{"id":15504,"date":"2026-03-16T13:18:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thorman.ee\/kui-voimast-laserit-ma-vajan\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T09:07:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T07:07:12","slug":"laser-engraving-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thorman.ee\/en\/laser-engraving-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What laser power do I need?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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CO2 laser settings \u2013 comparison of 80W and 130W CO2 lasers.<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Summary<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The actual result of a CO2 laser primarily depends on how much energy is delivered to the material per unit length or area, rather than on a single setting. Power, speed, pulse frequency (Hz) or pulse density (PPI), focus, and air assist all influence each other, and manufacturers consistently emphasize that test runs must be performed on the exact batch of material before production.<\/p>\n

In practice, an 80W CO2 laser is often considered a good balance for a wide range of tasks. It cuts common workshop materials effectively while also being suitable for detailed engraving and smaller jobs. A 130W CO2 laser, on the other hand, generally offers higher productivity: it can cut faster, handle thicker materials, or achieve results with fewer passes. This is especially noticeable with acrylic, MDF, and plywood, aligning with manufacturer guidance that higher power allows higher speeds for the same cutting depth.<\/p>\n

It is important to understand that percentage power is not directly comparable between lasers of different \u043c\u043e\u0449\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438. A setting like 30% power does not produce the same absolute output on 80W and 130W machines. For example, 30% of 80W is about 24W, while 30% of 130W is about 39W, before accounting for tube efficiency or calibration. Manufacturers describe percentage power as a duty-cycle-like control and note variations between machines and wear over time.<\/p>\n

The best workflow is to use a repeatable decision process: select the material, choose the appropriate lens and focus strategy, start with proven baseline settings, run a small test grid, and adjust one parameter at a time. Typically, speed is adjusted first, then power, then frequency or PPI, and finally focus. This approach aligns with both manufacturer guidelines and the so-called power grid method used in marking industries.<\/p>\n

Scope, assumptions, and interpreting settings<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This guide assumes a 10.6 \u00b5m CO2 laser, whether glass or RF tube, equipped with air assist and active exhaust. It also assumes common workshop materials such as wood, plastics, leather, rubber, coated metals, glass, and stone.<\/p>\n

Controllers or software may use speed units in mm\/s or mm\/min, as is common in workflows like Ruida and LightBurn. Many manufacturer databases use percentage speed instead, which cannot be directly converted without knowing the machine\u2019s maximum speed and motion characteristics.<\/p>\n

Where numerical starting settings are provided, they are based on manufacturer parameter tables, manuals explaining power, speed, PPI, and Hz behavior, and safety and technical data sheets. Since machine model, optics, and beam quality are unspecified, all values should be treated as starting ranges and verified through testing.<\/p>\n

Differences between 80W and 130W CO2 lasers and when to choose each<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The most direct way to compare capabilities is to examine cutting speeds for the same material and thickness. For example, cutting 20 mm acrylic: an 80W machine achieves about 0.8 mm\/s, while a 130W machine reaches about 2 mm\/s\u2014roughly 2.5\u00d7 faster. For 2 mm plywood, the difference is also clear: about 80 mm\/s for 80W versus 150 mm\/s for 130W. In MDF, differences vary by thickness but increase with thicker materials.<\/p>\n

For engraving, two practical limitations become more noticeable at higher power. First, the ignition threshold: higher power tubes often require higher minimum power, making very low-power engraving less stable. Second, fine detail depends on beam spot size and motion precision. Optical theory links spot size to wavelength, focal length, beam diameter, and quality.<\/p>\n

An 80W laser is preferable for engraving-heavy work, thin materials, and general versatility. A 130W laser is better when productivity, thicker materials, and cutting speed are priorities.<\/p>\n

How CO2 laser settings actually work<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Percentage power represents output control, often via duty-cycle modulation. Approximate formula:
average optical power = rated power \u00d7 percentage \/ 100.<\/p>\n

Vector cutting depends on energy per unit length. Increasing power allows proportional speed increases. For example, going from 80W to 130W allows starting with ~1.63\u00d7 higher speed (130\/80).<\/p>\n

Raster engraving depends on energy per area. Adjusting speed, power, DPI, or passes can achieve similar results.<\/p>\n

Frequency (Hz), PPI, and edge quality<\/strong><\/p>\n

Higher frequency (e.g., 5000\u201320000 Hz) improves smooth acrylic edges. Lower frequency (~1000 Hz) keeps wood edges lighter. Higher PPI increases melting and burning; lower PPI reduces it but may roughen edges.<\/p>\n

Focus and lens selection<\/strong><\/p>\n

Short focal length \u2192 smaller spot, higher density, less depth of field.
Long focal length \u2192 larger spot, more tolerance, better for thick materials.<\/p>\n

Engraving starting settings (summary)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Typical starting points (mm\/s, % power):<\/p>\n