Parameters for Marking Five Types of Non-metallic Materials

The company has compiled a table that compares the laser marking parameters for the five most commonly used non-metal materials--acrylic, wood, plastic, ceramics and glass. The table includes the core settings of power, speed and frequency, and also provides information about the applicable scenarios and precautions to take. It also comes with a document that can be downloaded and used to help operators quickly get the hang of the equipment and reduce the time spent on debugging.

Why is a parameter comparison table needed?

Users often ask, "Why is the marking effect so different even when the equipment is the same?" The problem is usually in the settings.Non-metallic materials come in many varieties, and their characteristics differ greatly. For example, acrylic is easily deformed in the heat, and wood grain varies from piece to piece. Using metal parameters directly would be a recipe for disaster.We have prepared this table of comparisons so you can avoid falling into the trap of "adjusting parameters by feel.

Key parameters for the five materials.

Acrylic.

Power should be set at 30-50 %, and the speed controlled at 800-1200mm / s.If the power is too high, it will burn the edges; if the speed is too slow, the surface will melt.For light-colored acrylic, remember to turn down the frequency (20-30 kHz) to prevent uneven light transmission.

Wood.

For hardwoods, such as oak, 60 watts of power at 400 mm / sec. is used, while for softer woods, such as pine, the power is reduced to 40 watts at 600 mm / sec.The key point is that if you drill in the opposite direction to the grain, it will reduce splintering. I tested this, and it works!

Plastic.

There are two types of plastic, ABS and PVC.

ABS uses a continuous mode, with power of 25-35 %.

PVC must be melted with the pulse method, otherwise it will produce poisonous gases.

Don't be lazy, and make sure that you know what kind of material you're working with before you begin.

Ceramics.

High power (70W) + low speed (200-400mm / s).We suggest you start with a small scale test, and if you're dealing with ceramic, you'll need to reduce energy density, otherwise it will crack.

Glass.

Two important points to keep in mind:

1. The cooling system must be activated to prevent the glass from cracking.

2. The spiral fill mode is used, with a 0.05 mm pitch.

Recommended parameter combination: 50W + 150mm / s + 30kHz.

Equipment type corresponds to parameter adjustment.

Fiber lasers.

Suitable for plastics and acrylic, with attention given to the choice of wavelength (1064nm for dark materials, 532nm better for transparent materials).

A CO2 laser.

Wood and glass are the most popular materials, but for ceramics the focal distance must be raised 2 to 3mm to avoid heating the material too much.

Download the free parameter table.

The end of the article provides a comparison table in both Excel and PDF formats.

- Correction coefficients for different thicknesses of material.

- Suggestion for temperature and humidity compensation.

- Guide to resetting parameters in an emergency.

Click the blue button to download. The file has been tested for compatibility with the most popular laser equipment models.

(Important reminder) After downloading, you are advised to print the manual and stick it next to the machine. Checking the manual while operating the machine can reduce the scrap rate by 90 %!