For laser cutters
Find your laser settings with a circle test
A setting that worked on another laser may not work on yours. Lens cleanliness, CO2 tube age and many other factors change the result.
So test your own machine. A row of small circles, each with its own speed and power, shows you the right setting for cutting and for etching.
When to run it
- You are cutting a new material for the first time.
- A setting that used to work no longer cuts through.
- You want an etch you can judge before you run the real job.
Set up the test
Draw a row of small circles on a scrap of your sheet. Give each circle its own speed and power.
Next to each circle, etch its setting. Or etch a number and keep the matching settings on your screen. Either way, you can read the answer right off the sheet.
Let your software draw it
Two programs draw the test for you, with every setting already filled in. In LightBurn, open Laser Tools, then Material Test (opens in a new tab). In xTool Creative Space, use Material Test Array (opens in a new tab). Each makes a grid with power across and speed down. Read it the same way.
For cutting
Find the first circle that is fully cut through, and use its setting.
For etching
Run the same test, then choose the circle with the etch you like, and use its setting.
Run it again when results change
Your best setting moves as the machine changes. If cuts stop going through, run the circles again before you change anything else.
Check that any material is safe for your machine before you cut it, and never leave a running laser unattended.
Which sheet
Thin parts and skins: 1/32" white
The lightest sheet. Also cuts with scissors.
Walls and panels: 1/16" white
Stiffer than the 1/32" sheet, lighter than the 1/8" sheet.
Parts that need stiffness: 1/8" white
The stiffest sheet. Non-forming.
Our online store starts at $79. Need less? See where to buy. Need the numbers? See the spec sheet.
Quick answers
What settings should I use for Taskboard?
Use the ones your own circle test gives you. Each thickness needs its own test.
Do you publish laser settings?
No. Lens cleanliness, CO2 tube age and many other factors change the result, so a printed number can be wrong on your machine. A row of small test circles gives you the right one.
Does the test work for etching too?
Yes. Cutting uses the first circle that is fully cut through. Etching uses the circle with the etch you like.
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