# Laser cutting and engraving basics

> How a laser cuts and engraves, which machine does what, the materials it handles and the terms you will meet in every guide.

## What is laser cutting?

Laser cutting uses a focused beam of light to cut or engrave materials with high precision. The laser melts, burns, or vaporizes the material along a programmed path, leaving a clean edge. It is one of the most popular tools for makers, small businesses, and schools because it can produce complex shapes quickly and repeatably from a digital file.

The same machine can both cut through material (laser cutting) and mark or remove the surface layer without cutting all the way through (laser engraving). Most projects use both in a single job, for example cutting a keychain shape while engraving a name onto it.

## Types of laser machines

- **Diode laser**: Most affordable entry point. Works well on wood, leather, cardboard, and dark acrylic. Struggles with transparent or light-coloured acrylic. Popular machines: xTool D1, xTool S1, Sculpfun S30, Atomstack A20, ORTUR Laser Master.
- **CO2 glass tube laser**: A sealed glass CO2 tube is a common source in desktop and workshop laser cutters. Suitable machines can cut wood and acrylic. Tube life depends on the model, cooling and operating conditions; follow the manufacturer's maintenance guidance.
- **CO2 RF laser**: An RF-excited CO2 source is common in professional engraving systems. Pulse control, cooling, service life and repair options vary by model. Compare the manufacturer's specifications for the materials and detail you need.
- **Fiber laser**: Amplifies light through a doped optical fiber. Excellent for marking and deep engraving on metal, anodized aluminium, stainless steel and coated surfaces. It marks some plastics but does not cut wood or acrylic. Popular desktop machines: the xTool F1 and the many galvo markers built on Raycus or JPT sources.
- **UV laser**: A UV laser commonly uses a 355 nm beam for fine marking on suitable glass, plastics and other materials. Results depend on the material and settings; the term cold marking does not mean the process produces no heat or fumes.
- **Galvo laser**: Uses motorised mirrors to steer the beam instead of a moving gantry. Extremely fast ideal for rapid engraving, deep marking, and high-volume production. Used in fiber, CO2 RF, and UV systems. The xTool F1 uses a galvo head.
- **MOPA fiber laser**: A fiber laser with a Master Oscillator Power Amplifier design. Allows precise control over pulse width and frequency, enabling colour marking on stainless steel and finer contrast on anodized aluminium without the surface damage of standard fiber lasers.
- **Diode-pumped solid state (DPSS)**: A laser where a diode pumps a solid gain medium (e.g. Nd:YAG or Nd:YVO4). Produces green (532nm) or UV (355nm) light. Very fine spot size and good beam quality. Found in specialty desktop engravers and industrial systems.

## Common materials

- **Birch plywood (3 mm, 1/8 in)**: The most popular laser material. Cuts cleanly, sands well, and takes stain or paint. Ideal for signs, keychains, and ornaments.
- **MDF**: Smooth and consistent, great for engraving. Can warp with humidity. Good for painted projects and stencils.
- **Cast acrylic**: Cast acrylic is useful for a frosted engraving. Both cast and extruded acrylic can be cut with a suitable CO2 laser; extruded acrylic can produce a polished edge. Test the actual sheet. A visible-blue diode generally cannot cut clear acrylic.
- **Leather**: Vegetable-tanned leather cuts and engraves beautifully. Avoid chrome-tanned leather as it releases harmful fumes.
- **Cardstock and paper**: Cuts crisp, intricate shapes. Great for stencils, invitations, and layered art.
- **Fabric**: CO2 lasers cut cotton, felt, denim, and synthetic fabrics cleanly and without fraying.

Need materials? Shop at YXE Creations Craft Hub for laser-ready sheets: acrylic sheets, laser-grade plywood, and PU leatherette.

## Key terms

- **Kerf**: The width of material removed by the laser beam. Typically 0.1–0.3mm. Important when designing parts that need to fit together.
- **Power and speed**: The two main cutting parameters. Higher power or lower speed means deeper cuts. Always run test cuts on new materials.
- **DPI / LPI**: Dots or lines per inch for engraving. Higher values produce more detail but take longer.
- **Vector and raster**: Vector paths are cut or scored as lines. Raster fills are engraved line by line like a printer. Most jobs use both.
- **Passes**: Running the laser over the same path more than once to cut thicker materials or achieve deeper engraves.
- **Air assist**: A stream of air blown at the cut point to remove smoke, reduce char, and prevent flare-ups.
- **SVG**: A drawing made of lines and shapes instead of pixels, saved at a real size. Laser software turns each colour in an SVG into a layer you can cut, score or engrave.
- **Cut, score and engrave**: Cut goes all the way through the sheet. Score follows a line on the surface without cutting through. Engrave fills an area or a picture, line by line.
- **Registration marks**: Small targets printed beside the artwork in print and cut. The laser or cutter finds them to line the cut up with the print.

## File formats

**SVG** stores scalable vector paths and is a common format for transferring designs to laser software. It can also contain images. Check the imported dimensions and choose the operation and machine settings for each part.

**DXF** is common in professional and CNC workflows. Most laser software can import DXF alongside SVG.

LightBurn is the most popular laser software. It opens SVG, DXF and AI files, as well as its own LBRN projects, and runs most diode and CO2 lasers. xTool machines come with xTool Studio, and LaserGRBL is a free option for simple diode lasers on Windows.

## Getting started

- Use a honeycomb or slat bed to allow airflow under the material and prevent flashback marks.
- Never leave a running laser unattended. Even brief fires can escalate quickly.
- Ventilate properly. At minimum use the built-in exhaust fan; ideally add an air purifier or duct to outside.
- Keep your lens and mirrors clean. A dirty lens dramatically reduces cutting power.
- Always run a test cut on a scrap piece of your material before cutting your final design.

## MyLaserTools for laser cutting

Start with a tool that matches the object you want to make. Preview the design at its final size, then check cut paths, small details and operation layers in your laser software before using material.

- **Connected Text Generator**: Joins cursive or script letters into a single merged path. No loose pieces fall out when cutting. Perfect for name signs, cake toppers, and wedding decor on wood or acrylic.
- **Keychain Generator**: Make a personalised keychain with text and a backing shape. Adjust the width, border and hanging hole, then check the preview before exporting.
- **Split Monogram Generator**: Place a name across a split decorative initial. Choose the letter and text, then inspect the joins and small details at the finished size.
- **Clock Face Generator**: Fully custom clock face SVG with selectable number styles, tick marks, and center hole sized for standard clock movements. Cut from any material 3–6mm thick.
- **PCB Case Generator**: Generate two PCB sandwich plates for popular boards or custom PCB footprints, with mounting holes and optional top viewing window for electronics cases.
- **Cake Topper Generator**: Layered or single-cut cake toppers with custom text and shapes. Exports separate SVG layers so you can cut each from a different acrylic colour.
- **Stencilify**: Converts any text into a laser-cuttable stencil with bridges automatically added so letters like O and B do not fall apart. Download and cut from cardstock or mylar.
- **Ornament Generators**: Christmas, tree, heart, paw, egg, and snowman ornament shapes with custom text. Each includes a hole for a ribbon. Cut from 3mm acrylic or plywood.
- **Box Generator**: Finger-jointed flat-pack boxes with custom slot sizing keyed to your exact material thickness. Tabs fit without glue on a well-calibrated machine.

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Read online: https://www.mylasertools.com/learn/basics/laser