xTool F2 Ultra MOPA Laser: Engraving and Marking Metal
xTool provided my F2 Ultra in exchange for content, and the xTool links in this post are affiliate links. xTool has never had a say in what I write. I also design and sell jigs for this machine, and I'll point them out when they come up.
xTool sent me an F2 Ultra in 2025, and I put it straight to work on the jobs people buy a MOPA laser for: a 3D brass coin, color on stainless steel, 3D engraved slate, rust removal and cutting thin brass. I also have its little brother, the F1 Ultra, on the bench, so I can tell you what actually changed. This post is what I'd tell a friend who's looking at one.
The short version
A MOPA and a 40W diode in a solid galvo. The fancy metal jobs take real time.
Where it shines
Deep metal engraving, color on stainless, thin metal cutting, a removable fan module and a well-built lid.
Where it fights you
3D and color jobs run for hours, settings from other machines don't carry over, and galvo cutting has limits.
Best for
Shops that do a lot of metal: coins, jewelry, tags, color marking, plus everyday wood and slate work.
The xTool F2 Ultra at a glance
These are xTool's published numbers from the F2 Ultra product page and user guide. There's also a single-laser version with only the 60W MOPA.
What's MOPA, and why does it matter?
MOPA stands for master oscillator power amplifier. It's the same infrared wavelength as a regular fiber laser, but it lets you control the pulse frequency and pulse duration on top of speed and power. Those extra knobs are what make color on stainless steel and cleaner deep engraving possible. Think of it as the fully loaded version of a fiber laser.
F2 Ultra vs F1 Ultra
I have both, so here's what's actually different, by xTool's numbers and from running them.
A tip while you're comparing any lasers: speed should be listed in millimeters per second. That's the industry standard. If you see a big number in millimeters per minute, divide it by 60 before you get excited.
What it does well
It's built like a production machine
The lid has a real frame, so it's got some heft and doesn't feel flimsy. On the F1 and F1 Ultra the lid is plastic. The lid overlaps the base, the accessory ports are inside, and the lights are brighter than the F1 Ultra's with separate front and back control. Out of the box it's a very safe machine.
The fan comes out
This one got me excited. Flip down a door on the back and the whole fan module pulls out, which makes cleaning or replacing it easy. I run my own high-flow 6 inch extraction, so the built-in fan is a bottleneck that just collects gunk. xTool Studio lets you run without it. It gives you a warning, and you can keep going. If you've ever had to clean a gummed-up laser fan, you'll know why I like this.
Metal jobs look fantastic
Once I had the settings right, a 100% brass coin engraved wonderfully in 3D. Color on stainless steel works too. Rust removal on an old wrench from my toolbox was a piece of cake and went really quickly. And the 40W diode cut through wood in a single pass using xTool Studio's default settings.
It cuts thin metal
I cut a butterfly out of the thin brass sheet that came with the machine using the default settings. Was it 100% through? No, but it was about 99%. The slag melts back into the cut, so you wiggle the piece loose, then clean it up with a stainless wire brush on a rotary tool. That job took about 24 minutes with a lot of cutouts. Think custom brass ornaments like the old-school ones.
Where it fights you
The impressive jobs take hours
This is the one nobody tells you. When you see a 3D coin come together fast on camera, you think you'll be knocking out challenge coins in 20 minutes. My brass coin took 3.5 hours. My color stainless piece was about 50 x 50 mm and took over 3.5 hours too. My 3D slate coaster ran about an hour and a half. Before you promise a customer a price, run the job and time it.
Settings don't carry over from other machines
My first coin used a file built for the F1 Ultra, on a cheap coin that turned out not to be solid brass. The F2 Ultra has so much more power that it went almost all the way through the coin in no time flat. On the slate coaster I was guessing at settings for a brand new machine and went completely through it, and the rock border was so fragile it fell apart. Start slower than you think, and test on scrap.
The same goes for the 40W diode. On cheap plywood, it obliterated my top veneer. Dial it back on thin veneers.
Color on stainless depends on the light
The colors are real, but how they look depends on how the light hits them. The photos you see online are the best possible angle. Turn the piece in your hand and the effect changes. Run xTool's color test grid first, write down the speed and power combos you like, then run your own art.
Galvo cutting has limits
A galvo steers the beam with mirrors, so cuts come out slightly angled, and there's no air assist. It can be done, and it's handy for small parts, but it's not the best machine for cutting. For clean, perpendicular cuts in sheet goods, a CO2 gantry machine is the right tool.
Keep the lid down
I ran with the lid open while filming, and I hated it. Don't do that. It's a Class 4 laser.
What I'd add on day one
- Real fume extraction that vents outside. Metal and slate jobs that run for hours make a lot of dust and smoke.
- Solid brass blanks from a supplier you trust. Cheap "brass" coins may not be brass at all.
- A stainless wire brush for a rotary tool. It cleaned up my coin and my cut brass better than sandpaper.
- Jigs for batches. A 220 mm square bed holds a lot of coins and cards if they're held in place.
- Laser safety glasses rated for both 445 nm and 1064 nm.
Should you buy one?
Buy it if
- Metal is a big part of your work: coins, jewelry, tags, tools
- You want color marking on stainless steel or titanium
- You want to cut thin brass, stainless and silver
- You still want a strong diode for wood, slate and leather
Think twice if
- You need LightBurn. xTool says the F2 Ultra isn't compatible.
- You're pricing 3D coins or color work without timing the job first
- Cutting sheet goods is most of your work. Look at a CO2 machine.
- You only do standard metal marking. The F1 Ultra may be all you need.
Want the version with the smaller fiber? Read my xTool F1 Ultra guide. Curious about the UV version? See the xTool F2 Ultra UV.
See the F2 Ultra at xTool (affiliate link)
Common questions
What's the difference between the xTool F2 Ultra and the F1 Ultra?
The F2 Ultra has a 60W MOPA and a 40W diode, 15,000 mm/s, dual 48 MP cameras and cuts brass up to 2 mm. The F1 Ultra has a 20W fiber and a 20W diode, 10,000 mm/s, a single 16 MP camera and cuts brass up to 0.4 mm. Both have a 220 x 220 mm working area.
What does MOPA do that a regular fiber laser doesn't?
A MOPA lets you control pulse frequency and pulse duration, not just speed and power. That's what makes color marking on stainless steel possible, and it gives you more control on deep engraving.
How long does a 3D coin take on the F2 Ultra?
My 3D brass coin took 3.5 hours. Detailed 3D and color jobs take hours, not minutes, so time the job before you quote it.
How thick a metal can the F2 Ultra cut?
Per xTool, brass and stainless steel up to 2 mm, aluminum and silver up to 1 mm, and gold up to 0.2 mm. On the thin brass sheet that came with mine, the cut was about 99% through and needed a little wiggle and a wire brush to clean up.
Does the F2 Ultra work with LightBurn?
No. xTool says the F2 Ultra is no longer compatible with LightBurn. It runs in xTool Studio on Windows and macOS.
Can I remove the F2 Ultra's built-in fan?
Yes. The fan module pulls out from the back. If you run strong external extraction, xTool Studio will warn you when the fan is out, and you can keep working.
Do Samcraft F2 Ultra jigs fit the F2 Ultra UV?
Yes. My F2 Ultra jigs are listed as F2 Ultra / F2 Ultra UV and use the same threaded base.
More from the Maker Guides
xTool F1 Ultra: fiber plus diode
xTool F2 Ultra UV: the cold laser
Watch the full test on Samcraft on YouTube: Best Laser for Metal? Testing the xTool F2 Ultra.
Sam
Disclosure: xTool provided my F2 Ultra in exchange for video content. xTool links in this post are affiliate links that may earn Samcraft a commission at no extra cost to you. xTool has no editorial input or control over Samcraft content. Samcraft designs and sells its own accessories for the F2 Ultra, including the jigs mentioned here. Specifications are from xTool's published documentation. Last reviewed September 2026.
