xTool F2 Ultra UV Tumbler Settings: Powder-Coated & Stainless (2026)

Last updated: October 28, 2026

Tumblers need a rotary and a careful focus offset on the UV laser. (AI-generated illustration, generic machine.)

Quick answer: the best starting settings

For powder-coated tumblers, start at 75% power, 300 mm/s, 1 pass, 800 lines/cm, 85 kHz, bi-directional.

Autofocus, then add about 4 mm to the measured height.

If that's too slow, test 70% power at 1000 mm/s, 500 DPI with +5 mm focus.

xTool F2 Ultra UV tumbler settings chart

Note: The Atomm black-tumbler entry lists the machine as the F2 Ultra UV, but the page's "laser type" field reads blue light. Treat it as a test value, not a confirmed UV preset.

What creators found on video

We read the transcripts of the xTool F2 Ultra UV videos below. Settings are what each creator said; timestamps jump to that moment. Videos that turned out to use a different laser were left out.

Patterns across creators:

• Revved Up Design and the Reddit user both landed on 75% / 300 mm/s / 800 lines/cm / 85 kHz with about +4 mm focus.
• Higher frequency (85 kHz) protects iridescent coatings; lower settings burned the colour away (Revved Up Design).
• Expect long jobs: 20 minutes to 3 hours per tumbler.

Watch the best tests

The full settings, frequency trick and focus offset for iridescent tumblers. (Video: Revved Up Design on YouTube.)

Testing tumbler settings from scratch, including a failed run. (Video: Ashlee Falco on YouTube.)

Setup tips from the videos

• Use Chuck mode and enter the diameter measured with calipers (Revved Up Design).
• Set the start point at the highest point of the tumbler (Revved Up Design).
• Size the design to the perimeter: diameter × π, e.g. with an online calculator (Revved Up Design).
• Defocus outward (higher number) on tumblers, the opposite of glass (Revved Up Design).
• Don't move the tumbler between runs. A failed first attempt left a visible line (Ashlee Falco).
• Clean and polish after: magic eraser, then a polishing pad and polish (Revved Up Design).

What results to expect

• Powder coat: UV can produce a colour mark in the coating or remove it to show the steel.
• Slow jobs. xTool support says the module's low overall power makes tumbler work take longer.
• Fine lines. UV's tiny spot can leave visible scan lines on big fills. One user says the lines can be the steel grain under the coating.
• Bare steel: UV marks it, but slower than a fiber laser.

The focus offset trick

• Autofocus first. Level the tumbler, then measure at the top of the curve.
• Then add height. Makers report the best results after adding:
  • +3 mm (Atomm tumbler test grid author)
  • +4 mm (Reddit user: a 132 mm reading became 136 mm)
  • +5 mm (Atomm black tumbler maker)
• Shiny steel: xTool says to put masking tape on the highest point of reflective stainless, or the machine can't measure.

Rotary setup for tumblers

A test grid on a spare tumbler shows which settings give the cleanest mark. (AI-generated illustration.)

• Rotary needed. RA3 or RA2/RA2 Pro. None is included with the machine (xTool).
• RA3 roller levels (xTool):
  • Level S: 5–45 mm diameter
  • Level M: 40–70 mm diameter
  • Level L: 60–100 mm diameter
• Larger or tapered tumblers: use jaw chuck mode.
• Fix the RA3 down. One maker uses set screws to hold it to the baseplate.
• Level the tumbler with the bubble level so the engraving area is flat.
• Enter the diameter or perimeter in xTool Studio and choose Roller or Chuck mode.

Focus the surface before you trust a power number. The method is in How to Focus a UV Laser Correctly. Build the squares the way How to Calibrate the xTool F2 Ultra UV describes. What to reorder is in Best UV Laser Blanks to Buy and Sell. A repeatable position is the point of self-centering jigs for the F2 Ultra UV, and the smoke is the point of inline fans for the F2 Ultra UV. If you are still choosing the machine, start with the desktop UV laser buying guide.

Step-by-step: engraving a powder-coated tumbler

1. Clean

• Wipe off grease and fingerprints.

2. Mount and level

• Set the rotary mode and diameter in xTool Studio.

3. Focus

• Autofocus at the highest point, then add 3–5 mm.

4. Run a test grid

• The Atomm grid sweeps 100–400 mm/s and 20–100% power at 40, 85 and 150 kHz.
• Keep it on Unknown Material, or xTool Studio will overwrite the grid's settings.

5. Engrave

• Use bi-directional mode for speed. Run 1 pass first.

6. Clean up

• Wipe residue. Add a light clean-up pass only if needed.

Troubleshooting

FAQ

What are the best xTool F2 Ultra UV tumbler settings?

One user's best vector result on powder-coated tumblers was 75% power, 300 mm/s, 1 pass, 800 lines/cm, 85 kHz, bi-directional, with 4 mm added to the measured height.

Why add 3–5 mm after autofocus on a tumbler?

Makers report the autofocus height isn't the best height for UV colour marking on powder coat. Adding 3–5 mm gave cleaner results in their tests.

Why is tumbler engraving so slow on the F2 Ultra UV?

xTool support says the UV module's relatively low power makes these jobs take longer. On the rotary, usable speed tops out around 400 mm/s.

Can the F2 Ultra UV engrave bare stainless steel tumblers?

Yes, but slowly. Community settings are 60% power, 200 mm/s, 1 pass, and results vary. A fiber laser is faster on bare metal.

Why do I see scan lines on my tumbler?

Lines can come from fill settings or from the steel grain under the coating. Try higher lines per cm and bi-directional mode.

Do I need a rotary attachment?

Yes. The RA3 or RA2/RA2 Pro is needed and is sold separately.

How do I focus on a shiny tumbler?

xTool says to put masking tape at the highest point of reflective stainless so the machine can measure.

Does xTool Studio have a UV tumbler preset?

xTool presets are tuned for xTool materials. For other tumblers, use Unknown Material and a test grid.

How do I keep the iridescent colour under the powder coat?

Revved Up Design raised the frequency to 85 kHz, used 800 lines/cm and defocused about 4 mm outward. Lower settings burned the colour away.

Why does xTool Studio not give good tumbler settings?

Ashlee Falco found the starter settings unhelpful and tested her own, ending at 100% power and 202 mm/s.

Can the F2 Ultra UV add colour to bare stainless tumblers?

MNB Limited reports colour variations on a bare stainless tumbler. Settings were not stated.

Final thoughts

Start at 75% power, 300 mm/s, 800 lines/cm and 85 kHz, and add about 4 mm to your focus. Expect slow jobs, run a test grid on a spare tumbler, and keep a fiber or diode laser in mind for big production runs.

Sources

1. Reddit r/xToolOfficial, scan lines on powder-coated tumblers with F2 Ultra UV: https://www.reddit.com/r/xToolOfficial/comments/1rwe4bf/getting_visible_scan_lines_on_powdercoated/
2. Reddit r/xToolOfficial, F2 Ultra UV tumbler/water bottle engraving lines: https://www.reddit.com/r/xToolOfficial/comments/1wp9p2j/f2_ultra_uv_tumblerwaterbottle_engraving_lines/
3. Atomm, The Ultimate Tumbler Test Grid: https://www.atomm.com/project/120472-the-ultimate-tumbler-test-grid
4. Atomm Material Lab, black powder coated tumbler: https://www.atomm.com/materials-lab/community/4398-black-powder-coated-tumbler
5. Atomm, Custom Tumbler UV: https://www.atomm.com/project/237359-custom-tumbler-uv
6. xTool Support, Use RA3 with F2 Ultra UV: https://support.xtool.com/article/2703
7. xTool Support, Processing Parameters for F2 Ultra UV: https://support.xtool.com/article/2699
8. Bonny Creations, F2 Ultra UV stainless steel: https://www.bonnycreations.com/settings/machines/xtool-f2-ultra-uv/stainless-steel
9. Bonny Creations, F2 Ultra UV settings: https://www.bonnycreations.com/settings/machines/xtool-f2-ultra-uv
10. LaserGenerator, xTool settings chart: https://lasergenerator.com/laser-settings/xtool/
11. L3D Accessories, F2 Ultra coated metal settings: https://www.l3daccessories.com/pages/xtool-f2-ultra-coated-metal-settings
12. Tom's Hardware, F2 Ultra UV review: https://www.tomshardware.com/maker-stem/xtool-f2-ultra-uv-dual-laser-engraver-review
13. Revved Up Design, xTool F2 Ultra UV: Iridescent Tumbler Engraving Guide (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxTY1DzGFL0
14. Ashlee Falco, RA3 + F2 Ultra UV Rotary Test. Does It Actually Work on Tumblers and Jewelry? (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw6zvII-CsU
15. MNB Limited, xTool F2 Ultra UV Tumbler Test 🔥 Color Engraving on Stainless Steel + Black Tumbler (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7bQMPEbhj8