How to use the XTool Lasercutter
Step by Step Instructions
1
Download the software
- Go to XTool.com
- Click on the Software tab
- Click on Download
- Choose your Operating system and download the software
- Drag the Software icon to the Application folder when prompted
2
Open the software
- Open the XTool software from your Applications folder
- Turn on the power to the cutter in the back right corner
- Connect the cutter to your laptop with the cord
- Select the cutter from the menu and click Connect
3
Create a File
- Begin by drawing a simple shape from the shape library
- Change the scale by pulling the square tabs around the shape
- Remove the locked pixel aspect ration by deflecting the lock feature
3
Create a File cont.
- Add more shapes to create a more complex shape. (you can use features such as rotate, align, and mirror to quickly build your collection of shapes).
- Once you have some shapes, select them all and click on Outline to create a line drawn around the exterior of the shapes
- Now you can delete the individual shapes and keep the outline
4
Choose the Settings
- With the shape not selected, choose the thickness of the material from the right side panel. This will tell the laser head how far vertically from the bed to be.
- With the shape selected, drop down the EasySet panel
- Choose whether you want to Score, Engrave, or Cut
4
Choose the Settings cont.
- There is a library of materials that have associated settings. You can choose from these materials as a starting point, though you may have to adjust them as you go to get the result you want.
4
Choose the Settings cont.
- For thicker cardboard, Power 90 and Speed 15 seems to work well
5
Send to the cutter
- Place the material in the bed of the lasercutter. Make sure the materials is lying flat and doesn't have any parts that the laser head could get caught on
- Turn on the filter that is below the lasercutter to full power
5
Send to the cutter
- With the object not selected, press Refresh in the right panel to see where your shape will land on the material
- Be sure the whole shape is on the material
5
Send to the cutter
- Place the material in the bed of the lasercutter. Make sure the materials is lying flat and doesn't have any parts that the laser head could get caught on
- Turn on the filter that is below the lasercutter to full power
5
Send to the cutter
- Click Go to process
- Press Start
- Press the glowing blue button on the machine to start the cut
5
Send to the cutter
- You can usually see if the cut went all the way through the material. If it doesn't seem like it did, without opening the lid, you can click Process again to recut
6
Pop out your cut!