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Glowforge CO2 Laser Cut Settings

When choosing material settings in Glowforge, you may find that selecting a similar material works, but it often results in less-than-ideal performance. Using those defaults can cause slower cuts and unnecessary scorching. For the best results, we recommend using our tested settings. If a test cut doesn’t go through, simply reduce the speed by 5–10 and try again. Sometimes the issue may also be related to dirty mirrors or an incorrect Focus Height, so it’s worth checking those as well. And if you ever have trouble cutting at our recommended settings, please let us know—we’ll test further to keep these settings accurate and up to date for everyone.

*We have provided an Ideal GF Speed and a GF Speed Range under the 1/4 Single Sided Wood and the Melamine tab. If the ideal speed does not work, try running a few small tests with the range to find the right speed for you.

All cuts are with Full Power (unless specified otherwise), Single Pass. Focus Height is Thickness (in) and GF Speed custom printer head speed

Acrylic


Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed

0.12

2.6

130

0.12

2.6

140

0.12

2.6

150

0.12

2.6

155

0.12

2.6

160

1/16" Acrylics

0.08

225

0.24

6.1

110-115

MDF Core Wood


Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed

0.23

5.9

115

0.23

5.9

110

0.23

5.9

110

0.23

5.9

115

0.22

5.7

110

0.24

6.1

105

0.23

5.9

115

0.23

5.9

115

0.24

6.1

105

Ash

0.22

5.7

110

0.24

6.1

105

0.23

5.9

120

0.24

6.1

110

0.22

5.7

115

Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed

0.19

4.9

135

0.19

4.9

125

0.18

4.7

110

0.19

4.9

120

0.22

5.7

110

0.19

4.9

130

0.20

5.1

120

Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed

0.12

3.1

170

0.14

3.7

170

0.12

3.1

170

0.13

3.4

170

0.13

3.4

170

0.12

3.1

170

0.14

3.7

150

0.13

3.4

165

0.12

3.1

170

0.13

3.4

145

0.14

3.7

160

Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) Ideal GF Speed GF Speed Range*

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

0.24

6.1

120

115-125

Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed

0.18

4.6

150

0.19

4.7

140

0.18

4.6

150

0.18

4.6

155

0.18

4.6

150

1/8 Solid Wood


Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed

0.13

3.2

230

0.13

3.2

190

0.13

3.2

220

0.13

3.2

230

0.13

3.2

230

0.13

3.2

190

0.13

3.2

210

0.13

3.2

115

0.13

3.2

135

0.13

3.2

160

0.13

3.2

140

0.13

3.2

140

0.13

3.2

200

0.13

3.2

200

Ply & MDF Wood


Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed

0.12

3.1

170

0.23

6.0

130

0.10

2.6

170

0.20

5.1

135

0.13

3.4

155

0.24

6.3

100 Many Passes

0.12

3.1

160

0.23

6.0

110

0.25

6.3

185

0.1

2.6

260

0.05

1.3

400

0.20

5.1

130

0.10

2.6

170

0.25

6.3

170

0.11

200

Cardboard & Chipboard


Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed

0.15

4.0

400

0.25

6.4

200

0.15

4.0

400

0.03

0.76

500

0.022

0.56

500

COLOR Collection


Thickness (in) GF Speed Power

0.13

170

COLORboard Effect Flex Core (glitters)

0.02

350

COLORboard Effect Flex Core

0.02

400

COLORboard Effects Basswood Core

0.067

400

0.067

300

0.03

500

30

0.03

500

40

COLORboard Expressions Acrylic Core

0.12

160

0.12

170

COLORboard Expressions Basswood Core

0.05 (1/16")

400

COLORboard Expressions Basswood Core

0.1 (1/8")

260

0.02

400

COLORboard Expressions Chipboard Core

0.022

500

Veneers


Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed

All wood veneers with or without 3M backing

0.03

0.8

500

All shell veneers with or without 3M backing

0.01

0.3

250

Vogue Elements


Thickness (in) GF Speed Passes

0.08

220

1

0.02

400

1

0.03

400

1

0.05

380

1

0.05

240

1

0.08

225

1

Other Materials


Engrave at 500/full, 270 LPI with the focus set on the stone.
Glass Stones: Coat the stone with a thin layer of liquid dish
soap before engraving and engrave while the soap is still wet.
This helps the stone engrave smoothly and without chips

Settings:

  • Focus: 0.03
  • Cut: 400/100
  • Engrave: 1000/50
  • Score: 500/60

Dark Settings:

  • Focus: 0.09
  • Engrave: 250 Full Powder, 270 LPI
  • Cut: 160 Full Power

Light Settings:

  • Focus: 0.09
  • Engrave: 200 80% Powder, 270 LPI
  • Cut: 140 Full Power

Settings:

  • Cut: 515 Speed, Full Power
  • Engrave1000 Speed, 30 Power, 170 LPI

Engrave Settings


Thickness (in) Thickness (mm) GF Speed GF Power

0.1

2.6

300

50

0.05

1.3

300

50

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