CutEtchSettingsSophia

Cut/Etch Settings for LaserCutterSophia

Using a power of 10 appears to do nothing, 11 and up should give some useful effect. If it doesn't seem to be etching at all (it's going over the area, but isn't making any impression) then check you don't have a double-line in the path (seems to sometimes happen with Inkscape when you do stroke-to-path)

Using power of 50 or below is typically better than using 50-100

Settings since Feb-2016 tube change

Size	Material	Etch Speed	Etch power	Scan gap	Cut speed	Cut power(/corner)	Last confirmed
	Mylar sheet for solder stencil	250	25 (thru)	0.1	250	25 (15)	28-02-2016 (PF)
	Leaf	200	15	-	-	-	29-10-2016 (CH)

Data after 2015-08 maintenance

3040 (tube)		Etch Speed	Etch power	Cut speed	Cut power(/corner)	Date last confirmed
5mm	Acrylic -- JRPeterson	-	-	4	50	2015-08
3mm	Glass -- ChrisHuffee	40	35	-	-	2015-08
	*Synthetic double satin ribbon -- Jackie Pease	400	20	-	-	2015-12

*Still experimenting: defocused (69mm from bed to top of laser head), grade engrave, unidirectional - melts top layer for subtle matte effect

Old data

3040 (tube)			Etch Speed	Etch power		Cut speed	Cut power(/corner)	Date last confirmed
3mm	Plywood — PatrickFenner		250	40		7 to 10	50(40)
3mm	MDF — PatrickFenner		250	35		7	50(40 or 50)
2mm	MDF		15 (Drawing)	50 (Drawing)		15	50(40)
3mm	Acrylic — PatrickFenner		250	35		6,7	50
3mm	Acrylic (line engrave) — PatrickFenner		250	16(12)		-	-
3mm	Acrylic — JRPeterson		250	15		10	50	2013-09-23
1mm	Acrylic (black under white laminate) -- JRPeterson		300	18		20	50	2013-09-24
300gsm	Craft Card — PatrickFenner		250	11		50	50(40)
1.5mm	Mountboard — PatrickFenner		-	-		50	50
2mm	Mountboard —		-	-		50	25
0.8mm	Polypropylene — PatrickFenner		-	-		10	25(15)
80gsm	paper -		150	22		150	26/16
1.5mm	Leather -					10	50/20
0.125mm	Mylar					300	22(16)
3mm	Birch Ply - GOOD :)		400	40		8	50
3mm	Birch Ply :(		300	45		10	100
3mm	Birch Ply (suggested from experimentation with HPC)		300	45		~17	100
3mm	Birch Ply (still doesn't always cut all the way through)		300	45		14	100
3mm	Corrugated Cardboard (Draw rather than cutting out - JohnMcKerrell)					200	20
3mm	Perspex (PF's Tested Settings)		200	30		8	100 / 95
1.5mm	Laminated Perspex (AMc's Tested Settings - etches through to next colour)		200	30		12	50 / 45
-	Trebor Extra Strong Mints		500	20
-	Ice White Canford Card (From art shop on ground floor, Gostins)		250	11		200	50
-	Kendal Mint Cake		100	20
-	Tic Tacs - Etch potentially a bit deep		300	30
~1mm	Mounting Card		250	30		150	100 / 60
	Lolly sticks		300	25
6mm	Random B&Q ply brought by Bruce - too slow, burns		-	-		100	1
6mm	Random B&Q ply brought by Bruce - too slow, still smokey but cuts		-	-		100	5
3mm	Birch ply, etching 1mm deep		140	50
1.5mm	Felt (12"x12" squares from Abakhan)		400	12 (11 also works for v faint)		400	30 / 20
0.75mm	Synthetic Craft Felt (small sheets from PoundLand )		-	-		400	15
~0.75mm	Acetate (transparency) sheet		-	-		25	20(15)

The Following were provided in the instructions with the laser. We've been told these are more of a guideline

3040 (tube)			Etch Speed	Etch power		Cut speed	Cut power(/corner)	Date last confirmed
3mm	Perspex		200	21		6	100
5mm	Perspex		200	21		3	100
10mm	Perspex		200	21		1	100
1.5mm	Birch Ply		200	17		8	100
3mm	Birch Ply		200	17		5	100
5mm	Birch Ply		200	17		2	100
6mm	Ply		200	17		1	100
3mm	MDF		200	25		5	100
4mm	MDF		200	25		4	100
6mm	MDF		200	25
3mm	Corrugated Cardboard (has a tendency to catch fire)		200	20		12	100
3mm	Hardboard		200	20		3	100
2mm	Craft foam (Rennies - labelled rubber foam sheet)		150	20
-	Walnut veneer		400	25		400	30(25)
-	Etching glass		100-200	50		n/a	n/a