xTool Creative Space (XCS) is an all-in-one software for graphic designing and editing, laser process setting, and machine controlling.

Connect xTool S1 to XCS

Minimum and recommended requirements for mobile phones

• With the minimum configurations, all the functions of XCS can be used properly. When you import a complex image, however, XCS may fail to run smoothly.
• With the recommended configurations, XCS can run more smoothly when you import and edit a complex image, the software delay may be shorter, and the performance is better.

Download and install XCS

(1) Search for "xTool Creative Space" in App Store or Google Play or visit xtool.com/software to download the app and install it on your mobile phone.

(2) Open XCS. On the top-right corner, tap and select the language you use.

Connect xTool S1 to XCS

You can connect xTool S1 to XCS through hotspot mode, Wi-Fi, or IP address.

Hotspot connection

(1) On the home screen, tap Connect device > Hotspot. Tap Allow location access to permit XCS to access your precise location.

(2) Long press the button on xTool S1 until the indicator blinks purple, which indicates that the device is in hotspot connection mode.

(3) Wait for a while, and you can see your device name on the Hotspot list. Tap it to connect to it.

Wi-Fi/IP connection

(1) On the home screen, tap Connect device > Configure Wi-Fi. Select S1, and tap Next.

(2) Long press the button on xTool S1 until the indicator blinks purple. In XCS, select Check that the device is in the network configuration state, and tap OK, next.

(3) Follow the instructions of the software to connect xTool S1 to a Wi-Fi network. Then, tap Go to connect.

(4) Ensure that your phone and xTool S1 are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Under Wi-Fi, tap the name of your device to connect it. After xTool S1 is connected, its annular indicator turns solid purple.

Note: If you cannot find your device through Wi-Fi, try IP connection instead: select IP, input the IP address of your device, and tap Connect.

Set up xTool S1 in XCS

1. On the home screen of XCS, tap your device name to go to the device details page.

(2) On the device details page, you can view the device information and modify some information.

• Device name: Tap to change the device name.
   
• User guide: Tap to view the user guide for the device.
   
• Firmware version: Check for updates and update the firmware if a new version is available.
   
• Wi-Fi setting: Connect the device to a Wi-Fi network.
   
• Hotspot password: Set a hotspot password for the device, so that if others want to connect to your device in Hotspot mode, they need to enter a password.

(2) At the bottom, tap Device settings, and set up the device for work.

• Flame alarm: If a flame is detected, xTool S1 will pause processing and raise the alarm.
   
• Stops when moved: If xTool S1 is moved or tilted during processing, it will pause processing.
   
• Fill light brightness: Adjust the brightness of the fill light in the working area.
   
• Time the purifier continues to work:
  If you connect xTool S1 with the smoke purifier, you can set the duration at which the smoke purifier continues to work after xTool S1 stops processing. By setting this parameter, you can make the smoke purifier work longer to absorb the remaining smoke.
   
• Auto-adjustment for the air assist set:
  If you connect xTool S1 with the air assist set (updated version), you can turn on Auto-adjustment for the air assist set.
  Set the airflow levels respectively for engraving and cutting. The airflow increases from 1 to 4, and 0 means no airflow. During processing, XCS adjusts the airflow based on your setting.
  Note: For an air assist set that is not of the updated version, you cannot set Auto-adjustment for the air assist set for it. You are advised to use a small airflow for engraving and a large airflow for cutting.
   
• Exhaust fan: Turn on the exhaust fan, and the fan will work to exhaust smoke during processing.
   

• Exhaust time after processing:
  If the exhaust fan is turned on, you can set the duration at which the exhaust fan continues to work after xTool S1 stops processing. By setting this parameter, you can make the exhaust fan work longer to absorb the remaining smoke.
   
• Buzzer reminders: Turn on the buzzer reminders, and the buzzer will make sounds in situations such as when the device is ready for processing, the processing is completed, and so on.

The supported processing modes

XCS that runs on the mobile phone supports the following processing modes:

• Process on baseplate: Process materials with flat and smooth surfaces with the baseplate in place
   
• Use rotary attachment: Use xTool S1 with the rotary attachment to process cylindrical and spherical materials, including irregular ones
   
• Screen preparation: This mode is developed for xTool Screen Printer, used to engrave screens for printing.

Process materials with flat surfaces

Notes

xTool S1 supports different material thicknesses when working with different accessories.

1. Place the material

Open the lid of xTool S1, and place the material to be processed on the baseplate.

2. Create a new project

On the bottom of the home screen, tap the + icon > + New project.

3. Select the processing mode and material name

(1) In the bottom-right corner of the project editing page, tap Setting.

(2) Select a processing mode. Here we use Process on baseplate as an example.

(3) Tap Material, select the name of your material, and click Confirm. If you can't find the name of your material, you can select User-defined material.

(4) Turn on or off Laser module position based on your need.

4. Set the laser focus

xTool S1 has a distance sensor, which can measure the distance between the laser module and the material surface. You can also manually measure and calculate the distance between the laser module and the material surface, and input the obtained values into XCS. During processing, xTool S1 will perform auto-focus based on the Distance parameter.

• Auto measure

(1) Move the laser module over the material. Ensure that the locating spot falls on the surface of the material.

(2) On XCS, click the icon in the Distance section, and xTool S1 will automatically measure the distance from the laser module to the material surface.

• Manual measure

(1) Use a ruler to measure the distance from the surface of the material to the top of the laser module.

(2) Subtract 100 mm (3.937 inch) from the measured value from step (1), and input the calculated value into the Distance parameter on XCS.

5. Mark the target processing area on the canvas

(1) At the bottom of XCS, tap Mark processing area > Start Marking.

(2) Tap Select Positioning Method. Select a marking mode based on the shape of the target processing area, and tap Start marking.

(3) Manually move the laser module to make the red cross spot fall at a vertex of the target processing area, and press the button on the device to record the position. Then, repeat the same steps to record the other required vertex(es) for the target processing area.

(Here the Rectangle mode is used as an example.)

(4) Tap End marking > Done, and then the target processing area will be marked out on the canvas.

Note: You can also use Snapshot preview to take a photo of the processing area and insert the photo into the canvas as the background for visualized positioning. For more information, see DIY Marking Stickers & Use 'Snapshot Preview' with xTool S1.

6. Design objects for processing

Note: You can design objects based on the marked area.

(1) Use the tools below the canvas to create objects. You can import images, insert shapes, enter text, and so on.

(2) Select objects and tap the Design tab below to further edit the objects.

Note: For more information on how to use XCS to design objects, see Software Learning Center.

7. Set parameters for processing

Select objects on the canvas, tap Parameters > EasySet panel, and set processing parameters on the EasySet panel for the selected objects.

Note:
If you have saved settings for the same type of material before, you can use your saved settings.
You need to set parameters for every object. A missed object may fail to be processed.
The parameters that can be set for bitmap objects and vector objects are different. You can select multiple objects of the same type and set parameters for them at once.

8. Preview the processing area

You can preview the processing area on the material by framing. Framing means laser dots walk along the border of the processing objects on the material. Take the following steps to start framing:

(1) In the top-right corner, tap Process. Set the framing speed first.

Note: You can click the arrow buttons to control the movement of the laser module. The other three parameters allow you to configure how the laser module moves with every tap on an arrow button.
XY speed (mm/s): The moving speed of the laser module in X and Y directions.
XY distance (mm): The moving distance of the laser module with each tap on an XY arrow button.
Z distance (mm): The moving distance of the laser module with each tap on a Z arrow button.

(2) Tap Framing in the software. Close the lid of xTool S1 and press the button on xTool S1 to start framing. The laser spot will move along the boundary of the processing pattern on the material, so that you can preview the processing area.

(3) After you confirm that the processing area is proper, click Framing completed in XCS. If the area is not ideal, you can adjust the material position or adjust the element positions in the software, and then preview the processing area again.

8. Start processing

(1) After previewing and confirming the processing area, tap Process.

(2) Preview the processing pattern and path.

Click the button, and XCS will show you the processing path.

(2) Close the lid of xTool S1. In XCS, click Start. When the software shows “Ready”, press the button on xTool S1 to start processing.