Material Cutting Guides

Recommended settings, safety information, and cutting characteristics for common laser materials.

Common Materials

Wood & Plywood

Excellent laser material

  • Basswood, balsa, birch
  • Plywood (check for glue)
  • MDF (high resin content)
  • Hardwoods (slower cuts)
Tips: Watch for knot density in plywood. MDF creates more dust.

Acrylic (Plexiglass)

Perfect edge quality

  • Cast acrylic (best results)
  • Extruded acrylic (cheaper)
  • Mirrored acrylic
  • Two-color acrylic
Tips: Cast acrylic produces flame-polished edges. Never cut PVC.

Leather & Fabrics

Great for customization

  • Genuine leather
  • Suede
  • Felt and wool
  • Cotton fabrics
Warning: Never cut synthetic leather or vinyl (PVC releases chlorine gas).

Paper & Cardboard

Fast cutting, detailed work

  • Cardstock
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Chipboard
  • Construction paper
Tips: Very fast cuts. Fire risk - never leave unattended.

Glass & Stone

Engraving only

  • Glass (engrave only)
  • Granite and marble
  • Ceramic tiles
  • Slate
Note: CO2 lasers cannot cut glass. Use for engraving only.

Anodized Aluminum

Marking only (CO2)

  • Black anodized (best contrast)
  • Colored anodized
  • Business cards
  • Tags and labels
Note: CO2 lasers mark anodized aluminum by removing the dye. Fiber lasers can mark bare metal.

General Starting Points (40W CO2)

Adjust based on your specific machine and desired edge quality. Always test first.

Material Thickness Speed (mm/s) Power (%) Notes
Birch Plywood 3mm 15-20 60-70 May need multiple passes
Cast Acrylic 3mm 10-15 40-50 Flame-polished edges
Cardstock 0.3mm 50-80 15-25 High fire risk
Leather 2mm 20-30 40-50 Use masking tape
Balsa Wood 3mm 25-35 35-45 Very easy to cut

NEVER CUT THESE MATERIALS

These materials are dangerous and can damage your machine or health:

PVC / Vinyl
Releases toxic chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid
Polycarbonate
Melts and discolors, does not cut cleanly
ABS Plastic
Melts heavily, releases styrene gas
Fiberglass
Contains epoxy resin and glass fiber

Disclaimer

These settings are starting points only. Always verify material composition and perform test cuts. Material formulations vary by manufacturer. When in doubt, check the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).