xTool F1

The xTool F1 Lite is the right choice for a maker who does rapid customization on small items — keychains, badges, smartphone cases, tokens — in mobile settings such as craft fairs or pop-up markets: at 4.6 kg and with a 115×115 mm area, the galvo system completes an engraving in 10–30 seconds at 4,000 mm/s. Spending 150–200 € less gets you an open-frame diode laser (e.g., Sculpfun S9, ~400×400 mm area) that is however 6–7 times slower, lacks an enclosure, and cannot be transported independently. Stepping up about 200 € toward the full xTool F1 adds a 2W IR laser for marking on bare metals such as stainless steel and anodized aluminum, useful only if your product catalog includes these materials. The main limitation is structural: 115×115 mm rules out cutting boards, A4 sheets, and any object with a side longer than 11 cm, making the machine unsuitable for a fixed workshop with varied orders.