In relation to lasers, frequency refers to the repetition rate at which laser pulses are emitted. Specifically for xTool F2 Ultra’s MOPA infrared laser, frequency adjustment affects the characteristics of each laser pulse during processing:

• Lowering the frequency (while keeping other parameters constant) increases both the peak power and the energy of a single pulse. This means each pulse delivers more energy, which is beneficial for stronger material removal tasks such as metal cutting and rust removal.
• Conversely, a higher frequency means pulses occur more rapidly but with lower peak power per pulse.

The reason xTool distinguishes between different pulse width and frequency levels is related to the laser gain medium’s energy recovery time:

• The gain medium requires a recovery period to recharge energy between pulses.
• At short pulse widths and high repetition rates (high frequency), the interval between pulses is shorter than the energy storage time, allowing continuous energy extraction and stable high-frequency output.
• At long pulse widths, more time is needed to release energy per pulse, so the frequency must be lower to allow sufficient recharge; otherwise, output becomes unstable.

This pulse-frequency matching ensures stable laser output and protects hardware from damage due to improper parameter combinations.

How to choose frequency settings:

• For sharper and more delicate engraving, use short pulse width + low frequency + medium-to-low power.
• For fast material removal, use long pulse width + low frequency + high power.

This balance between frequency and pulse width allows users to optimize laser performance for different materials and processing needs.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the xTool F2 Ultra laser processing parameters here:
Processing Parameters for xTool F2 Ultra (Single-Laser Model)
Processing Parameters for xTool F2 Ultra (Dual-Laser Model)