Before cutting any new material, make sure to check the Material List page:
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Your Min Power is the power setting used during a cut when the machine slows down to reverse direction or make a sharp corner. This is normally set to just above the threshold where your laser fires (10-15%).
Setting it the same as Max Power means the laser will not change power output as the speed varies, resulting in a poorer quality cut, particularly on thinner materials.
WARNING: The Lightburn Material Tests will default to 10mm/sec with 100% power, this will light the vast majority of materials on fire. You will need to manually change this.
Speed and power are two crucial parameters in laser cutting that directly impact the quality, efficiency, and outcome of the process. Here's how they are related and whether they can be interchanged:
Cutting Depth and Material Thickness:
High Power, Low Speed: This combination is typically used for cutting thicker materials. High power ensures the laser has enough energy to cut through the material, while low speed allows the laser to dwell longer at each point, ensuring a complete cut.
Low Power, High Speed: Suitable for cutting thinner materials or for engraving. Lower power reduces the risk of burning or charring, while higher speed increases the processing time efficiency.
Speed and Power
Speed and power are not directly interchangeable but can be adjusted to achieve desired results.
Here's how adjustments can be made:
Increasing Speed: If you increase the cutting speed, you often need to increase the power to ensure the laser can still cut through the material effectively.
Decreasing Speed: If you decrease the cutting speed, you can often decrease the power because the laser has more time to cut through the material at each point.
If you want a strong beam, decreasing speed will let the laser 'hang' in spots longer - resulting in a stronger output.
Practical Example
Thick Material (e.g., 1/4" Acrylic):
- Low Speed, High Power: Speed might be set low (e.g., 9 mm/sec) with high power (e.g., 80%) to ensure a complete cut.
Thin Material (e.g., 1/16" Balsa):
- High Speed, Low Power: Speed might be set higher (e.g., 150 mm/sec) with lower power (e.g., 10%) to avoid burning and ensure clean cuts.
While speed and power settings can be adjusted in tandem to achieve desired cutting results, they are not directly interchangeable. Both parameters need to be carefully balanced based on the material type, thickness, and desired edge quality. Experimentation and fine-tuning are often necessary to optimize settings for specific cutting tasks.