xTool F2 Ultra UV Setup: Calibration and Your First Engraving

If you've just got an xTool F2 Ultra UV, or one is on the way and you want to hit the ground running, this is for you. The video shows the unboxing and assembly. Below I've written out the part people get stuck on: connecting it to xTool Studio, running the calibration properly, and engraving your first test piece.

Jump to: The two calibration cards · Connect to xTool Studio · Run the calibration · Line up the marks · Check the dots overlap · Your first engraving

Before you start: use the right calibration card

In the box you get two different kinds of calibration card: a dotted calibration card and a pack of plain cards. They're used for different calibrations, so make sure you pick the right one. For the setup calibration below, you need a plain card.

1. Connect the laser to xTool Studio

1. Plug the USB cable into the laser and into your computer, and switch the laser on.
2. Open xTool Studio. If it says no devices are found, check everything is plugged in and click the refresh button.

3. Your F2 Ultra UV appears in the list. Click it. You'll hear a beep, and the top right of Studio will say Ready and connected.

2. Run the calibration

The first time you connect, Studio will probably ask you to calibrate. Mine didn't pop up, because I'd already run it once, but I went through it again so you can see every step. Read the prompt first: the base plate needs to be clear, and the material flat with the correct thickness. Then click Start calibration.

1. Tape the plain calibration card to the middle of the base plate with two pieces of tape. It doesn't have to be exact, just roughly central. Keep the tape to the edges so the middle area stays clear.
2. Click Next. The laser autofocuses.
3. Close the protective cover when it tells you to, then click Engrave.
4. The machine beeps. Press the start button on the touchscreen controller. It burns two small marks on the card.

3. Line up the marks

Click Next and Studio shows you the camera view of the card, with markers for the blue light and the UV laser.

1. Click Auto alignment. It usually finds the marks on its own and is normally pretty spot on.
2. Zoom in to check. Click the plus button, or hold Ctrl and scroll the mouse wheel.
3. If a marker is slightly off, drag it or nudge it with the arrow keys until it sits exactly on the mark. Mine was a little out, so I fine tuned it.
4. Click Next.

4. Check the two dots overlap

1. Remove the paper from the base plate.
2. Click Calibrate. It recalibrates quickly and measures the thickness. Click Next.
3. Look at the two light dots on the base plate. Are they on top of each other?

If the blue and red spots overlap, click Overlapped in the bottom right and you're done. If they don't, click Not overlapped and it continues the calibration until they do. Mine overlapped first time. Calibration complete.

5. Your first engraving: the built-in tutorial

If it's your first time, Studio offers a beginner tutorial. Even if you've used xTool lasers before, it's a nice quick test. It engraves a black metal business card, and Studio notes it can only be processed with the surface engraving lens, so check that lens is fitted. Click Start the tutorial and place your business card on the base plate.

1. Mode: choose Process on flat surface. It's the default.
2. Material: click the suggested material, then Apply.

For the tutorial it's 1/64" (0.2mm) Black Metal Business Card.

3. Click Auto measure. The laser moves up and down and sets the best focus height for your card.
4. Double click the text to edit it. I typed "L3D Test Video". Then click Next.

5. Move the design so it sits in the middle of your card and click Next. (On your own projects, this is where you'd use Framing to check it's straight. The tutorial skips that step.)
6. Click Process. My estimated time was 53 seconds. The UV laser has a very fine spot, so it puts down a lot of detail, which takes a little longer but gives a better finish.
7. Click Start. It beeps to say the job has been sent.

8. On the touchscreen controller you'll see the job is ready. Press the button to start the engraving.

And there it is, your first engraving. Give it a quick wipe with a cloth afterwards. That's a beautiful first result, and your laser is set up, calibrated and ready to go.

What next?

Once the basics are done, the next step is the inner engraving setup for crystal, which I cover in how to engrave photos inside crystal. After that, it's working through different blanks and finding the best settings for each one. My free Laser Settings Library and the xTool F2 Ultra UV settings page have the settings I've tested on this machine to get you started. Jigs that fit the F2 Ultra UV are in the F1 Ultra and F2 Ultra jigs collection.

Stuck on a step? Ask me in the comments on the video.