Filamora Studios › Choosing a laser cutter
xTool S1
Our pick for the laser templates: a bigger bed and the power to cut ply cleanly.
- Type: Enclosed diode, 20 or 40 W
- Work area: 498 × 319 mm
- Cuts our templates: Yes
- Body: Enclosed
- Price: about £1,049 (UK)
Our take
An enclosed diode laser with a 498 × 319 mm bed, in 20 W or 40 W: the machine our laser templates are made with in mind. It cuts 3 to 6 mm ply cleanly, and the infrared module adds metal engraving.
What’s good
- Takes our 300 × 300 mm sheets with room to spare
- The 40 W cuts 3 mm ply in one pass
- Enclosed, with a lid that stops the laser when opened
- Add-ons: rotary for tumblers, infrared for metal, conveyor
Worth knowing
- Can’t cut clear acrylic (no diode laser can)
- Needs venting outside or an air purifier
What you can make on it
It cuts all 4 of our laser templates.
- Laser-Cut Frame Weaving Loom
- Laser-Cut Ribbon and Vinyl Roll Rack
- Laser-Cut Box Maker
- Laser-Cut Name Sign
Compare it with
- xTool M2: A first laser for crafts at home: cuts and engraves, and prints in colour too.
- Bambu Lab R1: A CO2 laser for less: clear acrylic and thick wood, on a bed that takes two of our sheets.
- xTool P3: For a business: big sheets, thick wood and clear acrylic, fast.
Questions
Can the xTool S1 cut your laser templates?
Yes, all 4 of them: our templates are laid out on 300 × 300 mm sheets, which it takes.
How much is the xTool S1?
About £1,049 on the maker’s UK store when we checked (29 October 2026). Prices change often, especially in sales, so see the shop for today’s.