Materials: laser cutting guides
Plywood, MDF, acrylic and what never to cut. Every article on materials, with short answers and tables of real values.
7 min · 14.11Best Wood for Laser Cutting: Plywood, MDF and Hardwood ComparedFor most makers the best wood for laser cutting is 3 mm birch, basswood or poplar plywood: it is flat, cheap, cuts cleanly on a 10 W diode…3 min · 14.11 · Quick answerBirch vs Poplar Plywood for Laser CuttingBirch plywood is denser (about 650-700 kg/m3), cuts a little slower and gives crisper engraving and sturdier parts, so it suits products you sell.…4 min · 14.11 · Quick answerCast vs Extruded Acrylic: Which Is Better for Laser Cutting?Cast acrylic is better for engraving because it frosts to a bright white; extruded acrylic is cheaper, has a more consistent thickness and…4 min · 14.11 · Quick answerIs It Safe to Laser Cut PVC?No. PVC (polyvinyl chloride, including vinyl and most synthetic leather) is not safe to laser cut. Heating it releases hydrogen chloride, which…6 min · 14.11Laser Cutting Acrylic: Cast vs Extruded, Settings and TipsCO2 lasers cut clear acrylic cleanly; typical 3 mm settings are roughly 6-10 mm/s at 70-90% on a 40 W machine, tested on scrap. A 445-455 nm diode…6 min · 14.11Laser Cutting MDF: What to Know Before You StartMDF cuts well on a CO2 laser, typically about 20% slower than the same thickness of plywood (roughly 6-12 mm/s at 70-90% on a 40 W machine for 3…6 min · 14.11Laser Cutting Plywood: Types, Thickness and SettingsLaser cutting plywood works best with void-free 3 mm birch, basswood or poplar sheets. As a typical starting point, a 10 W diode needs about 3-6…4 min · 14.11 · Quick answerWhat Plywood Thickness Is Best for Laser Cut Ornaments?3 mm plywood is the best all-round thickness for laser cut ornaments: strong enough to hang for years, light enough for a tree, and cuttable in…4 min · 14.11 · Quick answerHow Do You Prevent Burn Marks When Laser Cutting Wood?Prevent burn marks by masking the surface with paper tape, running air assist, using the fastest speed that cuts through, keeping the lens clean…6 min · 14.11What Materials Can You Laser Cut (and Which Are Dangerous)?Wood, plywood, MDF, cardboard, paper, leather (vegetable-tanned), felt, cork and cast or extruded acrylic (CO2 only) are the usual safe materials.…4 min · 14.11 · Quick answerAre Laser Engraved Cutting Boards Food Safe? What US Makers Should KnowA laser engraved cutting board can be reasonable for food use when it is made from solid hardwood, engraved shallowly away from the main cutting…6 min · 14.11Baltic Birch Plywood Sizes for Lasers: 12x20, 24x24, 24x48 and Full SheetsBaltic birch is commonly made in 5 x 5 foot (about 1525 x 1525 mm) sheets and sold in smaller cuts such as 12 x 12, 12 x 20, 12 x 24, 24 x 24 and…4 min · 14.11 · Quick answerIs 1/8 Inch Plywood the Same as 3 mm Plywood for Laser Cutting?Not exactly. 1/8 inch is 3.175 mm, while "3 mm" plywood is nominally 3.0 mm, and real sheets of either can be thinner or thicker by a few tenths…6 min · 14.11Where to Buy Laser Plywood in the USA: Sources and What to CheckUS makers buy laser plywood from specialist online suppliers such as Ocooch Hardwoods and Inventables, from machine makers such as Glowforge, from…