including power, speed, and pass) you've set. After you set the parameters, you can save them as a custom setting, and all the settings saved will be displayed in the Setting drop-down list box. When you select Manual setting, you need to set the parameters one by one. When you select a setting, the parameter values you saved before can be used.

⑤ Power

Sets the processing power

⑥ Speed

Sets the processing speed

⑦ Pass

Sets the number of processing times

Bitmap settings

For bitmap processing, additional settings are provided.

① Bitmap mode

XCS provides multiple bitmap modes, including Grayscale, Bayer, Floyd, Stucki, Atkinson, Jarvis, and Sierra. The default mode is Grayscale.

Grayscale

Transforms an image into one of the shades of gray mode, in which a pixel is formed by a shade of gray that can be the darkest one (black), the brightest one (white), or one between them. The darker the pixel, the deeper the engraving.

Bayer

Transforms an image into one in Bayer mode, which looks like adding a grid mosaic filter on the image.

Floyd

Dithers an image by using the Floyd algorithm that diffuses the error only to the neighboring pixels, producing find-grained wave-like patterns on the image. It is recommended for highly-detailed images instead of those containing monotone swatches of color.

Jarvis

Dithers an image by using the Jarvis algorithm that diffuses the error to 12 pixels around a pixel. Compared with Floyd, the transitions between pixels are slower, which produces a very nice looking pattern on almost all images.

Stucki

Dithers an image in a similar way to Jarvis. Compared to Jarvis, the transitions between pixels are faster, which produces clean and sharp images.

Sierra

Implemented based on the Jarvis algorithm, achieving a similar effect while producing sharper images.

Atkinson

Dithers an image in a way similar to Jarvis and Sierra while producing sharper images. The Atkinson algorithm can preserve the details of an image well but the very dark or bright area may look disappeared.

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.