Tip of the Week: Custom Cut Settings

Glowforge material will automatically insert cut settings through a QR code. When using material other than GF produced, one must manually enter cut settings. We have tested the materials and given cut settings for all of our material at the following link: https://craftcloset.com/blogs/news/recommended-cut-settings

There are two ways to enter these settings through the Glowforge App. This article will explain the easiest way to quickly adjust settings. Remember, there are three settings to modify for cutting: focus height, speed and power. All are important to proper cutting.

Let's use and example of cutting 1/8th MDF from Craft Closet

Select the closest material and then modify the settings. So for 1/8th MDF, we would select “medium draft board”. It really isn’t so important how exact it is, just get it close. Medium Draftboard has GF preset cut settings as follows:

Speed: 168

Power: Full

Focus Height: 0.142 in

Our 1/8th MDF recommends the following settings:

Speed: 195

Power: Full

Focus Height: 0.12 in

So start by selecting Medium Draft Board

Then select the layer you wish to cut which opens a window to select

Engrave, Cut, Score or Ignore. Select cut. Now click the arrow by

Proofgrade Cut to see the specific settings.

Change Focus Height to Manual so you can adjust all three settings:

So these are the presets for the Medium Draft Board. Now simply change each

setting to the Craft Closet recommended settings for 1/8th MDF.

You are set to cut. The advantage to this method is that you can simply use

the GF settings for Score and Engrave which do not need to be adjusted.

This is why you select the closest material to what you plan to cut.