This video is a review and extensive test of the xTool Metal Fab, a Class 4 fiber laser welder. The core finding is that the machine, when used correctly, can produce welds on thick mild steel (up to 10mm) that are stronger than the parent material itself. This is demonstrated through a series of T-fillet weld tests which are subsequently cross-sectioned, etched for microscopic analysis, and physically tested to failure in a 30-ton press.
The analysis reveals the laser's capability for deep, narrow penetration, achieving full root fusion where traditional stick welding (7018, 6013 electrodes) fails. A hybrid approach, using the laser for a root pass and a stick welder for a cap, yields exceptionally strong results. The review also covers a detailed unboxing, the critical safety requirements (including a mandatory training video to unlock the machine), and a comparative critique against a competitor's machine, noting both advantages (lighter torch, on-gun controls) and general industry-wide problems like fragile cable management and impractical touchscreen interfaces.
An Analysis of the xTool Metal Fab Laser Welder
0:00 Initial Claim & Demonstration: The video starts by showing a 2mm wide weld on 10mm thick mild steel. A cross-section reveals 100% root fusion. A subsequent break test shows the parent metal deforming and cracking before the weld itself, establishing the weld's superior strength.
2:45 Unboxing and Setup: The welder comes with the laser source, a separate wire feeder, a lightweight torch with on-gun controls, and accessories like nozzles, lens protectors, and safety gear. The setup requires a 32A power source and shielding gas (Nitrogen for steel, Argon for non-ferrous metals).
7:08 Critical Safety Procedures: This is a Class 4 laser and is treated as extremely dangerous. The manual mandates professional training and the appointment of a Laser Safety Officer (LSO). The machine is locked from the factory and requires watching a mandatory, unskippable safety video to receive an unlock code.
Initial tests on 5mm steel show that the default, slower settings provide dramatically better penetration (full fusion) than faster travel speeds, even at higher power.
Etched cross-sections reveal that fast travel speeds result in hard, brittle welds with minimal penetration (around 2mm).
Comparison with 7018 and 6013 stick welds shows the laser achieves deep root fusion where the stick welds show none.
24:44 Hybrid Welding Technique: A test combining a laser root pass with a 7018 stick weld cap on 10mm steel results in complete fusion across the entire joint. As far as I can tell, this is presented as a superior method for structural work.
Compared to the X1 Pro, the xTool Metal Fab has twice the optical power, a lighter torch, and more convenient controls.
General critiques applicable to most laser welders include flimsy cable sheathing, annoying wired safety interlocks (a wireless system is proposed), and the impracticality of using touchscreens in a workshop environment due to durability concerns.
39:22 Preset Discovery: It was discovered late in the review that the machine's recommended presets from "standard mode" can be viewed in "advanced mode," revealing the manufacturer's parameters. For 5mm steel, this was 100% power but a very slow travel speed of 3 mm/s, confirming why the initial tests at slower speeds were more successful.