Laser cutting: laser cutting guides
Settings, kerf, focus, joints and passes. Every article on laser cutting, with short answers and tables of real values.
3 min · 14.11 · Quick answerDo You Need Air Assist for Laser Cutting?Yes, for most cutting you need air assist. A steady stream of air at the cut blows smoke and debris out of the kerf, reduces flames and charring,…7 min · 14.11How to Focus a Laser Cutter CorrectlyTo focus a laser, set the distance between the lens and the material surface to the lens focal distance, so the beam is at its smallest spot. Use…7 min · 14.11How to Make a Laser Cut Finger Joint BoxTo make a laser cut finger joint box, enter the inside dimensions, material thickness (3, 4, 6, 8 or 10 mm) and your measured kerf into a…7 min · 14.11How to Measure Kerf and Compensate for ItTo measure kerf, cut a square of known size (for example 20 mm), measure it with a caliper and subtract: the kerf is the designed size minus the…7 min · 14.11Laser Engraving vs Cutting: Differences and SettingsLaser cutting follows a vector line and burns completely through the material, so it uses slow speed and high power. Laser engraving removes or…5 min · 14.11 · Quick answerWhy Is My Laser Not Cutting Through?A laser that does not cut through is usually out of focus, moving too fast, set to too little power, or fighting a dirty lens or glue-heavy…7 min · 14.11LightBurn Settings for 3 mm Plywood (Diode and CO2)For 3 mm plywood in LightBurn, a 10 W optical diode typically cuts at about 3–6 mm/s with 100% power in 2–4 passes, while a 40 W CO2 cuts in one…3 min · 14.11 · Quick answerHow Many Passes Does It Take to Cut 6 mm Plywood?Cutting 6 mm plywood usually takes 1 pass on a 60–100 W CO2, 1–2 slower passes on a 40 W CO2, roughly 4–10 passes on a 20 W diode and often 8 or…3 min · 14.11 · Quick answerWhat Speed and Power Should You Use to Engrave Wood?For engraving plywood or basswood, a 10 W diode typically runs about 60–150 mm/s at 20–50% power, and a 40 W CO2 about 150–300 mm/s at 10–25%,…3 min · 14.11 · Quick answerWhat DPI (Lines per Inch) Should You Use for Laser Engraving?For most wood engraving, 254 DPI (a line interval of 0.1 mm) is a good default. Photos on a CO2 laser can use 318–500 DPI (0.08–0.05 mm), while…4 min · 14.11 · Quick answerWhat Electrical Circuit Does a CO2 Laser Need in the US?Many hobby CO2 lasers run on a standard 120 V US outlet, but you must add the laser, chiller, exhaust fan, air pump and computer. A 15 A, 120 V…4 min · 14.11 · Quick answerHow Long Does It Take to Laser Cut 100 Ornaments?Using the DXF World reindeer ornament, 100 pieces take about 3 hours of pure cutting on a 10 W diode, about 73 minutes on a 40 W CO2 and about 37…6 min · 14.11Laser Cutting in a Cold Garage or Hot Shed: Winter and Summer Workshop TipsA garage or shed laser needs seasonal care. In winter, water-cooled CO2 tubes can crack if coolant freezes, plywood and finishes behave…6 min · 14.11How to Make a Laser Jig for Repeatable Cuts and EngravingA laser jig is a board with fixed stops or a cut-out pocket that holds each blank in exactly the same place on the bed. Cut the pocket with your…