Laser cutting & engraving parameter setting guides

Find video demos for CNC Routers, CO2 Lasers, Fibre Lasers and more. Keep this page bookmarked as we update it on a regular basis.

Starter Settings

Please note. * Cutting parameters are offered only as a ‘guideline’ and assume ‘average’ working conditions. Many things affect the cut quality and speed of laser cutting which can create many variables in performance. For example; tube power & condition/age, mirror/lens cleanliness, and accurate alignment.

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40W Laser

You can typically cut up to 5 mm acrylic, 6 mm soft woods using a 40w laser. A basic rule with cutting acrylic – the slower the cut, the nicer the edge, so if you reduce the speed enough you can achieve a smooth polished edge.

Laser Parameters 40W

40W Parameter Guide – Cutting
Choose your material*
Acrylic Thickness
Wood Thickness
Engraving Laminate Thickness
Paper & Card Thickness
Acrylic Cut – Speed 18 mm/sec | Power 50%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 12 mm/sec | Power 60%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 5 mm/sec | Power 80%
Wood Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 40%
Wood Cut – Speed 12 mm/sec | Power 55%
Wood Cut – Speed 4 mm/sec | Power 80%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 35%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 16 mm/sec | Power 45%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 80mm/sec | Power 15%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 20%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 30mm/sec | Power 40%
Engraving
Please ensure you have your material type chosen at the beginning of this calculator
Engraving type
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 10%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 13% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 13% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 12%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 14% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) HIGH QUALITY – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 14% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 11%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 20% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) HIGH QUALITY – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 20% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 10%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 12% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) HIGH QUALITY – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 12% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035

Other Engravable Materials (40W)

60W Laser

You can typically cut up to 8mm acrylic, up to 8mm soft woods using a 60w laser. Use the speeds and powers calculator below to give you indicative figures to test on your material making sure you follow safety guidelines .

Laser Parameters 60W

60W Parameter Guide – Cutting
Choose your material*
Acrylic Thickness
Wood Thickness
Engraving Laminate Thickness
Paper & Card Thickness
Acrylic Cut – Speed 18 mm/sec | Power 40%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 12 mm/sec | Power 50%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 5 mm/sec | Power 60%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 3 mm/sec | Power 80%
Wood Cut – Speed 25 mm/sec | Power 35%
Wood Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 45%
Wood Cut – Speed 9 mm/sec | Power 65%
Wood Cut – Speed 3 mm/sec | Power 80%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 30 mm/sec | Power 30%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 40%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 80mm/sec | Power 14%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 18%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 30mm/sec | Power 35%
Engraving
Please ensure you have your material type chosen at the beginning of this calculator
Engraving type
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 10%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 13% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 13% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 11%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 13% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 13% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 11%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 16% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 16% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 10%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 12% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 12% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035

Other Engravable Materials (60W)

80W Laser

You can typically cut up to 10mm acrylic, and up to 9 mm soft wood using an 80w laser. Use the speeds and powers calculator below to give you indicative figures to test on your material making sure you follow safety guidelines.

Laser Parameters 80W

80W Parameter Guide – Cutting
Choose your material*
Acrylic Thickness
Wood Thickness
Engraving Laminate Thickness
Paper & Card Thickness
Acrylic Cut – Speed 25 mm/sec | Power 35%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 15 mm/sec | Power 30%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 10 mm/sec | Power 65%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 4 mm/sec | Power 80%
Wood Cut – Speed 30 mm/sec | Power 30%
Wood Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 44%
Wood Cut – Speed 14 mm/sec | Power 60%
Wood Cut – Speed 7 mm/sec | Power 80%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 30 mm/sec | Power 25%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 35%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 80mm/sec | Power 12%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 15%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 30mm/sec | Power 25%
Engraving
Please ensure you have your material type chosen at the beginning of this calculator
Engraving type
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 10.5%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 13% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 13% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 11%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 13% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 13% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 11%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 15% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 16% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 10%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 12% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 12% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035

Other Engravable Materials (80W)

120W Laser

You can typically cut up to 15 mm acrylic, and up to 12 mm soft wood using a 120w laser. Use the speeds and powers calculator below to give you indicative figures to test on your material making sure you follow safety guidelines.

Laser Parameters 120W

120W Parameter Guide – Cutting
Choose your material*
Acrylic Thickness
Wood Thickness
Engraving Laminate Thickness
Paper & Card Thickness
Acrylic Cut – Speed 30 mm/sec | Power 35%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 35%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 12 mm/sec | Power 65%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 5 mm/sec | Power 80%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 3 mm/sec | Power 98%
Wood Cut – Speed 30 mm/sec | Power 30%
Wood Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 35%
Wood Cut – Speed 14 mm/sec | Power 60%
Wood Cut – Speed 8 mm/sec | Power 80%
Wood Cut – Speed 4 mm/sec | Power 90%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 30 mm/sec | Power 20%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 35%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 100mm/sec | Power 12%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 15%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 25%
Engraving
Please ensure you have your material type chosen at the beginning of this calculator
Engraving type
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 9.5%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 12% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 12% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 10%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 12% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 12% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 10%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 12% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 12% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 8.5%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 10% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 10% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035

Other Engravable Materials (120W)

150W Laser

Laser Parameters 150W

150W Parameter Guide – Cutting
Choose your material*
Acrylic Thickness
Wood Thickness
Engraving Laminate Thickness
Paper & Card Thickness
Acrylic Cut – Speed 25 mm/sec | Power 20%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 30%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 12 mm/sec | Power 45%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 5 mm/sec | Power 60%
Acrylic Cut – Speed 7 mm/sec | Power 80%
Acrylic Cut – Speed mm/sec | Power 98%
Wood Cut – Speed 25 mm/sec | Power 20%
Wood Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 30%
Wood Cut – Speed 14 mm/sec | Power 45%
Wood Cut – Speed 8 mm/sec | Power 60%
Wood Cut – Speed 4 mm/sec | Power 70%
Wood Cut – Speed 3 mm/sec | Power 80%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 30 mm/sec | Power 20%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 20 mm/sec | Power 35%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 100mm/sec | Power 10%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 60mm/sec | Power 12%
Engraving Laminate Cut – Speed 60mm/sec | Power 20%
Engraving
Please ensure you have your material type chosen at the beginning of this calculator
Engraving type
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 9%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 10% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 10% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 9%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 10% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 12% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 60mm/sec | Power 10%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 10% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 10% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035
Cut line engrave (cut) – Speed 50mm/sec | Power 8.5%
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 300mm/sec | Power 10% | X-SWING (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.08
Fill engrave (scan) – Speed 250mm/sec | Power 10% | X-UNILATERALISM (scan mode) | INTERVAL 0.035

You can typically cut up to 20 mm acrylic, and up to 15 mm soft wood using a 150w laser. Use the speeds and powers calculator below to give you indicative figures to test on your material making sure you follow safety guidelines.

Other Engravable Materials (150W)

Laser Cutting & Engraving – General Tips

Acrylic

When cutting acrylic on a CO2 laser you will always achieve better results when using cast acrylic as opposed to extruded
acrylic. We always recommend you purchase cast acrylic when laser cutting as you will find using cast acrylic will get you
better results than extruded acrylic.

Wood

Always remember to check the air regulator is fully open when cutting wood; the more air blowing onto the wood’s surface, the cleaner the finish and less burning.

Engraving Laminate

Paper & Card

Always remember to check the air regulator is fully open when cutting wood; the more air blowing onto the wood’s surface, the cleaner the finish and less burning.

Fabric

There are many variations of fabrics and textiles which can be cut on a CO2 laser, such as leather, denim, silk, netting and
more. It is difficult to determine the exact speed/power setting for each material – it is a game of trial and error. We advise
using a scrap piece of material and cutting a small square or circle until you fully cut through the material with a clean finish.

For tough fabrics like leather, start cutting at a speed of 25 mm/sec and 30% power.

For finer fabrics such as silk, cotton, netting etc try 50 mm/sec and 15% power.

Other Engravable Material Types

There are a variety of materials which cannot be cut on a CO2 laser, but you can still engrave them.
Please see examples of materials that can be engraved only below:

Granite – Marble – Slate – Glass – Anodised Metal – Ceramic

As these are tough materials, a high amount of power is needed to engrave past the surface and mark the material, please use the below settings as a rough starting point.

Glassware – If you lay a wet piece of kitchen roll on top of the glass to keep it cool this reduces the flaking and will help to create a smoother, higher-quality finish. Turning off the air compressor can also help.

Metals – You can engrave onto some metals that do not have an anodised layer with the assistance of a thermal marking
spray or tape, there are many of these available but Cermark seems to be the most popular.

Materials To Avoid:

There are a few materials which produce toxic fumes when cut on a laser machine, these include but are not limited to Polycarbonate and PVC. Any material containing chlorine is also toxic.

It is normally apparent if a material is toxic, as when cutting, the material will produce a thick brown/green cloudy smoke
which has a very powerful smell.

If you have any concerns regarding the materials you are cutting or how to extract them safely please consult a filtration and extraction specialist.
Alternatively, your material supplier should also be able to advise you.

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Laser cutting & engraving parameter setting guides

Find video demos for CNC Routers, CO2 Lasers, Fibre Lasers and more. Keep this page bookmarked as we update it on a regular basis.

Starter Settings

Buy RECI Laser Tubes – UK Stock Today

Have you thought about upgrading?

40W Laser

Laser Parameters 40W

40W Parameter Guide – Cutting

Engraving

Other Engravable Materials (40W)

40W Other Engravable Materials

Granite, Marble, Slate, Glass, Anodised Metal, Ceramics

60W Laser

Laser Parameters 60W

60W Parameter Guide – Cutting

Engraving

Other Engravable Materials (60W)

60W Other Engravable Materials

Granite, Marble, Slate, Glass, Anodised Metal, Ceramics

80W Laser

Laser Parameters 80W

80W Parameter Guide – Cutting

Engraving

Other Engravable Materials (80W)

80W Other Engravable Materials

Granite, Marble, Slate, Glass, Anodised Metal, Ceramics

120W Laser

Laser Parameters 120W

120W Parameter Guide – Cutting

Engraving

Other Engravable Materials (120W)

120W Other Engravable Materials

Granite, Marble, Slate, Glass, Anodised Metal, Ceramics

150W Laser

Laser Parameters 150W

150W Parameter Guide – Cutting

Engraving

Other Engravable Materials (150W)

150W Other Engravable Materials

Granite, Marble, Slate, Glass, Anodised Metal, Ceramics

Laser Cutting & Engraving – General Tips

Acrylic

Wood

Engraving Laminate

Paper & Card

Fabric

Other Engravable Material Types

Materials To Avoid:

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