How to Laser Cut a Dual-Material Medal (Acrylic and Wood): Step by Step Tutorial

Thunder Air - the Reliable Air System for Your Safer Workplace DISCOVER NOW
Application

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Search Across Products, Blog Posts, Support Content, And Resources.

Search

Dual-Material Medal

2024-07-22

Key Information

Laser Machines
Material Needed
Acrylic Sheet
Cherry Wood Plank
Glue
Project File Download
Settings
Laser Engraving
Speed: 800/1000mm/s (Wood/Acrylic)
Power: 50/30% (Wood/Acrylic)
DPI: 500
Settings
Laser Cutting
Speed: 15/15mm/s (Wood/Acrylic)
Power: 45/80% (Wood/Acrylic)

Introduction

Here’s a custom special medal made from cherry wood and acrylic!


The outer part uses cherry wood with clear, beautiful grain, while the center uses clear acrylic engraved with award details, creating eye-catching patterns and text.


Whether it’s for a corporate event, sports competition, or personal achievement, this medal is designed to stand out.

Before your work begins

Clean the lens and mirrors
Check the laser head and nozzle for dust or buildup
Ensure ventilation and air assist are working properly
Confirm the machine is running smoothly and normally

Operational Process

STEP01

Prepare & Position the Material

Prepare the cherry wood plank and acrylic sheet, then place the material flat on the laser bed. A stable, even surface helps keep the engraving details clear and the cutting path accurate.


Secure the material if needed to prevent shifting during engraving and cutting, especially when processing the wood frame and acrylic center piece separately.

put the wood on the laser bed-step1.webp
Pins
STEP02

Import & Adjust the Design File

Import the dual-material medal file into LightBurn, then adjust the size, position, and settings according to your cherry wood and acrylic materials.


Double-check the engraving and cutting settings before starting. Make sure the wooden frame, acrylic center, text, and decorative patterns are correctly aligned.

laser cutting dual material medal 1
STEP03

Set the Correct Laser Focus

Accurate focusing is important for achieving clear engraving and clean cutting edges on both wood and acrylic. If your machine has auto focus, use it for quick setup. For manual focusing, lower the laser head with the focus stick until it touches the material surface at the correct angle.

auto-focus-bolt.jpg
manual focus
STEP04

Start Engraving & Cutting

Use the Frame function to outline the laser processing area. Make sure the projected frame matches the material and that each medal component stays within the material boundary.


Once everything is aligned, start the laser job. Stay near the machine while it’s running and monitor the engraving and cutting process carefully.

Frame your design
laser cutting dual material medal 2
STEP05

Post Processing

When the engraving and cutting are complete, carefully remove the cherry wood and acrylic pieces from the laser bed.


Peel off the protective paper from the acrylic, then use glue to attach the acrylic center to the cherry wood frame. Once secured, your custom dual-material medal is complete.

laser cutting dual material medal 3

Come and Try!

This combination of wood and acrylic creates a medal that really stands out. The warm tones of the cherry wood frame the crisp, modern look of the acrylic perfectly.


Display it on a shelf or hang it on a wall—either way, it becomes more than just an award. It is a memorable keepsake that honors achievement in style.

Thunder Bolt Series

Learn more about our high-performance RF CO₂ laser engravers.

lasermaker

Smart Software LaserMaker

All the easy-to-follow LaserMaker tutorials are right here!

Material Settings Library

Find recommended material settings for your laser machine.

Share. Connect. Get Inspired.

Your Creativity Fuels Our Community—let's Build Something Amazing Together!

Share on Social Media

Post your laser project and tag @thunderlaser.official to get featured.

Join Thunder Family

Learn, share, and get real support from the community.

Follow for More Ideas

Stay tuned for tutorials, material tips, and latest news.

Ready for Your Next Creation?

Ready to take the next step? Explore more tutorials or find the right machine for your work.

We use cookies to understand how our audience uses our site.
THUNDER LASER websites use cookies to deliver and improve the website experience, See our cookie policy for further details on how we use cookies and how to change your cookie settings Cookie policy.
Accept
Reject
close