xTool F1 Ultra Laser Engraving Pewter Mug

[Javier Odom]

When I searched for information on xTool F1 Ultra settings for engraving pewter I found nothing. I did see others using other types of engraving machines and systems working on pewter, but no one posted on xTool F1 Ultra settings. Here is what I found as a good starting point for pewter, specifically, a pewter mug.

The font I wanted to use was not displaying properly in XCS. So I created the text as an SVG using Gimp and InkScape, then I imported the SVG into XCS. The following settings are for engraving an SVG image or Bitmap Engraving onto a pewter mug.

• Image
• Engrave
• Fiber IR
• 200 micron dot duration
• 1 - 80% power (be sure your image has no background)
• 550 dpi (I would consider raising this to 600+)
• 1 pass (I would consider two next time)
• Grayscale bitmap mode
• Bi-Directional engraving mode
• 30 kHz

Your mileage may vary. Do what I did not do, and visit a thrift store to pickup some pewter mugs and practice objects, then refine your settings.

I based my settings off of Brass Bitmap Engraving settings in this Processing Parameter Settings Recommended for Common Materials page.

[Javier Odom]

One caveat to laser engraving pewter, wood, and other materials is to be sure to remove the background if it is just a solid color. Another way to say this is to use images with a transparent background.

If you have a visible background then the laser may etch a thin layer where that is which will end up with you have a rectangle around your actual engraving. Sometimes this may be the effect you are after, but just be aware of why it is happening and how you can use it.