Jewelers Benchpin Forums

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.

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.