Laser Cutting & Laser Engraving Materials with CNC Lasers

Engraving Tests

With the PLH3D series engraving laser heads, many types of materials can be cut and engraved. Engraving is much simpler as the generation of the G-code requires only one pass at an appropriately selected speed. Many materials thicker than 0.5-1.5 mm require several passes for the laser to cut the entire depth. The exceptions are foam and some soft materials, which in some cases can be cut with up to 10 mm Passs. The cutting method depends on the structure of the material and its density. Plexiglas, for example, as well as hard plywood, are more difficult to cut and, depending on the type, may require several passes to cut through 1 mm of material thickness.

Information About Engraving Possibilities

Cutting and Engraving Possibilities with PLH3D-6W Series

Material	Cut	Mark / Engrave	Max thickness tested with a cut
Paper			0.1 mm / 0.003"
Cardboard (hard)			3 mm / 0.118"
Cardboard (flute, wave)			6 mm / 0.236"
Balsa			10 mm / 0.393"
Plywood (soft)			6 mm / 0.236"
Plywood (hard)			3 mm / 0.118"
Wood			3 mm / 0.118"
Rubber (dark)1			1.5 mm / 0.059"
T-Shirt			0.5 mm / 0.019"
Jeans			0.8 mm / 0.031"
Plexiglass (color)3			3 mm / 0.118"
Plastic (dark)			1 mm / 0.039"
Artificial Leather			2 mm / 0.078"
Real Leather			2 mm / 0.078"
Felt			3 mm / 0.118"
Nylon			0.2 mm / 0.007"
Glass Reinforced Foil2			0.5 mm / 0.019"
Thermal Pad (foam)			3 mm / 0.118"
Thermal Pad (textile)			0.3 mm / 0.011"
Stretch Foil (dark)			0.005 mm / 0.0001"
Lead Foil			0.5 mm / 0.019"
Kapton Foil			0.2 mm / 0.007"
Foam (dark)			25 mm / 0.984"
PCB			--
Carbon			--
Glass (painted)			--
Metal (painted)			--
Stainless Steel			--
Titanium			--
Aluminum, Copper, Brass			--

Notes:

1. There are many types of rubber. High-temperature resistant rubber is not possible to cut. The laser may leave he mark on the surface in such case.
2. It depends on the density of the glass threads and their thickness.
3. It depends on the color, dark colors are much easier to cut. Transparent plexiglass is not possible to cut

Engraving Speed Comparison

	Engraving Speed for PLH3D-2W 1 [mm/s]		Engraving Speed for PLH3D-6W-XF 1 [mm/s]		Engraving Speed for PLH3D-6W-uSpot [mm/s]		Engraving Speed for PLH3D-15W [mm/s]
	Best Focus2	Square Spot3	Best Focus2	Square Spot3	Best Focus2	Square Spot3	Best Focus2
Leather	>80	24	>80	45	>80	60	160
Soft Plywood	15	9	>80	33	>80	45
Cardboard	>80	45	>80	>80	>80	>80
White Paper	12	6	>80	21	>80	27
Black Anodized Aluminum			>80		>80	33
Stainless Steel			1.5*		15*	1.5*	6

*Marking, not Engraving.

Notes:

1. Equipped with High Resolution Engraving Lens for maximum engraving performance.
2. Engraving plane is set exactly at focus plane
3. Engraving plane is placed 4.4 mm / 0.173" ( for PLH3D-6W-XF and PLH3D-2W) and 1.8 mm / 0.070" (for PLH3D-6W-uSpot) from focus plane to achive symetrical square spot

PLH3D-2W Cutting and Engraving Tests

Balsa
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
10 mm	60 mm	9 mm/s	10

Hardwood (Plywood)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
4 mm	60 mm	7.5 mm/s	13

3-layers cardboard
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.4 mm	60 mm	15 mm/s	3

5-layers cardboard
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
5 mm	60 mm	10 mm/s	4

Binder board
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
2.3 mm	60 mm	5 mm/s	5

Fiber-reinforced foil
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.3 mm	60 mm	3 mm/s	1

Full Grain Leather
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.5 mm	60 mm	2.5 mm/s	2

Green Nylon-6
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.1 mm	60 mm	150 mm/s	1

Jeans
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.5 mm	60 mm	8 mm/s	1

Rubber
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.5 mm	60 mm	15 mm/s	2

Silicon Pad
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.3 mm	90 mm	5 mm/s	1

T-Shirt
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.5 mm	60 mm	25 mm/s	1

Tablecloath
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.25 mm	60 mm	4 mm/s	1

PLH3D-6W-XF+ Cutting and Engraving Tests

Balsa
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
2 mm	60 mm	38 mm/s	7

Balsa
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	60 mm	38 mm/s	10

Balsa
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
10 mm	60 mm	22.5 mm/s	10

Cardboard Laser Cutting
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
5 mm	60 mm	10 mm/s	4

Wood Laser Engraving
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	60 mm	40 mm/s	1

ABS - Engraving
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	60 mm	50 mm/s	1

Black PET
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.3 mm	60 mm	25 mm/s	1

Fiber-Reinforced Foil – Dark
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.3 mm	60 mm	3 mm/s	1

Full Grain Leather
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.5 mm	60 mm	15 mm/s	23

Green Nylon-6
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.1 mm	60 mm	150 mm/s	1

Red Rubber
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	60 mm	15 mm/s	21

Tablecloath
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.25 mm	60 mm	8 mm/s	2

T-shirt
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.5 mm	60 mm	35 mm/s	1

Thermal Pad
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.3 mm	60 mm	5 mm/s	1

Foam EVA
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
9.85 mm	60 mm	25 mm/s	4

Polyfoam
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
15 mm	60 mm	8 mm/s	10

Green Pad
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.5 mm	60 mm	6 mm/s	1

Green Plexiglass
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3.0 mm	60 mm	5 mm/s	29

Red Plexiglass
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	60 mm	6 mm/s	23

PCB-Soldermask
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	60 mm	100 mm/s	1

Anodized Aluminum - Marking
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	30 mm	50 mm/s	1

Painted Metal - Marking
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	60 mm	15 mm/s	1

Stainless Steel - Marking
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	60 mm	0.5 mm/s	1

Stainless Steel - Marking
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.5 mm	30 mm	3 mm/s	1

Red sleeve Anodized Aluminium - Marking
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	60 mm	10-80 mm/s	1

Blue Sleeve Anodized Aluminium - Marking
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	30 mm	50 mm/s	1

Gold Sleeve Anodized Aluminium - Marking
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	30 mm	50 mm/s	1

PLH3D-6W-XF+ with uSpot Lens Upgrade Cutting and Engraving Tests

Balsa
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
10 mm	60 mm	40 mm/s	21

Balsa 2.0 mm
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
2 mm	60 mm	45 mm/s	7

Balsa 3mm
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	60 mm	40 mm/s	7

Balsa 8mm
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
8 mm	60 mm	40 mm/s	19

Balsa 1mm
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1mm	60 mm	4 mm/s	4

Dark Brown-Solid Leather (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 10L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.6 mm	60 mm	74 mm/s	4

Fiberglass with PVC sheath
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.25 mm	60 mm	8 mm/s	1

Fiber Reinforced
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.2 mm	60 mm	10 mm/s	2

Full Grain Leather Brown
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.5 mm	60 mm	30 mm/s	6

Green Plexiglass
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	60 mm	6 mm/s	16

Plywood
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	60 mm	5 mm/s	5

Poly Foam
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
15 mm	60 mm	233 mm/s	6

Poly Foam
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
20 mm	60 mm	13 mm/s	4

Polyester Elastic Gray
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.2 mm	60 mm	26 mm/s	2

Red Plexiglass
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3.0 mm	60 mm	8 mm/s	21

Sandpaper
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.3 mm	60 mm	20 mm/s	1

Solid Leather (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 10L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.3 mm	60 mm	20 mm/s	4

Tablecloath
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.25 mm / 0.009"	60 mm	9 mm/s	2

PLH3D-XT-10 Cutting and Engraving Tests

Polypropylene (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 10L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	55 mm	25 mm/s	1

Natural Leather Engraving (0.1% power used)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	55 mm	1 mm/s	1

Natural Leather Engraving (0.1% power used)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	55 mm	1 mm/s	1

Natural Leather Engraving (0.1% power used)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	55 mm	1 mm/s	1

PLH3D-XT-50 Cutting and Engraving Tests

Green Anode (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	55 mm	84 mm	1

Green Nylon-6 (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 15L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.1 mm	55 mm	267 mm/s	1

Microsurfaced Impact Acrylic (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 15L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.8 mm	55 mm	15 mm/s	10

Poly Foam (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
20 mm	55 mm	13 mm/s	4

Rubber Stamp
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
2 mm	55 mm	17 mm/s	1

Rubber Thin (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 15L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.5 mm	55 mm	25 mm/s	1

Thermal Pad (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 15L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.3 mm	55 mm	9 mm/s	1

Transformer (Silicon) Steel Marking (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
12 mm	55 mm	50 mm/s	1

Stainless Steel (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
12 mm	55 mm	1.6 mm/s	1

Stainless Steel (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.5 mm	55 mm	8 mm/s	1

Stainless Steel (with High-Pressure Air-Nozzle on 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.5 mm	55 mm	8 mm/s	1

PLH3D-15W Cutting and Engraving Tests

Plywood (with 15L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	4 mm	6 mm/s	1

Orange Transparent Plexiglass (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	4 mm	100 mm/s	1

Natural Grain Leather (with 15L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.3 mm	4 mm	2 mm/s	1

Green Plexiglass (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	4 mm	1 mm/s	1

Tool Steel (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
10 mm	4 mm	33 mm/s	1

Tool Steel (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	4 mm	6 mm/s	1

Stainless Steel Knife (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	4 mm	5 mm/s	1

White Marble (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	4 mm	16 mm/s	1

Steel (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	4 mm	100 mm/s	1

Schist (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	4 mm	100 mm/s	1

Natural Grain Leather (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.3 mm	4 mm	20 mm/s	1

Decorative Curtain-Fabric Polyester (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.5 mm	4 mm	3 mm/s	2

Foam EVA (with 15L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.8 mm	4 mm	75 mm/s	1

Foam EVA (with 15L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
5 mm	4 mm	67 mm/s	2

Red Plexiglass Cutting (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	4 mm	1.5 mm/s	1

Cotton Fabric (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	4 mm	60 mm/s	1

Cordura (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
0.35 mm	4 mm	50 mm/s	1

Black Leather (with 10L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
1.4 mm	4 mm	9 mm/s	1

Black Plexiglass (with 5L/min airflow)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
3 mm	4 mm	2.5 mm/s	1

Blended Granite (50% power)
Material thickness	Working Distance	Feed Rate	Pass
N/A	4 mm	100 mm/s	1