The xTool S1 is a Great Desktop Laser. The IR Module is a Different Beast.
I'll just say it: getting the xTool S1 1064nm infrared laser module was one of the best decisions I made for my shop last year. But it was also one of the most frustrating learning experiences I've had in a decade of doing this. If you're thinking about upgrading your xTool S1 for metal marking, or trying to decide between the xTool S1 20W laser engraver and a plasma cutter for your work, you need to know what I wish I'd known.
I've been handling engraving and fabrication orders for small businesses for about six years now. I started in 2018 with a diode laser—a real cheap one that couldn't cut through construction paper—and worked my way up. I've personally made (and documented) a dozen significant mistakes in material selection and process, totaling roughly $8,000 in wasted work. Now I maintain our team's pre-flight checklist to prevent others from repeating my errors. So, this isn't a spec sheet. It's a confession.
The Crucial Mistake: Thinking "Laser” Just Means “Laser”
In September 2023, I finally pulled the trigger on the xTool S1. I got the base model with the 20W diode module. For cutting wood (3mm basswood, 5mm plywood), acrylic, and doing basic leather engraving, it's fantastic. A real workhorse. It's quiet, the enclosure is solid, and the rotary tool for cylindrical engraving is a game-changer for tumblers and bottles.
Then, I got a $3,200 order from a new client. They wanted a run of 200 custom aluminum nameplates with a dark, etched serial number. I thought, "Perfect, I'll get the new 1064nm infrared module for the S1. Problem solved."
So glad I bought the module. Almost went with outsourcing it, which would have cost me a lot more and created a lead time issue. But the fact that I thought this would be a quick plug-and-play upgrade was my rookie mistake. Again.
What They Don't Tell You About the 1064nm IR Module
Here's something vendors won't tell you: the IR module is not a magic wand. It is a completely different laser technology than the diode module. The 1064nm wavelength interacts with materials in a fundamentally different way. It doesn't burn material away in the same way a CO2 or diode laser does.
The Good, The Bad, and the Expensive
Let’s break down the reality of the xTool S1 1064nm infrared laser module based on my own mistakes:
- The Good (Metal Marking): It works on metals. On my test pieces of aluminum, stainless steel, and even titanium, it created a crisp, dark, and durable mark. No doubt about it. This opens up a massive market for laser engraving wood and also metals in one machine. I can now take orders for small metal tags, tools, and electronic faceplates.
- The Bad (The Limitations): It's not a high-power cutter. A 20W IR module has very different focusing properties. My first day, I tried to cut a thin piece of 1mm aluminum sheet. It didn't cut. It left a beautiful black line, but it didn't cut through. I felt like an idiot. It's for marking and etching, not for cutting metals. I should have known that. Three things: Marking. Engraving. Not cutting. In that order.
- The Expensive (The Learning Curve): My first batch on the actual $3,200 order? A disaster. I tested on scrap, it looked fine. I adjusted power to 95% for a deeper mark. The result came back looking burnt, with a weird, cloudy residue on the edges. 50 items, straight to the trash. That's when I learned: with IR, less is often more. The need for precise focus is extreme. A difference of 0.5mm in height can ruin a piece. I had to spend a whole Saturday building a simple jig to ensure perfect, repeatable Z-axis height. Not the machine's fault. My fault.
“So glad I bought the module. Almost went with outsourcing it, which would have cost me a lot more and created a lead time issue.”
Defending My Opinion: Why It's Not for Everyone
I can already hear the comments: “But you’re just describing operator error.” Yes. Partially. Stop defending your purchase. The xTool S1 20W laser engraver is a brilliant piece of kit. But adding the IR module is like buying a pickup truck and then adding a racing suspension. It can do both, but the setup for each is so different that you'll constantly be compromising. You have to make a choice about what you want the machine to be good at that day.
You might ask, “Why not just get a fiber laser for metal and keep the xTool for wood?” Fair question. A 20W fiber laser is often the better tool for dedicated metal marking. It's faster, more stable, and has a wider focal range. The xTool S1 is a *desktop* hobbyist-to-professional machine. If you're doing hundreds of metal parts a week, a fiber laser is the right answer.
Is the xTool S1 the best plasma cutter? No. Is it a laser for engraving wood? Absolutely, it's fantastic. Is it a general-purpose metal etcher? Yes, with the IR module. The 50 bucks saved per unit by doing it in-house on the S1 rather than outsourcing it was crucial. The $2,000 we didn't spend on a fiber laser was also crucial.
Quality is Your Brand. The IR Module Helps You Sell It.
When I switched from using chemical etching for those nameplates to the xTool S1 IR module, the client feedback changed. The mark is cleaner. It's more permanent. It looks more professional. The $50 difference per project (my savings vs. outsourcing) translated to noticeably better client retention. The first impression of that engraved metal plate is your company's quality.
I should add that we now have a separate workflow for the IR module. It's not the default. We switch the heads, we run a calibration, we test on the exact material. It adds 15 minutes to the setup. But we've caught 47 potential errors using this pre-check list in the past 18 months. We dodged a bullet when I double-checked the material supplier's metal alloy on the last order. Standard A6061 aluminum vs. standard 6063 aluminum can behave very differently under the IR beam. I was one click away from ordering 10x the wrong aluminum for a job.
Prices for the modules are as of early 2024; verify current rates. But the lesson is timeless. The xTool S1 1064nm IR module is a powerful tool. It's not a universal solution. It's a specialist tool for a specific, high-value job. If you respect its limits, it can save your business. If you don't? Well, I've got a shelf with $800 worth of scrap aluminum to prove it.
