Laser engraving and laser cutting wood

Authentic wood is a natural material that is ideal for use with a laser machine, and laser users need to evaluate the materials various characteristics such resin content and density during processing.

Rule of thumb: Wood that offers consistent coloration and uniform grain patterns will often be easier to use, as well as allow for more even engraving.

Using the grayscale matrix will allow you to efficiently determine the correct engraving parameters for individual application.

Tip: The more you defocus (z-offet: approx. 0.5 - 2 mm), the darker the engraving of the wood will be. Defocusing the laser beam will increase the spot size of the laser as well as decrease the performance density, resulting in more burning instead of letting it pass directly into the gaseous form. Detail can be lost from using this technique.

Laser cutting parameters can be tested by drawing a rectangle with two differently rounded corners, and then sending the graphic to the laser machine. Depending on the wood being processed, you can achieve your desired cutting quality by reducing the speed gradually. For example, using 3mm thick wood should start with a cutting speed of 2-5% as well as high performance.

Laser cutting wood is a sublimation process that will require the use of proper optics and precise focusing, as well as a distinction must be drawn between engraving and/or cutting. When laser engraving wood, as the level of detail that a graphic offers goes up, the shorter the focal length of the lens should be. As a rule of thumb, 1.5" or 2.0" lenses are suitable for almost any laser engraving on wood. When laser cutting wood, you will need to increase lens focal length as material thickness increases. For example, we recommend using a 2” lens for 1/8” wood, and a 2.5” lens for 1/4" wood.

Further details of the right choice of lens

Cleaning the hardware and optics of your laser system is an important step in woodworking. Wood resin and oils are extremely sticky, and any dust produced from laser processing will often settle in the machine. So it is very important to clean your machine on a regular basis.

Further details of laser cleaning

Wood is an ideal material for relief engraving. When processing a relief engraving, the grayscales adapt to different laser power levels resulting in three-dimensional engravings. Several passes can be processed with relatively high-performance, and then only one or two passes cleaning are required to remove any smoke residue produced.

Further tips on relief engraving

Wood inlays such as intarsia are extremely popular with woodworking, and typically various woods are laid flat so that s smooth surface with variations of color and structure are created. Commonly, the base material is engraved first followed by the material to be laid (usually veneer), which is then cut and inserted. When laser processing the veneer, ensure that the laser beam width (cutting gap) is properly adjusted so that the carrier is slightly larger.