Laser Cutter Material Settings: Difference between revisions

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Check '''[[Laser_Cutter#Forbidden_Materials|Forbidden]]''' and '''[[Laser_Cutter#Possible_Materials_(Cutting/Engraving)|Possible Materials]]'''.
Check '''[[Laser_Cutter#Forbidden_Materials|Forbidden]]''' and '''[[Laser_Cutter#Possible_Materials_(Cutting/Engraving)|Possible Materials]]'''.
* Power range: 1-100 %
* Speed range: 200-400 mm/s ''recommended'' for engraving; higher speeds are achievable according to the [https://hpclaser.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LS6090-PRO-Data-Sheet-2019a.pdf data sheet]<sup> [what is the actual limit??]</sup>
* Why look at the '''date'''? CO<sub>2</sub> lasers loose power over time! New tubes installed: 2020-01 / ...


Here's what we've tried so far - please add your own experiences!
Here's what we've tried so far - please add your own experiences!
Line 17: Line 21:
|-
|-
! scope="col"| Material
! scope="col"| Material
!Date
(YYYY-MM)
! scope="col"| Thickness
! scope="col"| Thickness
! scope="col"| Operation
! scope="col"| Operation
Line 27: Line 33:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|
|2 mm
|2 mm
|cut
|cut
Line 37: Line 44:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2 mm
|2024-10
|irrelevant
|engrave
|engrave
|500
|500
Line 47: Line 55:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2022-02
|4 mm
|4 mm
|cut
|cut
Line 57: Line 66:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2021-06
|4 mm
|4 mm
|cut
|cut
Line 67: Line 77:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2022-06
|4 mm
|4 mm
|cut
|cut
Line 77: Line 88:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2024-07
|4 mm
|cut
|22
|100
|50
|
|surface
|cut *just* goes through, very nice edges
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2022-06
|4 mm
|4 mm
|mark (vector engrave, weak cut)
|mark (vector engrave, weak cut)
Line 87: Line 110:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2022-04
|4 mm
|4 mm
|engrave/extrude
|engrave/extrude
Line 97: Line 121:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2022-04
|4 mm
|4 mm
|engrave/extrude
|engrave/extrude
Line 107: Line 132:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2022-02
|6 mm
|6 mm
|cut
|cut
Line 117: Line 143:
|-
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2024-07
|6 mm
|cut
|08
|100
|50
|
|sub-center (-1 step)
|cut through easyly, also fine with tape
|-
![[Poplar Plywood]]
|2022-02
|8 mm
|8 mm
|cut
|cut
Line 127: Line 165:
|-
|-
!Spruce ''(Fichte)''
!Spruce ''(Fichte)''
|2021-12
|4mm
|4mm
|cut  
|cut  
Line 137: Line 176:
|-
|-
! [https://www.bauhaus.info/schneidebretter-drehteller/schneidebrett/p/26045104 Bamboo cutting board]
! [https://www.bauhaus.info/schneidebretter-drehteller/schneidebrett/p/26045104 Bamboo cutting board]
|  
|2020-08
|
| engrave
| engrave
| 200
| 200
| 20
| 20
|
|
|  
|
| Surface
| Surface
| quite good results. Not very deep, but good visibility.
| quite good results. Not very deep, but good visibility.
|-
|-
! Black anodized [[aluminium]] (bead blasted surface finish)
! Black anodized [[aluminium]] (bead blasted surface finish)
|  
|2020-08
|
| engrave
| engrave
| 200
| 200
| 60
| 60
|
|
|  
|
| Surface
| Surface
| Very clean and bright lines. No change of surface texture to-touch. Increase resolution for finer details.
| Very clean and bright lines. No change of surface texture to-touch. Increase resolution for finer details.
|-
|-
! [[MDF]]
! [[MDF]]
|2020-08
| 3 mm
| 3 mm
| cut
| cut
Line 162: Line 204:
| 100
| 100
|
|
|  
|
| Center (1.5mm)
| Center (1.5mm)
| For larger objects, increase the power/decrease speed to adjust for unevenness of the object on the table.
| For larger objects, increase the power/decrease speed to adjust for unevenness of the object on the table.
|-
|-
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA)
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA)
|
|3mm
|3mm
|cut
|cut
Line 177: Line 220:
|-
|-
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA)
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA)
|
|3mm
|3mm
|cut
|cut
Line 187: Line 231:
|-
|-
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA)
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA)
|2021-10
|10mm
|10mm
|cut
|cut
Line 197: Line 242:
|-
|-
!Protective Foil on [[Acrylic Glass]]
!Protective Foil on [[Acrylic Glass]]
|
|0.05mm
|0.05mm
|cut
|cut
Line 207: Line 253:
|-
|-
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA) - GS
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA) - GS
|2021-03
|5 mm
|5 mm
|engrave
|engrave
Line 217: Line 264:
|-
|-
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA) - GS
![[Acrylic Glass]] (PMMA) - GS
|
|5 mm
|5 mm
|cut
|cut
Line 227: Line 275:
|-
|-
![[Glass]]
![[Glass]]
|2021-04
|
|
|Engrave
|Engrave
Line 237: Line 286:
|-
|-
!Glass Black Paint
!Glass Black Paint
|2021-10
|
|
|Engrave
|Engrave
Line 247: Line 297:
|-
|-
!Glass Black Paint  
!Glass Black Paint  
|2022-10
|
|
|Engrave
|Engrave
Line 257: Line 308:
|-
|-
!Softshell (100% Polyester)
!Softshell (100% Polyester)
|2021-04
|
|
|Engrave
|Engrave
Line 267: Line 319:
|-
|-
!Fleece (fabric)
!Fleece (fabric)
|2021-04
|
|
|Engrave
|Engrave
Line 276: Line 329:
|Engraving results in general are good.  
|Engraving results in general are good.  
The visibility of the engraving depends heavily on the color of the used fabric.
The visibility of the engraving depends heavily on the color of the used fabric.
|-
!Fleece (fabric, Polyester)
|2024-10
|4 mm
|cut
|90
|85
|75
|
|center (-2 mm)
|Cut though, borders melted
|-
|-
![[Birch Plywood]]
![[Birch Plywood]]
|2021-08
|8mm
|8mm
|cut
|cut
Line 288: Line 353:
|-
|-
![[Birch Plywood]]
![[Birch Plywood]]
|2023-05
|
|
|engrave
|engrave
Line 298: Line 364:
|-
|-
![[Birch Plywood]]
![[Birch Plywood]]
|2023-05
|
|
|engrave
|engrave
Line 308: Line 375:
|-
|-
![[Linol]]
![[Linol]]
|2021-08
|
|
|Engrave
|Engrave
Line 318: Line 386:
|-
|-
![[Laser Stamp Rubber]]
![[Laser Stamp Rubber]]
|2024-10
|2.3mm
|2.3mm
|engrave
|engrave
Line 323: Line 392:
|100
|100
|
|
|
|0.1 mm
|
|surface
|[https://smile.amazon.de/gp/product/B07RWKH4PB Product Link]
|[https://smile.amazon.de/gp/product/B07RWKH4PB Product Link]
|-
|-
![[Laser Stamp Rubber]]
![[Laser Stamp Rubber]]
|2024-10
|2.3mm
|2.3mm
|cut
|cut
Line 334: Line 404:
|
|
|
|
|
|surface
|[https://smile.amazon.de/gp/product/B07RWKH4PB Product Link]
|visible flames - try higher speed?!
[https://smile.amazon.de/gp/product/B07RWKH4PB Product Link]
|-
|-
!Slate ''(Schiefer)''
!Slate ''(Schiefer)''
|2021-12
|
|
|engrave
|engrave
Line 348: Line 420:
|-
|-
!Yardstick ''(Zollstock)'' - Hornbach, "Maurerlob", yellow
!Yardstick ''(Zollstock)'' - Hornbach, "Maurerlob", yellow
|2022-05
|
|
|engrave
|engrave
Line 358: Line 431:
|-
|-
![https://www.deinlasershop.de/de/laser-material/graviermaterial/laserply/laserply-3160-gold-gebuerstet-schwarz-staerke-1-5-mm/ Laserply 3160] (coated acrylic; black/brushed gold)
![https://www.deinlasershop.de/de/laser-material/graviermaterial/laserply/laserply-3160-gold-gebuerstet-schwarz-staerke-1-5-mm/ Laserply 3160] (coated acrylic; black/brushed gold)
|2022-05
|1.5 mm
|1.5 mm
|cut
|cut
Line 368: Line 442:
|-
|-
![https://www.deinlasershop.de/de/laser-material/graviermaterial/laserply/laserply-3160-gold-gebuerstet-schwarz-staerke-1-5-mm/ Laserply 3160] (coated acrylic; black/brushed gold)
![https://www.deinlasershop.de/de/laser-material/graviermaterial/laserply/laserply-3160-gold-gebuerstet-schwarz-staerke-1-5-mm/ Laserply 3160] (coated acrylic; black/brushed gold)
|2022-05
|
|
|engrave
|engrave
Line 378: Line 453:
|-
|-
![[EVA Foam]]
![[EVA Foam]]
|2022-08
|10mm
|10mm
|cut
|cut
Line 387: Line 463:
|
|
|-
|-
!Coloured Card
![[Colored Card]]
|2022-10
|
|
|engrave
|engrave
Line 397: Line 474:
|Brown card - got nice results (documentation to follow)
|Brown card - got nice results (documentation to follow)
|-
|-
!Coloured Card
![[Colored Card]]
|2022-10
|
|
|Cut
|Cut
Line 407: Line 485:
|Brown card - got nice results (documentation to follow)
|Brown card - got nice results (documentation to follow)
|-
|-
!PET
![[Paper]]
|2024-06
|0.4mm
|cut
|50
|100
|
|
|
|Worked with speed 400, power 50 for small squares. But somehow didn't work for larger rounded shapes. Given values then worked for cutting shapes from (thick) colored paper.
|-
![[Paper]]
|2024-06
|0.4mm
|engrave
|700
|40
|
|
|
|Worked for engraving text into (thick) colored paper. Not very dark, though.
|-
![[PET]]
|2023-07
|0.75 mm
|0.75 mm
|cut
|cut
Line 416: Line 517:
|Surface
|Surface
|Hard to focus due to bend from the roll, lots of smoke! Leftover material from "Maker vs Virus"
|Hard to focus due to bend from the roll, lots of smoke! Leftover material from "Maker vs Virus"
|-
![[Masking Tape]] (e.g. on wood)
|2024-02
|0.1 mm
|cut
|50
|25
|10
|
|Surface
|Speed 100/power 50 also cut through with ease, but seemed to "wiggle" more
|-
!Oak [[Material:Wood|wood]]
|2024-10
|
|mark (vector engrave, weak cut)
|200
|20
|
|
|surface
|gives clean lines to follow with a [[Saws|saw]]
|}  
|}  


If we haven't tried a material yet, these Spaces with similar machines might have:
If we haven't tried a material yet, these Spaces with similar machines might have:
* looong list of [https://wiki.makeitlabs.com/resource-areas/laser-rabbit/laser-settings-80w MakeIt Labs' "Laser Settings 80W"] (for [https://wiki.makeitlabs.com/resource-areas/laser-rabbit this machine])
* looong list of [https://wiki.makeitlabs.com/resource-areas/laser-cutters/retired-lasers/laser-settings-80w MakeIt Labs' "Laser Settings 80W"] (for [https://wiki.makeitlabs.com/resource-areas/laser-cutters/retired-lasers this machine])
*[http://wiki.zurich.fablab.ch/HPC_LS3040 smaller but probably equivalent "HPC"/"Laserscript" model at Fablab Zurich] (also has a less detailed [https://zurich.fablab.ch/2012/09/laser-cutter-hpc/ blog post])
*[http://wiki.zurich.fablab.ch/HPC_LS3040 smaller but probably equivalent "HPC"/"Laserscript" model at Fablab Zurich] (also has a less detailed [https://zurich.fablab.ch/2012/09/laser-cutter-hpc/ blog post])
*[https://github.com/madlabuk/madfablab/wiki/laser-cutter still pretty similar model at MadFabLab]
*[https://github.com/madlabuk/madfablab/wiki/laser-cutter still pretty similar model at MadFabLab]

Latest revision as of 00:31, 20 October 2024

aftermath of a plywood testing session

Unfortunately you can't just calculate the perfect settings based on the power ("Watts") of a laser cutter because the actually delivered energy is always based on a combination of power and speed, which is different for each brand or model of laser cutter. To make things more complicated, 100 % power in a cutting profile is not the same as 100 % power in an engraving profile...

As there is always some trial and error involved, please share your experience with the others! You can often use experience from other machines as a rough starting point.

In general, cutting is usually done at 100 % power and the highest speed that will still result in a reliable cut. If 100 % speed still gets you through (e.g. paper or cardboard), you should reduce the power until you find the sweet spot. Besides the power setting, you can influence the invested energy by altering the pulse frequency - you may want to go lower on flammable materials like wood, where edges might otherwise become black, and higher on plastics like acrylic glass where you are aiming for a "flame-polished" edge. page 46

The width of the kerf (Schnittfuge) also depends on the laser settings and the material you're using and could be important for certain designs. Sebastian recommends to use the "DXF for Laser" Fusion 360 export plugin [1] and testing different settings for each material so you get tight fitting joints.

Laserscript LS6090 (80 W)

Check Forbidden and Possible Materials.

  • Power range: 1-100 %
  • Speed range: 200-400 mm/s recommended for engraving; higher speeds are achievable according to the data sheet [what is the actual limit??]
  • Why look at the date? CO2 lasers loose power over time! New tubes installed: 2020-01 / ...

Here's what we've tried so far - please add your own experiences!

Material Date

(YYYY-MM)

Thickness Operation Speed (mm/s) Power (%) Corner power Scan gap ("resolution") Focus Comments
Poplar Plywood 2 mm cut 30 100
Poplar Plywood 2024-10 irrelevant engrave 500 100 0.1mm
Poplar Plywood 2022-02 4 mm cut 16 100 center (-2 mm) kerf: approx. 0.15 mm for a bit of wiggle room (for gluing)
Poplar Plywood 2021-06 4 mm cut 20 80 center (-2 mm) Cut looks good; e.g. "Bastel-Sperrholz Pappel 4mm" from Bauhaus
Poplar Plywood 2022-06 4 mm cut 40 100 30 surface cut just about goes through - much better edge quality than center focus with s20/p80
Poplar Plywood 2024-07 4 mm cut 22 100 50 surface cut *just* goes through, very nice edges
Poplar Plywood 2022-06 4 mm mark (vector engrave, weak cut) 400 40 surface nice fine line; small test shapes don't work well as everything is overriden by "corner power" settings
Poplar Plywood 2022-04 4 mm engrave/extrude 260 90 0.1mm Gives you ~2mm extrusion
Poplar Plywood 2022-04 4 mm engrave/extrude 520 90 0.1mm Gives you ~1mm extrusion
Poplar Plywood 2022-02 6 mm cut 12 100 center (-3 mm) kerf: approx. 0.15 mm for a bit of wiggle room (for gluing)
Poplar Plywood 2024-07 6 mm cut 08 100 50 sub-center (-1 step) cut through easyly, also fine with tape
Poplar Plywood 2022-02 8 mm cut 7 100 center (-4 mm) kerf: approx. 0.15 mm for a bit of wiggle room (for gluing)
Spruce (Fichte) 2021-12 4mm cut 10 100 center Kleinteile > 3mm
Bamboo cutting board 2020-08 engrave 200 20 Surface quite good results. Not very deep, but good visibility.
Black anodized aluminium (bead blasted surface finish) 2020-08 engrave 200 60 Surface Very clean and bright lines. No change of surface texture to-touch. Increase resolution for finer details.
MDF 2020-08 3 mm cut 19 100 Center (1.5mm) For larger objects, increase the power/decrease speed to adjust for unevenness of the object on the table.
Acrylic Glass (PMMA) 3mm cut 25 100 80 Center (-1.5mm)
Acrylic Glass (PMMA) 3mm cut 20 100 80 Top Surface
Acrylic Glass (PMMA) 2021-10 10mm cut 3.5 100 100 Center
Protective Foil on Acrylic Glass 0.05mm cut 100 50 15 Center (-1.5mm)
Acrylic Glass (PMMA) - GS 2021-03 5 mm engrave 400 50 Surface Good visibility
Acrylic Glass (PMMA) - GS 5 mm cut 2 100 Surface Cut looks good
Glass 2021-04 Engrave 300 40 Surface
Glass Black Paint 2021-10 Engrave 300 100 Surface scan gap 0.1, Bi-dir, Blow, Jo
Glass Black Paint 2022-10 Engrave 300 60 Surface scan gap 0.05, Bi-dir, 3bar, Jo
Softshell (100% Polyester) 2021-04 Engrave 450 15 Surface Using more power will burn through the material!
Fleece (fabric) 2021-04 Engrave 450 20 Surface Engraving results in general are good.

The visibility of the engraving depends heavily on the color of the used fabric.

Fleece (fabric, Polyester) 2024-10 4 mm cut 90 85 75 center (-2 mm) Cut though, borders melted
Birch Plywood 2021-08 8mm cut 10 100 Surface Cut looks good
Birch Plywood 2023-05 engrave 1000 80 0.075 mm Surface strong contrast (dark engraving); gap 0.1 or even 0.8 left visible remains
Birch Plywood 2023-05 engrave 400 30 0.15 mm Surface slight contrast (light engraving); subtle steps at the outlines (scan gap should be smaller)
Linol 2021-08 Engrave 250 100 Center According to Keno
Laser Stamp Rubber 2024-10 2.3mm engrave 200 100 0.1 mm surface Product Link
Laser Stamp Rubber 2024-10 2.3mm cut 12 100 surface visible flames - try higher speed?!

Product Link

Slate (Schiefer) 2021-12 engrave 150-250 100 Surface Engraving on smooth black slate pieces create a light grey engraving with a rough texture
Yardstick (Zollstock) - Hornbach, "Maurerlob", yellow 2022-05 engrave 400 40 Surface light grey engraving - could even use a bit more power
Laserply 3160 (coated acrylic; black/brushed gold) 2022-05 1.5 mm cut 80 100 40 Surface
Laserply 3160 (coated acrylic; black/brushed gold) 2022-05 engrave 400 40 Surface
EVA Foam 2022-08 10mm cut 40 100 Center
Colored Card 2022-10 engrave 700 20 Surface Brown card - got nice results (documentation to follow)
Colored Card 2022-10 Cut 350 100 Surface Brown card - got nice results (documentation to follow)
Paper 2024-06 0.4mm cut 50 100 Worked with speed 400, power 50 for small squares. But somehow didn't work for larger rounded shapes. Given values then worked for cutting shapes from (thick) colored paper.
Paper 2024-06 0.4mm engrave 700 40 Worked for engraving text into (thick) colored paper. Not very dark, though.
PET 2023-07 0.75 mm cut 60 100 Surface Hard to focus due to bend from the roll, lots of smoke! Leftover material from "Maker vs Virus"
Masking Tape (e.g. on wood) 2024-02 0.1 mm cut 50 25 10 Surface Speed 100/power 50 also cut through with ease, but seemed to "wiggle" more
Oak wood 2024-10 mark (vector engrave, weak cut) 200 20 surface gives clean lines to follow with a saw


If we haven't tried a material yet, these Spaces with similar machines might have:

Epilog Zing (30 W)

Outdated - we don't have this machine anymore, but perhaps other Spaces can use our information :-)

Click "Expand" on the right to see the full table!

Material Thickness Operation Power Speed Resolution (dpi) Frequency Focus Comments
Poplar Plywood 4 mm cut 80 100 500 center (-2 mm)
Poplar Plywood 4 mm - any 3D engrave 100 75 250 surface simple black & white design - works for QR Codes!
Poplar Plywood 4 mm engrave 100 100 250 surface simple black & white design - nice brown color as result
Poplar Plywood 9 mm cut 100 27 250 5000 3mm
Beech Plywood 4 mm cut 100 60 500 center (-2 mm)
Beech Plywood 4 mm - any mark 10 100 500 surface
Beech Plywood 4 mm - any engrave 3D 100 100 500 surface
MDF 3 mm cut 100 60 200 2500 center (-1.5 mm)
Corrugated Fiberboard 2 mm cut 25 100 surface
Silver anodised aluminium engrave 50 100 500 surface black & white design
XPS (extruded polystyrene) 20 mm cut 45 100 center (-10 mm) very wide kerf (~ 2 mm)!
Acrylic Glass 3 mm cut 100 30 500 5000 (default) center (-1.5 mm)
Acrylic Glass 3 mm - any mark 20 100 500 5000 (default) surface about 0.5 mm deep
masking tape on metal 0.1 mm engrave (let disappear) 100 100 500 surface experiment to prepare an abrasive blasting mask - not successful, was blasted away...should work well for painting though
thin cardbord (frozen pizza box) 0.55 mm cut 20 100 500 2500 (default) surface
thin cardbord (frozen pizza box) 0.55 mm mark 8 100 500 2500 (default) surface
cellulose acetate (overhead slides) <1 mm cut 6-7 100 500 5000 (default) surface Power 7 cuts completely, Power 6 makes cutout adhere to template, but is easy to remove manually. Keep the printer clean ;)
blockboard (surface = birch veneer?) 18 mm - any engrave 3D 20 100 500 2500 (default) surface visible, but still letting the grain show through - more powerful settings (e.g. 100/100) go noticeably deeper but only a bit darker
vulcanized fiber 0.8 mm cut 100 100 200 5000 (default) center (-0.4 mm) lower power not tested yet
vulcanized fiber 1.5 mm cut 100 80 200 5000 (default) center (-0.75 mm) higher speed not tested yet