introduce
laser modules have seen a major shift in the field of woodworking, as they provide a clean and accurate process and also expand your creative possibilities. Many DIY and small business owners use the fairly common 40-watt laser cutter specification, which is considered the standard for such projects. This number has now become the standard across the industry and is impressive for every DIY business that handles wood planks for projects. But why?
If you remember the basics of woodcutting and cutting, the result on the surface is controlled by a proper balance between power speed and focus. Power determines the brightness of the laser on the wood, and speed is the speed at which the laser scans the material. You also have to consider the focus, which controls how close the laser is to the wood. Other factors include wood type and thickness, and for each parameter, the Settings mentioned earlier will vary to get the desired result.
When using new laser hardware or using wood types of random thickness, you need to understand how to choose the power setting and why the 40-watt laser modules setting of wood is the golden number to be used primarily. Here's what your configuration should look like when your laser hardware is set to a 40-watt power setting and you're working with the types of wood mentioned below:
1. Medium-density fiberboard
MDF is one of the most commonly used woods for DIY projects due to its uniform density and smooth surface. This makes it ideal for cutting and carving wooden surfaces. For this purpose, the speed is 8-15mm/s when cutting, 150-250mm/s when engraving on MDF, and the range is 90-100%. In addition, 1-2 cuts through the ordinary width of 3mm is sufficient but can ensure accurate focusing, resulting in better results with a 40-watt laser cutter.
2. Hardwood
As the name suggests, they are hard and require more power due to their denser mass. For them, it is tuned to 100% laser power at a speed of 5-10mm/s (cutting), 100-150mm/s (engraving), and at least 2 cuts are made to cut the thicker hardwood 4 to 6mm wide. Cutting the hardwood too deeply at a single time can cause excessive burning, to avoid this, make sure the focus is accurate.
Step 3: Cork
Due to its low density, it requires a 40-watt laser modules machine to provide 10% to 90% of the power, cutting speeds of 10-20mm/s, and engraving speeds of 150-200mm/s. Most of the time, one pass is enough for a 3mm cork, but keep a precise focus to avoid over-burning as they burn more easily.
For softwood and other wood types mentioned here, we recommend the Ortur LM3 laser cutter, where precision and extreme safety are required. It equips the next generation of laser modules with a precision positioning and air assist system that avoids cork burning by actively removing debris and maintaining ventilation.
4. Wooden veneer
Like cork, it is also very soft and thin; It requires 50% to 70% power Settings, cutting speeds of 15-25mm/s, and engraving speeds of 200-300mm/s. Usually, when cutting veneer, 1 pass is sufficient, and minimal focus may be required when adjusting the 40-watt laser module setting for this type of wood.
5. Plywood
It is multiple layers of wood veneer stacked on top of each other and is best suited for most wooden DIY projects. For this wood, the power is adjusted between 80% and 100%, the cutting speed is 10-20mm/s, and the carving speed is 150-200mm/s. We recommend 1-2 times when cutting 3mm plywood, and more times if the width increases. In addition, ensure that the laser is focused directly on the plywood surface for a cleaner cut.
As we mentioned, the five wood laser configurations are set to a 40-watt wood laser modules setting. It is worth mentioning that a reliable laser-cutting machine can also affect the final result, even if the setting for a certain type of wood is correct. The Ortur LM3 has an ultra-precise laser module that maintains the required focal length to avoid burning or incorrect cutting. However, you can also get software from Oems to get the optimized performance of Ortur hardware, ultimately getting better and consistent results.