Optimizing Your Laser Settings

Laser cutting and engraving acrylic sheets can yield precise and professional results, but achieving the desired quality depends on the right settings and techniques. In this intermediate guide, we'll explore the steps to dial in your laser settings for better cuts and engraves on acrylic.

Cutting Acrylic

1. Material Thickness: Measure the thickness of your acrylic sheet accurately, the best way to do this is with calipers.
2. Power: Start with a lower power setting (around 50% or less) and gradually increase it until you achieve a clean cut. Thicker materials require more power.
3. Speed: Higher cutting speeds generally result in cleaner cuts. Start with a moderate speed and adjust as needed.
4. Focal Length: Ensure your laser's focal length is properly set to the thickness of the acrylic for the best results.
5. Air Assist: Generally low air is best for cutting acrylic, but experiment as needed.
6. Multiple Passes: For thicker acrylic, perform multiple passes at lower power settings to avoid excessive melting and charring.

Engraving Acrylic

1. Power: Start with a low power setting and increase gradually for deeper engravings. A lower power setting produces a finer, more detailed engraving.
2. Speed: Slow down the engraving speed for more detailed and precise results.
3. DPI (Dots Per Inch): Choose a high DPI for finer engravings, but keep in mind that higher DPI settings will take longer.
4. Raster vs. Vector Engraving: Raster engraving is suitable for images and shading, while vector engraving is better for text and lines.

Testing and Fine-Tuning

1. Test Cuts/Engravings: Before starting your actual project, perform test cuts and engravings on scrap acrylic of the same type and thickness.
2. Focus: Ensure the laser is focused correctly; out-of-focus settings can lead to inconsistent results.
3. Vector Color Mapping: Use different colors in your design to specify various settings (e.g., different power or speed) within the same job.
4. Material Alignment: Check that your acrylic sheet is correctly aligned in the laser bed to avoid distortion in your design.

Once you've optimized your settings where you're comfortable, don't forget to record them! You can use our Acrylic Obsessed template found HERE!