This is because, beyond a certain thickness, your laser gets so out of focus that it simply can’t cut.Īlso, the more passes, the higher your chance of burning the plywood, or even setting it on fire. Unfortunately, even with unlimited passes, there’s a limit to the thicknesses you can cut. Air assist – you can increase the thickness that your laser can cut by using air assist.For example, you can cut thicker basswood than you can cut cherry plywood. The plywood – different types can be cut to different thicknesses.The laser itself – laser power is a factor, but not the only thing that affects this.The maximum thickness of plywood you can cut is affected by several factors: But, how thick of plywood can you cut overall with your laser using several passes? We just discussed how thick of plywood you can cut in one pass. The table below compares the maximum thickness of various wood that a typical 5W, 10W, and 40W laser can cut:Įngraving at slow speeds.Cutting thin wood at very low speeds.Įngraving at slow speeds.Cutting thin plywood at slow speeds.Įngraving and Cutting at higher speeds.Cutting thicker materials.Engraving and cutting more materials like clear acrylic. On the other hand, my xTool D1 Pro 20W can cut up to 10mm basswood in one pass – but 20W diode lasers are more expensive, costing over $1000. The optical power is important, for example, 5W diode lasers can only cut up to 2-3mm basswood in one pass. You can generally expect a 40W CO2 laser to cut 6mm birch plywood in one pass, and 8-15mm basswood plywood.Īlthough diode lasers are not as powerful, some still work well. For example, the same laser can cut much thicker basswood than birch or cherry plywood, since basswood is lighter and softer.ĬO2 lasers are more powerful than diode lasers, and can generally cut thicker plywood, and faster. The thickness you can cut depends on the type of plywood you’re using, and the laser’s power. You need a CO2 or diode laser to cut plywood. Open your laser control software and pick the right settings.Use plywood with the right thickness and shade.In short, here’s how you laser cut plywood: Project ideas you can make with plywood.The best plywood to use for laser cutting.Common issues when laser cutting plywood. So, I’ll also recommend the lasers I know work great with plywood at the end of this article. Plus, although plywood is a favorite material with many lasers, different lasers can give different results. Plus, it offers great aesthetics, and there are many different types of plywood, each with distinct properties ideal for different wood projects. It’s popular with laser users because it’s easy to buy, and can be both cut and engraved easily. Laser cutting plywood is ideal for making decorations or coasters with creative engraved shapes and text, as well as if you’re making architecture models.īut, if you use the wrong laser cutter, the wrong settings, or the wrong wood, you can: The finish also varies in quality on thicker plywood sheets. Most lasers can cut 12-20mm plywood, but it will take longer and require a larger number of passes. There’s also a limit to how thick a laser can cut plywood. So, stick to CO2 and diode lasers for plywood laser cutting. However, fiber lasers give a very poor finish, struggles to engrave plywood, and have a high chance of setting it on fire. Both diode and CO2 lasers can cut plywood. Yes, not only can you cut plywood with a laser, it’s a favorite material among laser users. You can find many examples and tutorials online for inspiration. You can also combine plywood with other materials, such as acrylic, metal, or leather.
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