Silvertail A0 Laser Cutter/Cutting Parameters
Really, the settings on the cutter change often enough that it's always best to re-test your material.
The power goes from 15-100, and speed is mm/second. Below 15 either the "laser doesn't fire", or its effects are not perceptible. (I will add a photo of that test thing I did)
If you're trying to cut through something, just put power at maximum and adjust the speed.
20mm/s is a moderate speed. 10 is on the slow end and 5 is irritatingly slow. With paper or card, you can easily go at 100mm/s and over, but you have to remember that the head of the lasercutter has to speed up and slow down. This is "corner power" and is a noticeably robust system.
With plywood, you'll find that some tiny areas do not cut. In fact they seem heat-proof. You might need to re-cut them many times. In the lasercutter software you can cut a spline/line, and then isolate just the areas of the drawing you want to re-cut, saving tons of time. Those areas will likely look (and smell!) very burned, which might be a problem if you're trying to do something beautiful.
Material Colour Thickness Speed Power Comment
| Material | Colour | Thickness | Speed | Power | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example | Example | Example | Example | Example | Example | |
| Material | Colour | Thickness | Speed | Power | Comment | |
| Perspex | Clear | 3 | 15 | 55 | ||
| Perspex | Clear | 5 | 10 | 55 | ||
| Perspex | Black | 3 | 20 | 55 | ||
| Perspex | Clear | - | 450 | 12 - 22 | Engrave - see sample | |
| Ply | Birch | 3 | 15-20 | 50 | ||
| Ply | Birch | 6 | 8 | 50 | ||
| Ply | Birch | - | 300 | 22-30 | Engrave - see sample | |
| Mount board | Black | - | 20 | 50 | cut | |
| Mount board | 400 | 25 | engrave | |||
| Slate | Black | - | 400 | 25 | engrave | |
| Cotton | White | - | 80 | 18 | ||
| HIPS | White | 1 | 25 | 20 | ||
| HIPS | White | 1 | 400 | 18 | score - not quite right | |
| HIPS | White | 2 | 12 | 25 | ||
| Card | Blue | - | 250 | 20 | Engrave | |
| Card | Blue | - | 600 | 15 | Engrave | |
| Corrugated card | Beige | 3 | 60 | 20 | Cut | |
| Nylon - Taffeta | Black | - | 100 | 20 | ||
| Balsa | White | 3 | 40 | 30 | Cut | |
| Balsa | White | 3 | 500 | 12 | Engrave | |
| Polypropylene | Clear | - | 450 | 16 | Engrave | |
| Acetate | Clear | <1 | 100 | 10 | Cut | |
|
|
Example | Example | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Laser Cutting Power and Speeds - Feb 2017
Material Colour Thickness Speed Power Comment Perspex Clear 3 15 55 Perspex Clear 5 10 55 Perspex Black 3 20 55 Perspex Clear - 450 12 - 22 Engrave - see sample
Ply Birch 3 15-20 50 Ply Birch 6 8 50 Ply Birch - 300 22-30 Engrave - see sample
Mount board Black - 20 50 cut Mount board 400 25 engrave
Slate Black - 400 25 engrave
Cotton White - 80 18
HIPS White 1 25 20 HIPS White 1 400 18 score - not quite right HIPS White 2 12 25
Card Blue - 250 20 Engrave Card Blue - 600 15 Engrave
Corrugated card Beige 3 60 20 Cut
Nylon - Taffeta Black - 100 20
Balsa White 3 40 30 Cut Balsa White 3 500 12 Engrave
Polypropylene Clear - 450 16 Engrave
Acetate Clear <1 100 10 Cut Reduce power for Corner setting by ~10%
