Select your laser type and material to get recommended starting settings for engraving and cutting. These are tested starting points — always run a small test piece first.
| Material | Operation | Power | Speed | Passes | Notes |
|---|
These recommended settings give you a safe starting point for each material and laser combination. Begin with values in the middle of the suggested range. If the result is too light, reduce speed by 10–15% or increase power by 5–10%. If charring or melting occurs, increase speed or reduce power.
The most reliable method for dialing in your specific machine is creating a test grid: a matrix of small squares with varying power on one axis and speed on the other. Run this on scrap material, pick the best result, and save those settings as a preset in your laser software (LightBurn, xTool Creative Space, LaserGRBL, or your machine's native controller).
Two lasers rated at the same wattage can produce different results because of differences in spot size (smaller spot = higher energy density), optical quality, focus accuracy, and air assist strength. A 10W laser with a 0.06mm spot engraves more crisply than a 10W laser with a 0.1mm spot at the same power and speed settings. This is why these values are ranges, not single numbers.
Power (%) refers to the percentage of your laser's maximum output. 50% on a 20W laser delivers approximately 10W of actual power. Running continuously at 100% shortens diode lifespan — staying at 80% or below for engraving is generally recommended.
Speed is measured in mm/s (millimeters per second) in most software. Some programs use mm/min — to convert, multiply mm/s by 60. The settings in this guide use mm/s.
Passes means how many times the laser repeats the same path. Multiple lighter passes often produce cleaner results than a single high-power pass, especially for cutting.
Clear/transparent acrylic: The 450nm wavelength of diode lasers passes through transparent materials without being absorbed. Only opaque (dark) acrylic can be engraved or cut with diode lasers. CO₂ lasers handle all acrylic colors because they operate at 10.6μm wavelength.
White and very light materials: Light colors reflect more of the diode laser's energy. White paper is harder to cut than dark-colored plywood for this reason.
Metal cutting: No desktop diode or CO₂ laser can cut metal. Diode lasers can mark coated or anodized metals on the surface. Fiber lasers are required for metal engraving and cutting.
PVC and vinyl: These materials release toxic chlorine gas when lasered. Never process PVC, vinyl, or artificial leather containing PVC with any laser. Check material safety data sheets when in doubt.