xTool F2 Ultra UV 3D Printed PLA Settings

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By Embrace Making AdminDec 5, 2025

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In the following video we explore the marking of various plastics using the xTool F2 Ultra UV laser. If you're looking for the best price on the xTool F2 Ultra UV laser use the link below:

xTool F2 ULTRA UV

This article shows the results on various colors of 3D printed PLA plastic on 2mm thick test cards approximately 109mm x 109mm in length and width (Regular F1 size fixture). They were mounted inside of the F2 Ultra UV using the following fixture adapter that is compatible with all F1 size fixtures:

F1 to F1/F2 Ultra Fixture Adapter

Test cards were printed on the Bambu Lab H2S

The various colors are from different filament brands listed below.

The test graphic was derived from "Batch Made" and was originally intended for marking PLA on the F1 Ultra. I rearranged the test graphic to fit on the F1 size test card and also went through every single text, shape, and line and changed all of the settings to be suitable for testing PLA using a 5W UV laser. You can download my F2 Ultra UV .xcs project file by clicking here.

The tests were performed with vector shapes, but scroll to the bottom to also see the example with a raster image on black PLA. Click on the images to see a larger view.

When lasering PLA, some anecdotal observations:

Solid / opaque and matte filaments work better. For example, if you print a thin sheet 1-2 layers thick and light easily passes through then that brand of filament *may* not mark very well. So you will find variance between brands. Some colors also allow you to get bright and dark markings with different settings.
There is a slight difference in marking the top layer vs. the bottom layer with some colors. This is why I included a picture of each side of the test card.
Marking of different size graphics may require parameter changes. For example, large solid areas may require more power than marking areas of medium size such as bold text. I believe this is because the energy is spread out more and becomes less concentrated. However, with small graphics such as very thin lines you may also need to increase the power. The processed area is so small that the energy will also be quickly dissipated to the surrounding material therefore more power is required. This is why the test card is so valuable. If your graphic is very thin or has large solid sections you may want to consider increasing your power 10-20% or slowing down your speed. The recommended values given will be for medium size text and graphics.
Ensure you are using proper ventilation and air filtration when marking plastic. With the correct settings the smell isn't too bad but if you are too aggressive you will experience burning.