The Best Combination of Laser Power and Speed: A Comparison of 20 Sets of Data

After analyzing 20 sets of test data, the company determined the best combinations of laser power and processing speed to use for cutting and engraving metals. This helped users quickly find the optimal settings to achieve a balance between efficiency and quality, avoiding the material waste and equipment wear that can result from blindly fiddling with settings.

Why is it necessary to pay attention to the combination of power and speed?

Those who work with lasers know that increasing the power too much will burn the material, while too little will not cut through.These two parameters are like the ends of a seesaw, and a balance point must be found.We tested 20 different combinations in order to help everyone avoid taking the wrong path and to copy the homework directly.

A key discovery behind the data.

The golden proportion of metal.

When testing stainless steel, it was found that the best results were obtained at 80 % power and a speed of 12mm / s. The cut edge was smooth, with almost no burrs.If the cutting speed is increased to 15 mm / s, and even if the power is increased to 85 %, slag will still remain in the cut.

Hidden skills in wood carving.

For delicate work like carving wooden signs, a 40 % power setting and a 8mm / s cutting speed are best.There's a counter-intuitive phenomenon: the lower the power, the longer the laser remains on the material, which can cause carbonization. So don't just think about saving electricity; you've got to use the power you need.

Avoiding the pitfalls of different materials.

Acrylic sheeting is especially susceptible to high temperatures. In actual testing, the best combination is 60 % power with a speed of 10 mm per second, which will not cause melting or warping. Leather requires the use of the pulse mode. A combination of 30 % power and 15 mm per second will ensure that the material is not burned through, and that the pattern is clear.We've had several groups of data that have gone wrong because people tried to use the parameters for metals on non-metal materials.

Practical advice for daily use.

Once the machine is turned on, a gradient test is done: a 5 × 5 cm piece of film is cut out, and the parameters are adjusted from low to high.The important thing is to look at the seam color (yellow means it's too hot) and the light permeability of the back.If a machine is frequently shutting itself off, it is probably because the speed is too high for the power. In this situation, don't be stubborn. If you need to slow down, then slow down.

Tips for maintaining equipment that is used for extended periods.

The lenses of a machine that's always at full power will age three times faster than those of a machine used normally.I recommend that users flexibly adjust the settings according to the volume of processing. For mass processing, use a medium power (70 %) with a slightly slower speed. This can ensure efficiency and extend the life of the focusing lens.If the laser can't cut through, first clean the optical path, then adjust the parameters.