ComMarker B4 30W Fiber Laser Engraver vs xTool F1 Dual-Laser Engraver (2W IR + 10W Diode)
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right fiber laser for your needs.
ComMarker
$699
xTool
$799
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | ComMarker B4 30W Fiber Laser Engraver | xTool F1 Dual-Laser Engraver (2W IR + 10W Diode) |
|---|---|---|
| Wattage | 30 W | 2 W |
| Laser Type | Q-Switched | IR Diode (not fiber galvo) |
| Laser Source | Raycus | xTool IR |
| Work Area (W) | 110 mm | 110 mm |
| Work Area (H) | 110 mm | 110 mm |
| Galvo Speed | 10000 mm/s | 4000 mm/s |
| Color Marking | No | No |
| LightBurn | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus | No | No |
| Weight | 4.2 kg | 2.5 kg |
| Software | LightBurn + EZCad2 (LightBurn Galvo license required separately) | xTool Creative Space + LightBurn |
| Pulse Width | N/A (Q-Switched) | N/A |
| Price | $699 | $799 |
| Rating | 8.2/10 | 7.9/10 |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Pros & Cons
ComMarker B4 30W Fiber Laser Engraver
Pros
- Dual-lens system included: 110mm lens (110×110mm field, sharper marks) and 200mm lens (200×200mm field, larger work) both in the box — two work areas for one price, rare in fiber lasers under $1,500
- Motorized electric Z-axis lifting built in — precise focus control without manual guessing; an autofocus-equivalent convenience normally seen in machines priced $2,000+
- LightBurn compatible with EZCad2 also included — both workflows supported; owners report LightBurn produces dramatically better deep engraving results than EZCad2 on this machine
- Deep engraving on aluminum, brass, steel, precious metals, and stone confirmed across multiple owner channels — 30W Raycus output handles production-depth marking reliably
- Handheld mode via detachable design — for large pieces or on-site marking that won't fit on the desktop platform, this is a workflow no other machine in this tier offers
Cons
- Q-switched only — no color marking on stainless steel; if color is needed, the separate B4 30W MOPA (ASIN B0DRY12JMW) has the JPT MOPA source; both use the B4 body but they are different machines
- LightBurn Galvo license not included — budget an additional $60–$80 beyond the machine price; a frequent surprise for buyers who expected plug-and-play LightBurn from existing licenses
- Initial LightBurn setup requires loading a markcfg7 config file and calibrating corfile field size for whichever lens is mounted — LightBurn forum threads show first-time owners spending hours on initial configuration
- No color marking — reinforcing the most important caveat: despite 'B4' appearing in ComMarker's MOPA lineup branding, this specific ASIN is the Raycus Q-switch variant; verify the ASIN if color marking is needed
- Customer support response is 24hr+ with documented language barriers — not viable for time-sensitive production downtime per LightBurn forum users
xTool F1 Dual-Laser Engraver (2W IR + 10W Diode)
Pros
- Two machines in one enclosure: 2W IR marks metal (steel, aluminum, brass), 10W diode cuts wood, leather, and acrylic — single $799 machine that eliminates owning both a fiber and a diode laser
- xTool Creative Space software is the most polished beginner interface in the laser category — camera positioning, guided material presets, and auto-layout workflows available from day one
- Fully enclosed with automatic safety shutoffs — the only machine in this tier safe to operate in an office, living room, or classroom without OD5+ eyewear and ventilation setup
- LightBurn compatible for users who want full parameter control beyond what xTool's software exposes
- xTool has the largest installed base and most active community of any Chinese laser brand — tutorial content, settings libraries, and troubleshooting threads for every use case are indexed and searchable
Cons
- 2W IR laser is NOT a fiber galvo — it produces lighter, less consistent marks on hard metal than a dedicated 20W fiber laser; an owner who ran both side by side measured the fiber as '25x faster on average for marking metal'
- IR laser head is the documented primary failure point — multiple owners report the IR head degrading or dying within 1–2 years of regular use; xTool support unable to repair in some markets
- No autofocus — autofocus is exclusive to the F1 Ultra; this model requires manual two-dot alignment each session (a common point of confusion because the F1 Ultra, a completely different machine, has autofocus)
- 110×110mm work area matches budget dedicated fiber lasers — tumblers require a rotary and repositioning, no advantage here over GWEIKE or ComMarker alternatives
- At $799 you are paying for the dual-laser concept and xTool brand polish, not metal marking throughput — a dedicated 30W fiber laser at the same price marks stainless 10–25x faster
Our Verdicts
ComMarker B4 30W Fiber Laser Engraver
The ComMarker B4 30W is the machine to buy when deep, production-speed engraving on metals is the priority and color marking is not required. The dual-lens system (110mm + 200mm, both included) is a genuine differentiator — you can mark fine detail on jewelry at 110mm and switch to a full A4-size workpiece at 200mm without a second machine or aftermarket purchase. If color marking is in your roadmap at all, buy the OMTech 30W MOPA at a similar price or the B4 30W MOPA variant instead — you cannot add color capability to a Q-switched machine later. For monochrome production marking at volume, this is a fast, capable machine with real workflow flexibility.
xTool F1 Dual-Laser Engraver (2W IR + 10W Diode)
The xTool F1 is worth buying if and only if you genuinely need both metal marking and non-metal work (wood, acrylic, leather) in a single safe, enclosed desktop machine. That value proposition is real and has no direct competitor. If your work is metal-only, the GWEIKE G2 Pro at the same $799 price marks stainless 10–25x faster with better depth. Two critical clarifications: the F1 original uses a 2W IR diode laser, not a fiber galvo, and has no autofocus — both of those features belong to the F1 Ultra, which is a completely different machine at a higher price. Compare them only if you understand the difference.