xTool MetalFab Laser Welder: 3-in-1, 4-in-1 or Add-On Cutter?
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The xTool MetalFab laser welder brings a tool once reserved for factories into small fabrication shops and serious maker garages. xTool is best known for desktop laser engravers and cutters, and the MetalFab is its step into metalwork: a 1200W fiber laser that welds, cuts and cleans metal from one machine, with a touchscreen that suggests settings for you. If you are shopping for an xtool metal fab laser welder, it helps to know that xTool sells it in more than one bundle, and that some xTool metal tools you will see nearby are engravers, not welders.
The five products here differ in one sentence: the MetalFab 3-in-1 welds, cuts by hand and cleans; the MetalFab 4-in-1 adds a CNC cutting bed and engraving; the CNC Cutter is that bed sold on its own for people who already own the welder; and the 1064nm module and the F2 are laser engravers that mark metal but cannot weld it.
xTool MetalFab and Metal Laser Tools Compared
| Product | What it does | Laser power | Metal thickness named | Listed weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MetalFab 1200W 3-in-1 | Weld, handheld cut, clean | 1200W fiber | Welds up to 5 mm; cuts up to 5 mm | 185.6 lbs |
| 1064nm Infrared Laser Module | Engraving add-on for D1 Pro | 2W (15KW peak) | Not listed | Not listed |
| F2 5W IR and 15W Diode | Engrave and mark | 5W IR plus 15W diode | Not listed | 10 lbs (4.6 kg) |
| MetalFab 1200W 4-in-1 | Weld, CNC cut, clean, engrave | 1200W fiber | Cuts 10 mm carbon, 5 mm stainless; welds 5 mm | 330 lbs |
| MetalFab CNC Cutter | CNC cutting bed (welder needed) | Uses welder’s 1200W laser | Cuts 10 mm carbon, 5 mm stainless | 544 lbs |
A few plain-language basics first. Laser welding melts the edges of two metal pieces with a focused beam of light so they fuse together, often with a thin filler wire fed in automatically. It is usually faster and neater than TIG or MIG welding, the traditional arc methods, because the heat stays in a small area. Laser cleaning uses the same kind of beam to strip rust, paint and oil from a surface. Laser engraving only marks the surface, so it is for logos and text, not for joining metal.
xTool MetalFab 1200W 3-in-1 Laser Welding for Small Fabrication Shops
xTool
xTool MetalFab 1200W 4-in-1 Laser Welding Machine CNC Cutter Laser Welder
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
xTool MetalFab 1200W 4-in-1 Laser Welding
Best for: Fabrication shops wanting automated CNC cutting
Pros
- Cuts 10 mm carbon steel
- 610 x 610 mm cutting bed
- Weld, cut, clean and engrave
- SaveGas cuts gas use
Cons
- Very large and heavy
- Model number duplicates 3-in-1
Best for: Small shops needing welding, cutting and cleaning
Pros
- Steady 1200W fiber laser
- Welds up to 5 mm steel
- 8-inch touchscreen, 108+ presets
- 45 mm wide cleaning head
Cons
- Handheld cutting only
- Needs 220V power
The xTool MetalFab 1200w 3-in-1 Laser Welding machine is the core MetalFab system. It uses a steady 1200W fiber laser with industrial-grade laser chips to weld up to 5 mm deep in stainless and carbon steel, and xTool says its weld quality rivals professional TIG and MIG systems. You can switch to a cutting head for on-the-spot handheld cuts up to 5 mm, or to a 45 mm-wide cleaning head that xTool says is 3 times wider than usual for faster rust and paint removal.
The big selling point for beginners is the 8-inch touchscreen with more than 108 preloaded material settings. You choose the material and thickness, and the machine sets itself up and feeds the filler wire automatically. xTool says it is built for continuous 24/7 operation with a lifespan over 10,000 hours, and it includes a contact-activated safety system that only fires the laser when the nozzle touches the workpiece. Purchase includes US and EU support and a free one-on-one commissioning session to help set it up.
It weighs 185.6 pounds, ships in a 34 by 30.5 by 29 inch package and runs on 220 volts, so you will need a suitable outlet and a proper workshop space. Any fiber laser of this power also needs laser safety glasses and a controlled work area. This version suits small fabrication shops, farm workshops and makers who build railings, brackets and furniture frames. If you want automated, precise cutting from drawings, the 4-in-1 below adds that.
xTool 1064nm Infrared Laser Module for Jewelry Engraving
Makeblock
xTool 1064nm Infrared Laser Module for D1 Pro – Ultra-fine 0.03mm Laser Spot, 15KW Peak Power, Ideal for Metal, Gold, Silver, Jewellery, Aluminium, Plastic – Personalized Gift and Jewelcrafting
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
xTool 1064nm Infrared Laser Module
Best for: D1 Pro owners engraving jewelry
Pros
- Engraves gold, silver, all metals
- 03 mm fine laser spot
- Swaps in about 3 seconds
Cons
- Engraver add-on, not a welder
- Only fits the D1 Pro
The xTool 1064nm Infrared Laser Module is not a welder. It is a plug-in laser head for the xTool D1 Pro desktop engraver, sold under the Makeblock brand, which is the company that makes xTool products. The 1064nm number describes the infrared wavelength of the light, which metals absorb well, so this module can engrave all metals, including gold, silver, copper, aluminum and zinc. The D1 Pro’s standard blue diode laser cannot do that. It also works on plastic, acrylic and leather.
The module is a 2W laser with 15KW peak power and a tiny 0.03 by 0.03 mm spot, which is what lets it capture fine detail on rings, pendants and tags. xTool says you can swap it in within about 3 seconds and run it at up to 400 mm/s on the D1 Pro. It carries a 1-year warranty. The listing gives item dimensions of 35.1 by 14.1 inches, which seems large for a laser head and may describe the packaging or a full machine, so check before planning storage.
This module suits D1 Pro owners who want to add jewelry and metal engraving. It does nothing for welding or cutting steel, so fabricators should look at the MetalFab options instead.
xTool F2 5W IR and 15W Diode for On-Site Metal Personalization
xTool
xTool F2 5W IR & 15W Diode Dual Laser Engraver, Built-in 50MP Camera, 6000mm/s Ultra Fast, 3D Embossing, Color Marking on Metal, On-Site & Small-Batch Ready, Portable Desktop Laser Engraving Machine
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
xTool F2 5W IR & 15W
Best for: Pop-up shops personalizing metal gifts
Pros
- 5W IR plus 15W diode
- Built-in 50MP camera
- Enclosed, portable at 4.6 kg
Cons
- Engraver, cannot weld
- Small work area
The xTool F2 5W IR & 15W diode dual laser engraver is another engraver rather than a welder, but it is a common choice for adding names and logos to metal. It combines a 5W infrared laser for deep, dark and color marking on metal with a 15W diode laser for 3D embossing and cutting through softer materials, covering more than 300 materials in total.
A built-in 50MP camera shows the workspace and helps align designs to within 0.1 mm on small items. xTool lists speeds up to 6,000 mm/s and says a card can be engraved in about 3 seconds. The machine is fully enclosed with a built-in fan, an optional purifier for fumes, and it arrives assembled with material presets. It weighs 4.6 kg, or about 10 pounds, and xTool pitches it for fairs and pop-up shops. The box includes the F2, a base plate and a material kit, with a 1-year warranty. It is a Class 4 laser product, the most powerful laser class, so follow the safety guidance.
The F2 suits small businesses that personalize tumblers, tags and metal gifts on the spot. It cannot weld, and its small work area is not for fabrication.
xTool MetalFab 1200W 4-in-1 Laser Welding for Automated Cutting
The xTool MetalFab 1200W 4-in-1 Laser Welding kit combines the 1200W fiber laser welder with an industrial-grade CNC laser cutter, a laser cleaner and a laser engraver. CNC stands for computer numerical control, which means the machine moves the laser along a path from your design file, so cuts are repeatable and precise. The bed is 610 by 610 mm, and xTool says it cuts up to 10 mm carbon steel and 5 mm stainless steel, with dual cameras for positioning and VibeFreeCut technology for smooth edges.
Welding matches the 3-in-1: up to 5 mm depth in stainless and carbon steel, which xTool says is 8 times faster than TIG, with automatic wire feeding. SaveGas airflow optimization is listed as cutting shielding gas use by up to 50%. Included components are the CNC cutter, welder, wire feeder, feeder cable and tube, and several drive rolls. It weighs 330 pounds and ships in a package about 48 inches on each side. The listing shows the same model number as the 3-in-1, so confirm which bundle you are ordering.
This kit suits shops that cut many parts from sheet steel and then weld them together. For hand welding only, the 3-in-1 is smaller and simpler. For workshop planning, our guide to xTool CO2 laser cutters covers the non-metal side of the lineup.
xTool MetalFab CNC Cutter for Upgrading an Existing Welder
Best for: MetalFab welder owners adding a CNC bed
Pros
- Adds automated CNC cutting
- Dual cameras for positioning
- 610 x 610 mm bed
Cons
- Requires the MetalFab welder
- Listing copies 4-in-1 text
The xTool MetalFab CNC Cutter is the cutting bed on its own, and the title says “Welder Needed.” It uses the 1200W laser source from a MetalFab welder, so it only makes sense if you already own the 3-in-1 or plan to buy it. The listing repeats the 4-in-1 feature text: 610 by 610 mm bed, cuts up to 10 mm carbon steel and 5 mm stainless, dual cameras and VibeFreeCut technology.
Some details do not add up. The listed weight is 544 pounds, heavier than the full 4-in-1 kit at 330 pounds, and its package is larger too. Since the feature text describes the full 4-in-1 system, read it as a description of what you get once the cutter is paired with the welder.
This add-on suits 3-in-1 owners whose work has grown into production cutting. New buyers who want both from day one should compare it against the 4-in-1 bundle.
How to Choose the Right xTool MetalFab
Weld or engrave. If you need to join metal, only the MetalFab 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 weld. The 1064nm module and F2 mark metal only.
Handheld or CNC cutting. The 3-in-1 cuts by hand up to 5 mm. The 4-in-1 and add-on cutter bring automated cutting from design files.
Space and power. The 3-in-1 alone weighs 185.6 pounds and runs on 220 volts; the CNC options are far larger. Plan floor space, ventilation and a lockable laser area. If you also cut wood or trim, our circular saw guide helps round out a shop.
FAQ
What is the difference between the xTool MetalFab 3-in-1 and 4-in-1?
The 3-in-1 welds, cuts by hand and cleans. The 4-in-1 adds a CNC cutting bed that cuts up to 10 mm carbon steel, plus engraving.
Can the xTool F2 weld metal?
No. The F2 is a laser engraver that marks and embosses. Only the MetalFab machines weld.
Does the MetalFab CNC Cutter work alone?
No. Its title says a welder is needed, because it uses the MetalFab laser source.
How thick can the xTool MetalFab weld?
xTool lists welding depth up to 5 mm in stainless and carbon steel.
Is a handheld laser welder hard to learn?
xTool’s touchscreen presets and automatic wire feed are meant to shorten the learning curve, but safety training and protective gear are still essential.
Related reading: xtool 800 watt laser welder.
