Setting up the XTOOL S1 laser cutter in Lightburn and why I would still choose the D1 over the S1.

Discover why the XTOOL S1, while a fantastic laser, falls short of replacing my trusty D1. The S1 is ideal for novices, boasting a fully enclosed design, excellent safety features, and minimal setup (It really could not be any easy). Teamed with XCS, it offers simplicity and an array of impressive features. For new users who are just getting started with xTool machines XCS makes creating projects a breeze and is probably the easiest way to get started with lasers. Nonetheless, certain drawbacks compared to the D1 prevent it from meeting my business needs. Join me as we explore whether the D1 or S1 suits your needs best.
I did receive the S1 free from xTool for review however the thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not paid to say anything good or bad about this laser. The D1 was purchased by me.
Go follow me on Instagram to see more of my projects...
/ wyldewillowwoodworks
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The links below are affiliate links. If you use this link for a purchase, I will receive a commission from the purchase. I truly appreciate when you use these links as it helps support my channel.
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Links mentioned in video. Not affiliate links
If you want to see an unboxing and setup video of the S1 go check out @SpicerDesignsLLC video
• This Laser May Be The ...
Exhaust elbow (will have to upgrade to 4 inch exhaust ducting, this will give you better air flow)
bit.ly/3TAhjbQ
Need help with your laser or lightburn? Go check out @LaserEverything they have tons of useful videos for everything lasers!!!
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(Using laser can be dangerous. Never leave a laser unattended. Always use your laser safety glasses. Always follow manufacturers directions for your laser)

[@ChadsCustomCreations]

Great review, I am a big fan of the S1 it’s my top recommendation for anyone getting into lasers for the first time.

[@WyldeWillow]

Yes I 100% agree, great starter laser!

[@old_man_gmr9482]

Love the square!

[@scooby2541]

Great video as I'm thinking of getting the S1 and because of the little square I just had to subscribe

[@WyldeWillow]

The little square is amazing!!! If you do get the S1 consider using my link I would appreciate it so much!!!

[@Auser58]

Sei stata la mia luce nel buio più profondo. Grazie

[@flakk1989]

For your first review, you did great! I got the same laser and all I can say is that the laser is amazing for a diode. You are right about the size. I wish it could fit a 12x24 completely.

[@WyldeWillow]

It is a very cool machine. The work area size for someone running a business is a total bummer.

[@Dale-fu5gn]

another great video

[@Slighthearted]

Wow!! That 🔲 square! ❤😂

[@WyldeWillow]

She just doesn't get it 😂

[@user-mf1gf1tb1g]

My S1 does the same thing producing triangles instead of rectangles when I tried to do a material test using Lightburn. The test array in xTool Creative Space works just fine. I subscribed after seeing the tiny little square.

[@WyldeWillow]

Ya it’s a light burn issue I think! So annoying because I use lightburn mostly. And thank you 🙏🏻

[@chadtuggle9814]

I unsubscribed and resubscribed because that awesome little square 😉 I've had my S1 since December. It's my first laser, and i LOVE it!! After a month of learning it, which was really easy, i started selling stuff. It completely paid for itself in about 6 weeks! I have my first arts & craft show coming up in 3 weeks, so it's now crunch time building up inventory lol.

[@WyldeWillow]

Thank you so much, tired of my daughter little attitude 🤣 its absolutely a great laser but for me and all the hat patches I do its a bummer that it cant fit 24x12 sheets. I could cut them down but then I usually end up getting a few less patches a sheet and it takes more time to have to load sheets twice. I will probably try some more and might be able to pick up my work flow with it. The small work area is a no go for me as I do a lot of large signs and tall objects. I might change my mind if I get the conveyer system but even that is pretty limited on the X axis. Any way Good luck on your show hope you absolutely kill it!!!

[@chadtuggle9814]

@WyldeWillow I really want the conveyor so I can do bigger stuff, but I'm still on the fence about it. I have it in my house in a spare bedroom, vented out the window. From what I've read and seen on videos, with the conveyor and riser base, the smoke is more of an issue since it's not as contained as the unit alone is. I don't mind the burnt wood smell in that room (I grew up with wood heat so I actually like that smell), but I don't want it seeping into the whole house like it probably would with the less contained unit. But. Being able to do an 18x36 or so sign would be nice...decisions decisions lol

[@WyldeWillow]

@@chadtuggle9814 might help to upgrade your exhaust system to a 4 inch ducting and a more powerful inline duct fan. That would help with the issue but I think some smoke would still escape.

[@chadtuggle9814]

@WyldeWillow yeah I'll probably do that eventually, just putting off spending more money as long as I can 😂🤣. The window I'm venting out of is a double window, so now that warmer weather is getting here, I think I'll get a box fan to set in the adjacent window facing out, and start opening that one while I'm running the laser. With a fan pulling any smoke or smell that might escape from the machine out of the 2nd window, it should help.

[@samhalburian4712]

The square rulez.

[@ScottKershawRX]

You speak the truth! ▪️🔸▫️🔹▪️ I started in a very high maintenance, steep learning curve laser in November (a Mecpow). It forced me to test, test, test and learn Lightburn. Now with my S1 I have the skills to use it to full capacity and capability in Lightburn and XCS. There is no such thing as the perfect, all-in-one tool to do multiple things in my opinion. The S1 comes close but misses like you say. It’s still amazeballs but short in some places. Keep up the great work. Next vid req: you enclosure for the D1Pro please.

[@WyldeWillow]

S1 is great and I want to love it but the small work area really just does not work for what I need out of a laser. I am doing a project video with my D1 next and I will go over my enclosure more and talk about what I like and what I would change if I were to remake it. I wish I made plans for stuff so I could share the plans with people but I always just wing it and start building. Is there anything in particular you want me to cover about it? I'll make sure to address it in the video.

[@ScottKershawRX]

@@WyldeWillow totally understand!! Regarding your homemade enclosure, I really want to see how you did the lighting, plumbed for the 4” in-line fan, setup your pass-thru in the bottom and what finish you used so the wood doesn’t absorb the smoke smell. So… basically everything. 😜😳😂

[@WyldeWillow]

​@@ScottKershawRX I will make sure to go over that stuff.

[@soundstructuremedia]

SUBSCRIBED L7..is square

[@RBallarddesigns]

Great objective review. Keep at it. Would be fun if you came on my Saturday night show one week and talked taser stuff.

[@WyldeWillow]

I would definitely enjoy doing that once I get things to slow down a little bit and I have some more free time. I am spread so thin right now. Reach out to me in a few weeks, I should have more free time at that point.

[@Roadking73]

Already subscribed, but who dosnt like little squares!

[@WyldeWillow]

right! I was so offended when she said that lol 😂

[@youwierd]

Are you keep xTool S1 40watts? Or return to xtool? XTool D1 pro much bigger than S1.

[@WyldeWillow]

I’m keeping it for sure. I’ll use it for smaller projects but I will be using my d1 for now mostly till I get a CO2

[@culser1242]

how can i connect via wifi. when i edit the template i only get USB connection option.

[@WyldeWillow]

Are you talking about in Lightburn? If so you can not connect via wifi on Lightburn. You have to use XCS If you want to use wifi.

[@CrowWood.MetalWorks]

Do you prefer the xtool over any other laser

[@WyldeWillow]

Only other laser I have used is an atomstack laser and that was my first laser. It is only a 10W and I have it dedicated to doing tumblers now so It would be hard to compare that laser to these. It definitely was harder to set up and when I did use it for wood and other things the 10W was just not enough. That was years ago and they have a ton of other lasers now. I would say xTool is kinda like the Apple of diode lasers, easy to use but they can be restricted on things you can dial in on Lightburn. If you want a laser that's easy to setup and you don't mind spend a little more you can't go wrong with xTool. xTool specificly the S1 has really cool features that other laser don't offer however for what I do (large bulk orders) those features will probably not be used often. You can get other lasers cheaper that work just as well for most things but will be harder to setup and won't have the large Facebook groups that offer a ton of support.

[@CrowWood.MetalWorks]

@@WyldeWillow thanks for the reply. I have a monoport 50w right now but i am starting to get bulk orders and i thought the S1 had an option to do more than one thing at a time where my monoport doesn't.

[@WyldeWillow]

@CrowWood.MetalWorks you can do more than one thing with the pin point position feature its pretty cool but to get serious about bulk orders you need to do jigs. With XCS you can mark where all the items are one by one but that will end up taking forever. And with the small work area you won't be able to do that many at a time. With jigs and a large work area you can really crank stuff out. On this video at 19:45 I show a jig I made for koozies and with the D1 I can do 15 at a time with the S1 I could probably do half of that in one run.

[@negretem1]

hold up! How are you lasering koozies?

[@WyldeWillow]

I use a jig I made for my D1 20W!

[@itdata]

🔲 square😝😝😝

[@WyldeWillow]

Kids just dont understand!!! 😂

[@grafxbynando_vlogs]

I think you'll find that Creative space is way better and easier to use less complicated than light burn it's literally made for the machine 😇👍

[@Vintauri]

While it’s easier it still lacks many design tools and job optimization settings that once you use in lightburn, you’ll really miss in XCS, such as kerf offset. It’s great software to start with, and they keep improving it, but it’s still not on par with lightburn.

[@WyldeWillow]

Really I would not even say Easier. I would say new user friendly, I found nothing about it easy since its missing so many useful tools that Lightburn offers. Features that I use daily in LB. Admittedly I do need to spend more time using XCS and I am excited to try out XCS 2.0 but still don't think it will come close to LB. I have also been hearing rumors that LB 1.6 will allow you to use some of the features on the S1 that currently can only be utilized in XCS. But I don't know if there is any truth to that. I will give XCS credit that they have come along way since I first tried it when it came out.

[@ALXSHARPEN]

@@WyldeWillow I agree XCS is very user friendly good for new users. I was running the beta but was having connection issues with it on my S1 some times it connected and sometimes it wouldn't I hope they got it worked out. I have not tried LB on my S1 but the other day I was doing a bunch of cutting boards and Light Burn on my 22 watt Creality Falcon 2 did three of them in 30 min and XCS did one and took an hour. I could not figure out a way in XCS to control the path like I can in LB both looked great but would like to get the S1 working at the same speed as the Creality F2 . Does the focus spot system still work on Light Burn for the S1 or does it just take one measurement. Can it still trace the shapes with multiple measurements or do you lose all that in Light Burn?

[@WyldeWillow]

@@ALXSHARPEN In XCS it matters alot how you group things when it comes time to run the job. If you don't group things right it will run everything one by one and that takes forever. In my video you will see my coaster running that way because I didn't group properly. So much easier in Lightburn to get jobs to run efficiently. You do loose those features in Lightburn but I have been hearing rumors that Lightburn 1.6 is going to bring some of the XCS specific features into Lightburn but I don't know know if that is true.

[@ALXSHARPEN]

@@WyldeWillow Thanks I will have to pay attention to the grouping in XCS nice to see you getting some recognition from Xtool nice job on the review.