Dropbox Paper

Laser Cutter Settings

This document is the beginning of a reference list of settings for our laser for cutting and engraving various materials. While these settings worked once for someone, they are not guaranteed to work every time for everyone. They are a good starting point, however. Should include LaserPowerMax if not 180. For vector operations, include Vector Current, %Speed, %Power, #Passes. For raster operations, include % Raster Power, %Raster Speed. Helpful comments in [square brackets] are welcome.

If you have information for additional materials or different settings for these materials, please add them here!

These settings were for the old tube. The new tube has more power, so generally will need maybe a third less power than before.

Vector cutting settings

material	VC	%Spd	%Pwr	#pass	comments
2mm acrylic (like Big Data badge leftovers)	100 100 100	35 25 100 70	100 0.2 100	1 1 1	cuts OK light engrave deep engrave
.050 nonglare acrylic	100	50	100	1	cuts OK
5mm acrylic (scraps in back with old stuck paper on the back)	100	25	100	4	Cut (DSW 8/2/2018) Cut paper side down, paper lights up when 100% through
0.093” Optix acryilc from HD	100	17	100	1	cut OK
3mm clear acrylic	100 100	18 30	100 100	1 2
3mm fluorescent acrylic	100+255LPM	25	100	1
3mm black acrylic	100	18	100	1
3mm white acrylic (translucent, 40% light transmitted)	100	20	100	2	cut
1/4″ acrylic	80 100 80 80	85 100 70 100	100 100 100 100	25 (!) 16 1 1	small squares, so local retained heat might matter deep engrave light engrave
3mm Baltic Birch ply (12×12 sheets from slipski)	100 100	22 100	100 0.2	1 1	cut OK deepish engrave
3mm ply from (Menards SKU 2529826 $3.49) (Rick's)	100	18	100	1	nice cuts
Taskboard	25 25 40 40	100 28 65 100	10 100 100 0.5	1 1 1 1	line engrave cut OK cut OK (demo) line eng OK (demo)
3.6mm corrugated cardboard 12”x15"	80 80 20 30	100 100 100 100	100 1 1 0.25	1 1 1 1	Catches fire somewhat less with long paths Nice engrave line very light line not even visible
1/8″ hardboard	100 100	50 98	33 100	6 11	OK OK
1/4″ hardboard	100 100 100 100	20 10 100 100	100 100 100 0.2	3 4 1 1	no cut no cut, burned * deep engrave lighter engrave
0.017" hardboard	100	80	100	1	cuts nicely
1/4″ Baltic Birch plywood from Owl	100	100	100	28	Focus on taskboard, not on top surface of plywood!
20 lb “printer paper”	22	100	30
110 lb card stock	25 20	100 100	100 5	1 1	cuts nicely deep engrave

​​Vector cutting settings

Vector cutting settings