How do I determine the optimal laser parameters for my material?

Quick and easy determination of laser parameters

A perfect laser engraving and laser cutting result is only achievable if the right laser parameters are used. The following settings form the laser parameters:

Power
Speed
Resolution ppi/Frequency Hz
Passes
Air Assist
z-Offset (controlled defocusing)

Laser parameters in the Trotec laser software

You will find a wide selection of pre-tested laser parameters in the Trotec laser software. Save time testing for optimum parameters by choosing from 50 different materials. For each product group, we offer 2 different parameter sets: optimized for time, and optimized for quality.

"Quality" parameter sets are recommended for engraving applications with fine details, small font sizes and high contrast. Thus, the laser cut is also optimized e.g. glossy, flame-polished edges with acrylic.
"Speed" parameter sets are recommended for time-optimized applications that include simple shapes and designs with fewer finer lines and details.

We are constantly testing and adding new material parameters to the material database.

JobControl®	Ruby®
Updates can either be installed via a JobControl® Software Release or downloaded here. You can, of course, add to the material database with your materials and settings.	In Ruby® new or changed default materials are automatically provided with a software update. You can manually import them from the cloud, but also add your own materials manually.

How can I adapt my parameters from the material database to achieve a darker or deeper engraving?

All laser parameters in the material database have been carefully determined. Depending on your application, small adjustments to the parameters may be required to achieve a visually different result. Increasing the power value introduces more energy onto the material, leading to a darker engraving in wood. The engraving will also be deeper. Reducing the power results in a lighter engraving. We recommend making adjustments in small increments to find your ideal parameters.

You can also create and manage self-determined parameters within the material database.

Tip: Only change a single parameter when testing. As an example, start with the power by testing different values in 5-10% increments. Then repeat the process with the speed. You should only combine both settings when you are satisfied with them. This allows you to isolate the variables and determine how individual parameters affect your achieved results.

My material isn't in the material database. Is there an easy way to determine the best laser parameters?

Generally start with a high speed and low power when laser engraving or cutting new materials. This ensures a low laser impact on the material.
Here are 3 ways to quickly and easily determine the parameters for new materials.

Engraving template: Grayscale matrix

Choosing different paramter settings means different color intensities can be achieved on the material when laser processing. You can quickly and easily determine your desired colour intensity with the aid of the grayscale matrix.

Cutting template

The following graphic is a good example for testing cutting parameters. As the rectangle has two differently rounded corners it offers the advantage that both straight cutting lines and more complex shapes can be achieved with the tested settings. Send your graphic to the laser. Start again but with lower power and a higher speed (we recommend a start speed of 5-10%) which allows you to find your desired laser cutting quality.

Please note: Cutting and engraving speeds are not comparable. As cutting is slower than engraving, 10% is a high speed for cutting.

What do laser parameters actually mean?

Laser parameters, including power, speed, ppi, Hz, passes, Air Assist and z-offset are briefly explained in the following article.

Parameter definition

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