WOOD LASER

ENGRAVING & CUTTING & MARKING

Many natural and engineered woods can be processed with a laser, including basswood, birch, maple, cherry, walnut, alder, plywood, MDF, veneer, and balsa. Results vary according to density, grain, resin, moisture, thickness, adhesives, and surface finish.

Fine-grained, light-colored woods such as maple, alder, basswood, cherry, and selected birch plywood often produce clear details and visible engraving contrast. The best choice depends on the desired color, grain, finish, application, and engraving depth.

Wood laser settings depend on the machine model, laser power, wood type, thickness, grain, moisture, adhesives, and desired finish. The following Nova 100W DC glass CO₂ laser settings are starting references and should be tested on the actual material before production.

These values are intended as starting points only. Always run a material test and adjust the speed, power, focus, air assist, and other settings according to the actual wood and the required cutting or engraving result.

For settings covering more Thunder Laser models, laser powers, materials, thicknesses, lenses, and processing methods, visit our complete CO₂ laser settings library.

Do not process wood with an unknown composition, pressure treatment, PVC or vinyl layers, hazardous coatings, or unidentified adhesives. Always check the material specifications or safety data for painted, treated, laminated, and composite boards.

The achievable cutting thickness depends on laser power, wood species, density, lens, focus, air assist, speed, and the required edge quality. There is no single thickness that applies to every wood or laser machine, so a material test is recommended.

The required laser power depends on the type and thickness of the wood, as well as the desired cutting speed and edge finish. Higher power can improve cutting capacity, but correct focus, air assist, extraction, and tested settings remain essential.

Laser marking creates a surface or color change with little noticeable depth. Engraving removes material to create shallow, deep, photographic, or relief effects, while laser cutting passes completely through the wood to produce separate parts and shapes.

A UV laser can create fine surface marks, text, logos, and graphics on selected wood materials with limited heat impact and little noticeable depth. The final color and contrast depend on the wood species, coating, surface condition, and laser settings.

Laser cutting uses heat to remove material, so some edge darkening is a normal result of processing wood. The amount of discoloration depends on the wood type, resin content, thickness, power, speed, focus, air assist, and extraction.

Use tested power and speed settings, correct focus, suitable air assist, and effective exhaust extraction. Masking the surface, keeping the optics clean, using flat material, and avoiding unnecessarily slow cutting can also reduce smoke marks and excessive charring.

Yes. Photographs can be reproduced on wood using raster engraving and image-processing techniques. Light-colored, fine-grained, and evenly textured woods usually provide clearer tonal variation than dark or heavily grained materials.

CO₂ laser machines are commonly used for cutting and engraving wood, while UV laser systems can create fine surface marks on selected wood materials. The best machine depends on the working area, material thickness, required detail, production speed, and application.