Laser Cutting Materials Guide
There are so many laser cutting materials that we can use which create so many possibilities! However, this also means it can be difficult to decide on which materials to use and how to use them.
Every material reacts differently under a laser and you should be prepared. Knowing what to expect will ensure your safety while laser cutting.
Serious Note: Never laser cut anything without doing extensive research on the material first, as some materials (especially plastics) can release harmful gasses.
Laser Cutter Power and Speed
All power and speed settings for each material will vary depending on your laser cutting machine.
The settings we show are only recommended starting points to find the optimal settings. Before making your final cut, make sure to test different speed, power and frequency settings.
Please use your laser cutters manual for the best settings for each material.
Safe Laser Cutting Materials
Woods
Because wood is a natural material, think about various characteristics like the density and resin content of the wood when processing.
Woods that are oily/resinous are more likely to catch fire.
List of Woods That Are Safe to Cut
| Material | Laser power | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard wood | High | Low | Makes dark engravings. |
| Soft wood | Low | High | Can be engraved and cut quickly. Makes light engravings. |
| Plywood | High | High | May contain glue that prevents good cuts. Use plywood that is made specifically for laser cutting. |
| MDF | Medium | Low | May char a lot when cutting. Contains a lot of glue so avoid fumes. |
| Paper/cardstock | Very low | High | Different types of paper and card stock react differently. Trial and error is best to find the right power setting. |
| Cardboard | Low | High | Flimsy but great for testing and prototyping. Make sure it's held down. |
| Veneer | Test | Test | Veneers have similar properties of the wood it's made from. Test to find the optimal speed and power settings. |
What is the Best Wood For Laser Cutting?
The best wood for laser cutting depends on your goal.
Cardboard
If you are in the early stages of prototyping, I would recommend starting with cardboard.
Cardboard is cheap, easy to cut and easy to come by. It can also be engraved on. I wouldn’t recommend it for later stages of prototyping or a final product, however.
Plywood
I like to use plywood in the later stages of prototyping, or if I am planning to make something that doesn’t need to look visually aesthetic.
Plywood is stronger than cardboard and it is still easy to cut, but it’s not as cheap or easy to find.
Plastics
Every plastic releases toxins, so make sure you have proper ventilation. Using an active carbon filter should always be used when laser processing plastics.
Vynil type plastics are especially dangerous because they release fumes that are known to make people faint.
List of Plastics That Are Safe to Cut
| Material | Power | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | Medium | Low | Best and most popular plastic used for lasercutting. |
| Polycarbonate Sheeting | High | High | Stronger than acrylic, but not easy to use. Use acrylic instead if you can. |
| Derlin | Low | Low | Commonly used to make gears. Releases fumes and could catch fire. |
| Kapton tape | Medium | Medium | Commonly uesd for for solder masks. |
| Teflon | High | Medium | Must have a good air filter system becuase teflon is toxic. Telfon also corrode your lens. |
| Mylar | Low | High | Used to make stencils. |
| Depron foam | Low | High | Commonly used to make model aircrafts and other toys. As with all foams, watch for flames. |
| Foamcore | Low | High | The cardboard of wood lasercutting. Foamcore is used usually for temporary displays or mockups. |
| Gatorboard | Low | High | Similar to Foamcore but more durable and more expensive. |
Best Plastics For Laser Cutting
Acrylic (Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA)
Acrylic is the best plastic to use while laser cutting because it cuts nicely and safely, comes in many colours, and is useful for prototyping or a final product.
Most places that have laser cutters will use acrylic.
Foams
There are so many great uses for different types of foams. They are lightweight and cheap, which makes it good for prototyping, signs, and models.
My favourite use for it is laser cutting case inserts.
Laser Cutting Foam
Laser cutting foam is usually not recommended, but it can be done. The problem with foam is that it melts easily and can catch fire, so it must always be watched. A lot of toxic fumes are also released.
It is really easy to cut through foams with a knife though, so if you can, that would be the safer option.
Other Materials You Can Laser Cut
| Materials | Power | Speed | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather | Medium | Low | Only cut real untreated leather. Other types release toxic chemicals when lasered. |
| Cloth/felt/hemp/cotton | Low | High | These materials are easy and cut well. |
| Magnet Sheet | Medium | Medium | Make sure the sheet is not coated in PVC as it could damage your cutter. |
| Rubber | High | Low | Use rubber made for laser cutting that contain no chlorine. |
| Thin carbon fiber mats. | Medium | Very low | Only carbon fibre mats without epoxy coating can be cut. |
Laser Cutting Materials You Should Not Use
One of the most common hazards of laser cutting is the risk of fires and the release of toxic fumes. A lot of materials are also highly flammable or melt. Be careful not to use these.
List of Materials Not to Laser Cut
| Material | Notes |
|---|---|
| Coniferous woods | Uneven grain structure with soft and hard areas. Hard to find good power setting. |
| Oily/resinous woods | May catch fire. |
| ABS | Emits dangerous cyanide gas and melts. It's safe to 3D print but not to laser cut. |
| PVC | Emits pure chlorine gas which will ruins optics and corrode metal of the machine. |
| Thick Polycarbonate | Cuts poorly and could catch fire. |
| HDPE | Melts and catches fire. |
| Polystyrene foam | Melts and very liekly to cause fire |
| PolyPropylene foam | Melts and catches fire |
| Fiberglass | Emits fumes. Epoxy releases toxic fumes. |
| Coated carbon fiber | Cannot cut when coated. |
| Glass | Generally doesn't cut well without special lasercutters. |
| Stone | Cannot be cut with lasers. |
If you’re going to be cutting or engraving items around the house, make sure you know exactly what the material is beforehand.
Can You Laser Cut or Engrave Metal?
Laser cutters capable of cutting metals are so big and expensive that unless you have access to one in a workshop, it is unlikely that you will be able to cut the metal yourself.
Common laser cutters that hobbyists use cannot cut metal, but you can send your files to a laser cutting service.
Cut or Etch?
All of the materials that you can laser cut can be laser etched or engraved. You can also etch on some materials that you can’t cut such as:
- Glass (flat for best results)
- Ceramic tiles
- Painted/coated metals
- Stone
Finding The Best Laser Cutting Settings
Why You Should Find The Optimal Settings
Most materials will have optimal speed and power when used on your machine. Using those settings will make a clean, smooth cut in most cases.
Not using the optimal settings could lead to charred or bent edges. Even worse, too much power on certain materials could create flames.
How To Find The Optimal Settings
To find the optimal settings, you should check your manual (if applicable), to find a starting point. You can also use my recommendations.
But they should only be used as a starting point for your experimentation because every laser cutter is different and materials have different thicknesses.
Check this article for the next steps on how to quickly find the optimal settings.
Conclusion
Remember to always be safe and use proper safety equipment for laser cutting. It is highly rewarding as long as you are protected from the possible hazards.
Did we miss anything in our lists? Let us know in the comments below!