CO2 lasers are incredible machines capable of engraving a wide range of materials, including wood, fabric, and acrylic. When working on a laser engraver getting the material to cut or engrave is a wonderful feeling, however there is a chance that it did not come out as expected. In order to get the best results from your CO2 laser engraver, it's essential to adjust the settings appropriately. In this article, we'll cover some tips for adjusting the settings on your CO2 laser engraver.
First we recommend looking up the material's starting settings, we will include a data sheet containing the setting used in our machines. The data sheets have been made for the most commonly used materials. If your material is not listed on our data sheet we recommend looking it up. Remember to always test the settings on a small section of the material or on a practice piece before engraving the final object.
Power:
The power of a CO2 machine is determined by the laser tube located inside. Therefore the power setting on your laser machine is percent based. The power setting is the most important setting, determining how much energy the laser will use to mark or engrave the material. If the power setting is too low, the engraving will be faint or incomplete. On the other hand, if the power setting is too high, it can damage or warp the material, and the engraving will end up looking rough and uneven.
When adjusting the power, you'll need to find the power level that is optimal for the material you're working with. If your caution start with a lower power setting and gradually increase the power until you achieve the desired result.
Speed:
The speed of the CO2 machine is based on the machine model used. The speed setting is percentage based and determines how fast the laser moves across the material. Adjusting the speed setting can help to achieve more precise and detailed engravings. If the speed setting is too slow, the engraving will be deeper and may appear rough. On the other hand, if the speed setting is too high, the engraving will be shallow and may not be visible.
To adjust the speed setting, start with about 50% and gradually adjust it until you achieve the desired result.
Current:
The current refers to the electrical current flowing through the laser tube, which is responsible for generating the laser beam. The current setting controls the power of the laser beam, which determines how deeply the laser engraves into the material. It is typically adjusted based on the material being engraved and the desired outcome
Resolution:
If your engraving comes out looking block-like or pixelated it means that the resolution or DPI needs to be adjusted. The DPI (Dots Per Inch) determine how many Pixels are located within a set distance. The higher the DPI the more detail that will come out of the engraving, resulting in an more detailed engraving. A higher DPI will also make it easier to engrave in materials of greater hardness and thickness. One thing to remember is that engraving speeds will slow as the DPI increases.
Focus:
Focusing the machine means moving the laser stage until it reaches the focal point of the laser beam. In the focal point the machine is able to achieving a sharp and precise engraving. If the focus setting is incorrect, the engraving will be blurry or may not be fully visible. To adjust the focus setting, you'll need to adjust the distance between the laser and the material. Most C02 engravers focus automatically however some are focused manually.
Dithering Settings:
Dithering is a technique used to create shades in the engraving. Dithering settings determine the pattern and spacing of the dots used to create the shades. The dithering settings can affect the overall quality and appearance of the engraving. Stucki is the default setting on RE3 and provides good quality across most materials. If you want to adjust the dithering settings, experiment with different patterns and dot sizes until you achieve the desired result.
In conclusion, adjusting the settings on your CO2 laser engraver is essential to achieving the best results. By experimenting with different power, speed, frequency, focus, and dithering settings, you can create precise and high-quality engravings on a wide range of materials. Remember to always test the settings on a small section of the material before engraving the entire object, and never hesitate to consult the manufacturer's manual or a professional technician if you encounter any issues.
Still having Issues?
Please create a Support Ticket by using the button below or sending an e-mail to support@fslaser.com stating you've done all previous troubleshooting steps.
- When submitting via an e-mail you may attach any pictures, videos and project files needed for support to see.
- When submitting a ticket using the button below please either respond to the automated generated email stating we have received the ticket with your pictures, videos and project files or upload these to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder and include this link within the support ticket "Your Issue" dialog upon creation.
