The xTool MetalFab is an all-in-one fiber-laser metal fabrication system that welds, cuts, cleans, and marks metal from a single machine.
It pairs a desktop CNC cutting bed with a laser head that detaches in seconds into a handheld welding and cleaning gun, so one tool covers jobs that normally need a TIG welder, a plasma cutter, and a grinder.
Sold in 800W and 1200W versions, it is xTool’s move from hobby engravers into real metalworking. This guide explains what the MetalFab is, what it costs, what metal processes it handles, and how to set it up and use it.
Key Takeaways
- The xTool MetalFab (Laser Welder) is a fiber-laser system that welds, cuts, cleans, and marks metal.
- It comes in 800W and 1200W models and welds steel roughly 4–5 mm thick.
- The 1200W cuts carbon steel up to ~10 mm; handheld welding is claimed up to 8× faster than TIG.
- Pricing starts around $4,699 (800W) and $7,999 (1200W).
What is the xTool MetalFab?
The xTool MetalFab is a fiber-laser metal fabrication system built around one clever idea: the same laser source powers both a desktop CNC cutting bed and a detachable handheld gun.
Lock the head onto the cutting module and it works as an automated laser cutter; pull it off (a roughly 550 g gun that releases in seconds) and you have a handheld laser welder and cleaner. That lets a small shop weld a seam, cut a panel, strip rust, and add a mark without swapping machines.
xTool announced the MetalFab on Kickstarter in April 2025, with units shipping from mid-2025. It uses an industrial-grade fiber laser (1080 ± 10 nm) with continuous-wave and modulated-wave modes, automatic wire feeding with 100+ built-in parameter presets, an 8-inch touchscreen, and dual HD cameras with a 16MP panoramic view for smart nesting on the cutting bed.
Because it is a genuine metal-processing tool, it runs on a 200–240V supply, not a standard engraver’s wall outlet.
| Spec | xTool MetalFab |
|---|---|
| Type | Fiber-laser welder + CNC cutter (weld / cut / clean / mark) |
| Released | Announced April 2025 (Kickstarter); shipping from mid-2025 |
| Laser | Fiber laser, 1080 ± 10 nm, CW / modulated-wave modes |
| Power options | 800W and 1200W models |
| Welding gun | Handheld, ~550 g, detaches in seconds; ~30s to switch weld/cut |
| Wire feeding | Automatic, 0.8–1.6 mm wire, 100+ presets |
| Cutting bed | CNC module with pass-through, dual-camera 16MP smart nesting |
| Power supply | 200–240V (1200W: 21A / ~4200W; 800W: ~13.5A / 3000W) |
| Cooling | Forced air cooling |
What is the pricing of the xTool MetalFab?
The MetalFab is priced as professional equipment, and the figure moves with xTool’s promotions, so treat these as a guide and confirm the live number on the official xTool MetalFab page. Prices are in USD as of July 2026 and change with sales.
| Configuration | What you get | Price (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 800W Laser Welder | Handheld fiber laser welder / cleaner (800W) | ~$4,699 |
| 1200W Laser Welder | Higher-power welder for thicker steel | ~$7,999 |
| CNC Cutter add-on | Cutting bed module (requires a welder) | ~$8,999 |
| 1200W Welder + Cutter | Weld and CNC-cut in one setup | ~$15,999 |
| All-in-One bundle (1200W) | Welder, cutter, and accessories | ~$18,249 |
xTool runs frequent seasonal sales, so the MetalFab is often below list. Kickstarter early-bird pricing was lower than retail. Always check the official page for the current welder-only and bundle deals.
What can the xTool MetalFab do?
Unlike xTool’s engravers, the MetalFab is a true metal-fabrication machine. Its fiber laser drives four core processes:
- Welding: handheld laser welding on steel, stainless steel, titanium, nickel alloy, and galvanized sheet — roughly 4 mm thick per the support spec (xTool marketing cites up to 5 mm). Laser welding runs cooler than TIG with a small heat-affected zone, and xTool claims speeds up to 8x faster than TIG with automatic wire feeding for filler joints.
- Cutting: mounted on the CNC bed, it cuts carbon steel up to about 10 mm (1200W), plus stainless, aluminum, brass, and titanium at thinner gauges, with ±0.1 mm precision and camera-based smart nesting to save material.
- Cleaning: the same gun strips rust, oxide, paint, and coatings off metal — useful for weld prep or restoration without chemicals or abrasive grinding.
- Marking: it engraves and marks logos, serial numbers, and designs on bare and coated metal for branding or part traceability.
Because welding, cutting, cleaning, and marking live in one unit — and switching from weld to cut takes about 30 seconds — the MetalFab suits fabrication shops, custom metal artists, and small manufacturers who want a compact alternative to separate welders and cutters. Browse real results in the MetalFab project gallery.
Where can you buy the xTool MetalFab?
- xTool official store (xtool.com) — newest configurations, welder-only and bundle pricing, warranty, and sale deals.
- Amazon — MetalFab listings appear under industrial and welding equipment for fast shipping.
- Authorized resellers — retailers including MatterHackers and Swing Design carry the MetalFab welder and CNC cutter.
Real projects people make with the xTool MetalFab
Here are community projects made on the MetalFab — several show off its metal cutting, welding, and fabrication reach — from the xTool MetalFab project gallery:
1. Custom Metal Welding Square
A precision welding square fabricated on the MetalFab — the flat stock is laser-cut and the joint laser-welded square. It is a fitting demo of the machine’s core job: clean, accurate metal joining for shop tooling you actually use at the bench.
Get this design →2. Portable Metal Fire Pit
A collapsible steel fire pit cut to shape and welded into a sturdy outdoor build. Projects like this show the MetalFab handling thicker structural steel and multi-panel assemblies, not just decorative sheet work.
Get this design →3. Stainless Steel Camping Grill
A packable stainless-steel camping grill with an eagle design cut into the panels, then assembled into a rigid frame. Stainless is one of the MetalFab’s strongest materials for both cutting and welding, ideal for gear that faces heat and weather.
Get this design →4. Metal Floral Scrollwork Shelf Brackets
Ornate floral scrollwork brackets cut from steel plate with crisp interior detail. The fiber laser’s ±0.1 mm precision makes intricate decorative metalwork like this repeatable, so a maker can turn one design into a sellable product line.
Get this design →5. Industrial Steampunk Metal Desk Lamp
A steampunk desk lamp built from laser-cut gears and metal parts welded into a working fixture. It highlights how the MetalFab moves from flat cut components to a finished, three-dimensional welded assembly in one workflow.
Get this design →6. MetalFab Laser-Cut Motorcycle Art
A detailed motorcycle wall-art piece cut from metal on the MetalFab. The fine lines and open cutwork show the machine handling artistic metal decor, where clean edges and small detail matter as much as raw cutting power.
Get this design →How to set up the xTool MetalFab
- Prepare a 200–240V circuit. The MetalFab needs a high-voltage supply (a ~21A circuit for the 1200W, ~13.5A for the 800W) — confirm your outlet and breaker before delivery.
- Place it in a metal-safe workspace on a stable surface with clearance, away from flammables, with ventilation for fumes.
- Unbox and check the main unit, welding/cleaning gun, wire feeder, ground clamp, nozzles, protective lenses, and safety gear.
- Connect the gun, wire feeder, and ground clamp to the main unit, and load welding wire (0.8–1.6 mm) into the feeder if you plan to weld filler joints.
- Power on and update via the 8-inch touchscreen; if you have the CNC cutter, mount the head on the cutting bed and let the cameras calibrate.
- Put on certified laser-safety glasses for the fiber wavelength, and keep a fire extinguisher nearby before the first job.
How to use the xTool MetalFab
- Choose your process on the touchscreen — weld, cut, clean, or mark — and pick the matching metal preset (steel, stainless, aluminum, titanium, and so on).
- To weld: clamp the ground to the workpiece, hold the handheld gun, and draw the beam along the joint; enable wire feeding for gap-filling seams. Laser welding runs cooler and faster than TIG with minimal warping.
- To cut: mount the head on the CNC bed, import your design, let the 16MP camera smart-nest the parts, then run the automated cut at ±0.1 mm precision.
- To clean: switch to cleaning mode and sweep the gun over rusted or coated metal to strip it back to bare surface — ideal before welding.
- To mark: select marking mode to engrave logos, serial numbers, or artwork onto the finished part.
- Finish safely: let parts cool, keep glasses on until the laser is idle, and inspect welds or cut edges before handling.
What metals does the xTool MetalFab support?
The MetalFab is built for metal. Weldability and thickness vary by metal and by model (800W vs 1200W); the figures below follow xTool’s support materials guidance, with marketing citing slightly higher maximums. Always confirm settings for your exact stock.
| Metal | Processes | Approx. max weld | Approx. max cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon / low-alloy steel | Weld, cut, clean, mark | ~4 mm | up to ~12 mm |
| Stainless steel (304/316/430) | Weld, cut, clean, mark | ~4 mm | up to ~10 mm |
| Galvanized sheet | Weld, cut, clean, mark | ~4 mm | up to ~10 mm |
| Titanium alloy | Weld, cut, clean, mark | ~4 mm | up to ~5 mm |
| Nickel alloy | Weld, cut, clean, mark | ~2 mm | up to ~4 mm |
| Aluminum alloy | Cut, clean, mark | — | up to ~7 mm |
| Brass / bronze | Cut, clean, mark | — | up to ~4 mm |
| Magnesium alloy | Cut, clean, mark | — | up to ~3 mm |
Cut depth is higher on the 1200W model than the 800W. Reflective metals like aluminum and brass are cut and marked rather than laser-welded. Always follow xTool’s official material settings and never process unknown coatings or galvanized metal without proper fume extraction.
xTool MetalFab alternatives
The MetalFab is a fiber laser welder and cutter for metal fabrication. Here are the main alternatives and where each fits.
xTool F1 Ultra
Desktop metal marking
A desktop fiber-and-diode machine for marking and engraving metal (and cutting non-metals). It won’t weld like the MetalFab, but it’s a far cheaper route into metal marking.
xTool F2 Ultra
Pro fiber color marking
A MOPA fiber machine for the most detailed, colorful metal marking. Like the F1 Ultra it marks rather than welds, but at a higher, more professional level.
ComMarker B4
Fiber marker
A dedicated fiber marking laser. It’s a cheaper way to mark and engrave metal than the MetalFab, but it doesn’t weld or do CNC fabrication.
How to choose a metal fabrication machine
Decide whether you need to weld and fabricate, or just mark and engrave metal:
| Priority | What to check | Points to |
|---|---|---|
| Welding + CNC | Actually joins and fabricates metal | xTool MetalFab |
| Metal marking | Fiber laser for marks/engraving | F1 Ultra, F2 Ultra, ComMarker B4 |
| Colorful marking | MOPA fiber for color on metal | xTool F2 Ultra |
| Budget | All-in cost | ComMarker (cheapest), MetalFab (most) |
The xTool MetalFab is unusual as a desktop laser welder and CNC cutter — the pick if you actually fabricate and join metal. If you only need to mark or engrave metal, the F1 Ultra, F2 Ultra, or a ComMarker fiber laser cost far less.
For heavy industrial welding, dedicated systems from Miller or IPG are the traditional (and far pricier) route.
Frequently asked questions about the xTool MetalFab
Is the xTool MetalFab a welder or a cutter?
Both. It is a fiber-laser system that welds, cuts, cleans, and marks metal. The laser head works as a handheld welder/cleaner and also mounts on a CNC bed to cut, so one machine covers all four processes.
What is the difference between the 800W and 1200W MetalFab?
The 1200W model has more laser power, so it welds and cuts thicker metal and works faster; it also needs a larger 200–240V circuit (~21A). The 800W is more affordable and runs on a smaller supply.
How thick of metal can the xTool MetalFab weld and cut?
Per xTool’s support specs it welds steel around 4 mm (marketing cites up to 5 mm) and cuts carbon steel up to roughly 10–12 mm on the 1200W. Stainless, titanium, aluminum, and brass have their own limits.
Is laser welding better than TIG?
For many jobs, yes — laser welding runs cooler with a smaller heat-affected zone and less warping, and xTool claims speeds up to 8x faster than TIG. It also has a gentler learning curve for clean seams.
Does the xTool MetalFab need special power and safety gear?
Yes. It runs on a 200–240V circuit, and you must wear certified laser-safety glasses for the fiber wavelength, ventilate fumes, and keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
Final thoughts
The xTool MetalFab is a real step up from the brand’s engravers: a fiber-laser system that welds, cuts, cleans, and marks metal from one compact unit, with a handheld gun that detaches in seconds and a CNC bed for precise cutting.
For fabrication shops, custom metal artists, and small manufacturers, it condenses a TIG welder, a cutter, and a cleaner into a single tool — welding up to 8x faster than TIG on steel, stainless, and titanium. See real builds in the MetalFab project gallery, then check current welder-only and bundle pricing on the official xTool MetalFab page.
