Difference between revisions of "Laser Cutter Settings"

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==General Cutting Settings==
 
==General Cutting Settings==
 
These settings are for general purpose use to cut materials. They should be expected to fully cut the material, but '''ALWAYS''' test settings to verify they work with your specific material!
 
These settings are for general purpose use to cut materials. They should be expected to fully cut the material, but '''ALWAYS''' test settings to verify they work with your specific material!
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 +
Speed settings are typically in units of mm/s and power is in percentage of the laser's total power.
  
 
====Woods====
 
====Woods====
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|Birch Plywood || 300 ||16 ||1 ||.06 ||Minimum required to perceptibly remove material.
 
|Birch Plywood || 300 ||16 ||1 ||.06 ||Minimum required to perceptibly remove material.
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|-
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|Bamboo || 375 || 40 || 1 || Any ||Source: Rabbit Custom Chart
 
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! style="width: 3%;" | Scan Gap
 
! style="width: 3%;" | Scan Gap
 
! style="width: 76%;" | Notes
 
! style="width: 76%;" | Notes
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|-
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|Canvas || 360 || 18 || 1 || Any || Source: Rabbit Custom Chart
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|-
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|Card stock || 500 || <20 || 1 || 0.055 || Source: Large Chart
 
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|}
  
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! style="width: 76%;" | Notes
 
! style="width: 76%;" | Notes
 
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|-
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|Glass||350||12||1||0.055||Apply a thin layer of dish soap to prevent cracking. Source: Common Setting chart
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|Glass ||350||12||1||0.055||Apply a thin layer of dish soap to prevent cracking. Source: Common Setting chart
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|-
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|Granite||150||85||1||0.085|| Source: Common Setting chart
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|-
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|Mirror (Back)||325||45||1||0.085||Source: Common Setting chart
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|-
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|Leather||325||45||1||0.085||Source: Common Setting chart
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|-
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|Anodized Aluminum||325||25||1||0.065||Source: Common Setting chart
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|-
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|Powder Coat||325||25||1||0.085||Source: Common Setting chart
 
|}
 
|}
  
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Below are in-depth engraving tests that have been contributed by various members. Unlike the general purpose settings, these settings include the approximate depth to which the engraving will be cut, which may be useful for things such as stamps.
 
Below are in-depth engraving tests that have been contributed by various members. Unlike the general purpose settings, these settings include the approximate depth to which the engraving will be cut, which may be useful for things such as stamps.
  
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(Coming soon)
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====Stainless Steel Etching====
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The following technique can be used to etch stainless steel, and possibly other metals that are difficult to etch.
 +
* Spray 3 coatings of CRC Dry Moly Lube.
 +
** Each coat can be sprayed after the previous coat appears dry, so wait about three minutes each.
 +
** Wait 15-20 minutes after the last coat to dry. Air flow (such as from the laser head) is beneficial.
 +
* Set up the stock as needed.
 +
* For stainless steel,
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** set the '''power to 55%'''
 +
** and the '''speed to 80mm/s'''.
 +
** The '''scan gap''' used was '''0.05mm'''
  
 
==Adding Settings==
 
==Adding Settings==

Latest revision as of 01:50, 23 June 2019

General Cutting Settings[edit]

These settings are for general purpose use to cut materials. They should be expected to fully cut the material, but ALWAYS test settings to verify they work with your specific material!

Speed settings are typically in units of mm/s and power is in percentage of the laser's total power.

Woods[edit]

Material Thickness Speed Power Passes Notes
Basswood 1/18" 15 40 1
Basswood 1/16" 25 40 1
Birch Plywood 3mm (1/8") 15 70 1 It is EXTREMELY likely you can cut this at lower power.
Oak 1/4" 12 30 1
White Ash Plywood 1/4" 100 40 1

Polymers[edit]

Material Thickness Speed Power Passes Notes
Acrylic 1/8" 15 55 1
Delrin (White) 1/4" 12 70 2 Delrin contains plenty of formaldehyde. Allow extra time after cutting for the cutter to vent.

Paper Materials[edit]

Material Thickness Speed Power Passes Notes
Matte Board 1/16" 50 30 1 Intended for cutting complex curves & shapes.
Matte Board 1/16" 90 50 1 Intended for cutting straight lines only.

Miscellaneous[edit]

Material Thickness Speed Power Passes Notes
Leather (Veg Tan) Approx 1/8" 50 50 1 Cut edges will char, which can be removed with a stiff brush, or polished for a shiny edge.

General Engraving Settings[edit]

The settings here are for general-purpose use and are NOT calibrated for depth! ALWAYS test settings to verify them!

Woods[edit]

Material Speed Power Passes Scan Gap Notes
Birch Plywood 300 11-12 1 .06 This power range is more of an etch than an engrave. Will not work if the material is masked.
Birch Plywood 300 16 1 .06 Minimum required to perceptibly remove material.
Bamboo 375 40 1 Any Source: Rabbit Custom Chart

Polymers[edit]

Material Speed Power Passes Scan Gap Notes
Acrylic 300 12-16 1 .06 Masked with yellow "Frog Tape". Engraves from .002" to .005" deep.
Acrylic 300 30 1 .06 Masked with yellow "Frog Tape". Engraves approximately .03" deep.
Acrylic 300 55 1 .06 Masked with yellow "Frog Tape". Engraves approximately .05" deep.
Delrin (Standard, White) 300 12-16 1 .06 Masked with yellow "Frog Tape". Engraves from .002" to .004" deep.
Delrin (Standard, White) 300 33 1 .06 Masked with yellow "Frog Tape". Engraves approximately .02" deep.

Paper Materials[edit]

Material Speed Power Passes Scan Gap Notes
Canvas 360 18 1 Any Source: Rabbit Custom Chart
Card stock 500 <20 1 0.055 Source: Large Chart

Miscellaneous[edit]

Material Speed Power Passes Scan Gap Notes
Glass 350 12 1 0.055 Apply a thin layer of dish soap to prevent cracking. Source: Common Setting chart
Granite 150 85 1 0.085 Source: Common Setting chart
Mirror (Back) 325 45 1 0.085 Source: Common Setting chart
Leather 325 45 1 0.085 Source: Common Setting chart
Anodized Aluminum 325 25 1 0.065 Source: Common Setting chart
Powder Coat 325 25 1 0.085 Source: Common Setting chart

Detailed Settings[edit]

Below are in-depth engraving tests that have been contributed by various members. Unlike the general purpose settings, these settings include the approximate depth to which the engraving will be cut, which may be useful for things such as stamps.

Stainless Steel Etching[edit]

The following technique can be used to etch stainless steel, and possibly other metals that are difficult to etch.

  • Spray 3 coatings of CRC Dry Moly Lube.
    • Each coat can be sprayed after the previous coat appears dry, so wait about three minutes each.
    • Wait 15-20 minutes after the last coat to dry. Air flow (such as from the laser head) is beneficial.
  • Set up the stock as needed.
  • For stainless steel,
    • set the power to 55%
    • and the speed to 80mm/s.
    • The scan gap used was 0.05mm

Adding Settings[edit]

Feel free to add to these tables. Sharing information is great! HOWEVER:

  • Include ALL relevant information, including thickness.
  • Detail your material as specifically as possible. "Cardboard" is useless. "Corrugated Cardboard" or "Brown Heavy Paperboard" is better.
  • Include any other relevant notes in the Notes section, such as whether you masked the material (and what you masked with!) or if the settings are better for a specific kind of cut.
  • Any entries that are poorly detailed may be deleted. However, if you disagree with an otherwise complete entry, create a new one.
  • If you're not sure how to add entries, send all the relevant information to mjporter86 at gmail dot com



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