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There is no universal laser setting for wood, acrylic, leather, or coated metal. The correct starting point depends on your laser type, rated power, exact model, material subtype and thickness, and whether you are engraving, marking, or cutting. Use the machine maker’s table for that combination, then verify it with a small speed-and-power test on scrap from the same material batch. The figures below are labeled examples from specific machines—not presets that can safely be transferred to another laser.
Why a setting from another laser may fail
Power percentages are relative values. A setting of 50% on a 5 W diode is not comparable with 50% on a 70 W CO₂ system. Even two machines using the same laser technology can have different lenses, motion systems, control software, focus distances, and factory power calibration. Boss publishes separate CO₂ examples for 70 W, 105 W, and 155 W platforms, while xTool lists separate tables for its 5 W and 10 W D1 models.
The stock itself changes the result. Wood species, density, grain, resin and plywood glue affect charring and contrast. Cast and extruded acrylic produce different engraving finishes. Natural leather and synthetic leatherette can differ in dyes, coatings and chlorine-containing plastics. “Metal” may mean bare metal or a coated product intended for laser marking; those are not interchangeable.
Cutting and engraving are different operations. A cut setting must deliver enough energy through the full thickness, usually in one or more passes. An engraving setting controls surface darkness, depth, resolution and heat. Never treat a cutting row in a manufacturer chart as engraving advice.
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Identify the job and material before entering values
- Laser source: diode, CO₂, fiber or another technology, including the wavelength when the manufacturer specifies it.
- Rated output and model: use the model-specific table, not a percentage copied from a different machine.
- Material identity: species and plywood construction for wood; cast or extruded for acrylic; natural or artificial for leather; coating and base metal for coated products.
- Thickness: refocus whenever the workpiece thickness or fixture height changes.
- Operation: engraving, marking or cutting; record the number of passes, speed, power and resolution or scan gap.
- Air and exhaust: follow the machine’s stated air-assist and ventilation arrangement. Smoke, dust and fumes require appropriate extraction, and the correct setup varies by installation.
Do not process an unidentified plastic, leatherette or coating because it looks similar to a known material. Ask the supplier for the composition and laser-safety information first.
Wood settings
Boss Support Hub notes that grain, density, color and resin can change the result before any setting adjustment. Hardwood generally needs more energy for the same engraving depth; pale woods can show stronger contrast; prominent grain can make an image uneven. Glue-heavy plywood and resinous boards are more likely to produce dark or sooty edges.
Boss CO₂ cutting examples
The following are Boss chart starting points for its CO₂ platforms. Power columns are ordered by rated wattage: 70 W, 105 W and 155 W. They are not recommendations for another machine, a different thickness or an engraving job.
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| Stock and thickness | Passes | Speed | Power at 70 W / 105 W / 155 W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balsa or basswood, 1/8 inch | Single pass | 25 mm/s | 60% / 55% / 50% |
| Birch, 1/4 inch | Single pass | 10–20 mm/s | 80% / 70% / 65% |
| Birch plywood, 1/4 inch | Single pass | 10–20 mm/s | 85% / 75% / 70% |
These rows illustrate why higher-wattage machines can use a lower percentage for comparable work. They do not establish values for thicker boards, other plywood adhesives, or raster engraving. For an engraving, begin with the applicable engraving table and test the actual board rather than converting a cut speed.
Reducing char and uneven marks
On the same machine and board, use the minimum power that still cuts through, increase speed where the cut remains complete, and increase air assist to clear smoke. Make only small changes and inspect the underside as well as the top edge. If a faster setting leaves uncut fibers, return to the previous speed or add a controlled pass according to the manufacturer’s guidance. Excessive power can widen the kerf and darken the edge without improving completion.
For engraving, a test patch that crosses both grain directions is more informative than a single line. Keep focus, masking, image resolution and air settings constant while comparing power and speed so that the material—not several simultaneous changes—explains the difference.
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Acrylic settings
First determine whether the sheet is cast or extruded. Boss describes cast acrylic as producing a bright white, frosted engraving and the clearest cut edge. Extruded acrylic can cut cleanly but commonly engraves shallower and duller. Confirm the type with the supplier; color and thickness alone are not reliable identifiers.
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Boss CO₂ acrylic examples
| Operation and stock | Speed | Scan gap | Power at 70 W / 105 W / 155 W | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engraving acrylic | 350 mm/s | 0.065 mm | 25% / 20% / 15% | Not stated in the cited chart |
| Cutting acrylic, 1/4 inch | 10–20 mm/s | Not applicable | 80% / 75% / 65% | Single pass |
The engraving row and cutting row describe separate operations on Boss CO₂ equipment. The cutting figures apply to 1/4-inch stock only. For another thickness, laser, lens or acrylic type, use that manufacturer’s table and run a new test.
Edge quality, focus and airflow
Accurate focus is critical because a defocused beam broadens the cut and softens the engraving. Refocus after changing sheet thickness or adding a fixture. Air assist helps remove smoke from a cut, but Boss cautions that strong airflow at the cut line can change the acrylic edge finish; restrained airflow may help preserve a clear, flame-polished-looking edge on suitable work. Use the machine’s specified exhaust to remove fumes from the enclosure and work area.
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Leather settings
Leather requires both process control and material identification. Natural leather is generally engraved a little more slowly and at slightly higher power than artificial leather, according to the qualitative guidance in an 80 W Universal Laser Systems manual. Artificial leather can contain highly variable finishes and plastics, so verify the supplier’s composition and whether it is approved for your laser.
Published examples from different machines
| Machine and material | Operation | Power | Speed | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| xTool D1, 5 W | Artificial leather engraving | 85% | 100 mm/s | D1 5 W manual example |
| xTool D1, 10 W | Artificial leather engraving | 50% | 100 mm/s | D1 10 W manual example |
| 80 W system | Leather engraving | 16% | 400 mm/s | Manual’s broad average example, not a preset for other equipment |
The two D1 rows use the same listed speed but very different percentages because the diode outputs differ. The 80 W example uses another machine class and cannot be reconciled with the D1 numbers. Start with the table for your own model, then test a hidden corner or matching scrap.
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Coated-metal settings
A coated metal blank is not the same as bare metal. The 80 W manual says a CO₂ engraver may process an appropriate coating applied to metal, but should not be used on the underlying bare metal. Coating chemistry, coating thickness and base metal all affect the mark, so follow the coating manufacturer’s instructions.
xTool D1 coated-metal examples
| Machine | Power | Speed | What the figure establishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| xTool D1, 5 W | 100% | 60 mm/s | Example for the D1 5 W and its specified coated-metal stock |
| xTool D1, 10 W | 100% | 70 mm/s | Example for the D1 10 W and its specified coated-metal stock |
These values do not establish a setting for a CO₂ or fiber laser, another coating or a different metal. Do not assume that a visible coating is laser-compatible; some finishes release hazardous fumes or leave an incomplete mark when heated.
Run a repeatable test grid
- Record the setup. Write down the laser technology, exact model, rated power, lens or focus method, material supplier, subtype, thickness and operation.
- Read both manuals. Check the machine maker’s material chart and the stock supplier’s safety information. Use a secondary guide only as context; for example, UNISTAR CNC Laser’s 2026 guide gives a 60 W CO₂ range across four materials, but it should not override the exact machine manufacturer’s table.
- Prepare matching scrap. Use offcuts from the same board, sheet, hide or coated-metal batch. A set of laser-material sample blanks can make repeated tests more consistent, but no blank is automatically suitable without confirming its composition.
- Set focus and air correctly. Match the final fixture height, focus distance, air assist and exhaust arrangement. Refocus when thickness changes.
- Make a small matrix. Vary speed along one axis and power along the other, beginning conservatively within the manufacturer’s range. For cutting, mark whether each cell fully penetrates; for engraving, record contrast, depth, edge sharpness and residue.
- Change one factor at a time. If every cell changes speed, power, focus and airflow together, you cannot tell which adjustment helped. Keep a log of settings, date, material batch and observed result.
- Inspect and choose. Check the front, back and edges under the lighting used for the finished product. Reject cells with incomplete cuts, excessive charring, melted acrylic, lifted coating or unstable smoke.
- Apply only after verification. Use the selected starting point on the final piece only when the material, focus and machine setup are unchanged. Watch the first production run rather than assuming the test guarantees every future batch.
How to compare settings from different sources
A useful comparison aligns every field below. If one is missing, the numbers are not directly comparable.
| Comparison field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Laser technology and wavelength | Diode, CO₂ and fiber sources interact differently with organic materials, plastics, coatings and bare metals. |
| Rated output and exact model | Percent power is meaningful only relative to that machine’s calibrated output. |
| Material subtype, coating and thickness | Species, cast/extruded formulation, leather finish and coating chemistry alter absorption and heat flow. |
| Operation | Engraving, marking and cutting have different energy and pass requirements. |
| Speed, power, passes and resolution | Scan gap or line interval changes the energy deposited per area; passes change cumulative heat. |
| Focus, air assist and exhaust | Beam size, smoke removal, edge appearance and fume control depend on the physical setup. |
Manufacturer documentation is the strongest starting point. Boss’s wood and acrylic charts, xTool’s D1 manual and Universal Laser Systems’ 80 W manual describe their own equipment and conditions. A broad average from an 80 W manual—acrylic at 325 mm/s and 18%, leather at 400 mm/s and 16%, and wood at 200 mm/s and 19%—is useful only as that manual’s example, not as a cross-machine recipe.
Quick Recap
Common failure symptoms and corrections
Dark, sooty wood edges
- Confirm the board species, glue and thickness.
- Increase air assist if your machine permits it, increase speed cautiously, or reduce power to the minimum that still completes the cut.
- Retest on the same stock; a different plywood batch may need a new matrix.
Shallow or dull acrylic engraving
- Verify cast versus extruded acrylic.
- Check focus and scan gap, then use the acrylic engraving table for your machine rather than a cutting value.
- Inspect airflow at the surface; excessive airflow can alter the edge or surface appearance.
Incomplete cuts
- Measure thickness and confirm focus.
- Check whether the published row is single-pass and whether your air assist and lens are installed as specified.
- Make a small speed reduction or controlled additional pass only after testing, watching for excessive heat and charring.
Unexpected fumes, flame or coating damage
- Stop the job and remove the unidentified stock safely.
- Confirm the supplier’s composition and coating instructions.
- Never substitute coated-metal settings for bare metal or transfer diode values to a CO₂ or fiber system.
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