Learning Center
Beginner guides for laser cutting, vinyl cutting, CNC machining, and 3D printing
Use these guides with any MyLaserTools generator to improve setup, exports, and final results.
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
Sealed glass tube filled with CO2 gas. Produces a 10.6 micron beam that cuts cleanly through acrylic, fabric, MDF, and wood. Tubes last 1,000–2,000 hours and are replaced rather than recharged. Most hobbyist CO2 machines (OMTech, Boss Laser, Thunder Laser, xTool P2) use glass tubes.
CO2 RF Tube Laser
Radio-frequency excited metal tube. Longer lifespan (10,000+ hours), faster pulse response, and finer engraving detail than glass tubes. Found in professional machines like Epilog, Trotec, and Universal Laser. Higher cost, with longer service life and consistent performance for production workflows.
Fiber Laser
Amplifies light through a doped optical fiber. Excellent for marking and deep engraving on metal, anodized aluminium, stainless steel, and coated surfaces. Not effective on non-metals. Popular desktop machines: xTool F1, Raycus units.
UV Laser
Uses a 355nm ultraviolet beam that ablates material with minimal heat (cold ablation). Ideal for marking glass, ceramics, PCBs, and sensitive plastics without burning or discolouring. Popular in industrial and electronics applications; increasingly available in desktop form.
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 (3mm / 1/8")
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.
Acrylic (Cast)
Cuts with a polished edge. Available in hundreds of colours, textures, and finishes. Use cast acrylic, not extruded, for the best edge quality.
Leather
Vegetable-tanned leather cuts and engraves beautifully. Avoid chrome-tanned leather as it releases harmful fumes.
Cardstock & 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 & 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 vs 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.
File Formats
SVG is the standard format for laser cutting. It stores paths as scalable vectors, so your design is always sharp at any size. All MyLaserTools generators export SVG.
DXF is common in professional and CNC workflows. Most laser software can import DXF alongside SVG.
LightBurn is the most popular laser cutting software and accepts SVG, DXF, AI, and its own LBRN format. Machines like xTool and OMTech ship with their own software (for example xTool Creative Space or LaserGRBL). Many makers use paid or free software depending on workflow, budget, and machine compatibility. Popular options include LightBurn, xTool Creative Space, LaserGRBL, and vendor software.
Getting Started Tips
- 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
Every tool on MyLaserTools is built specifically for laser cutters. All SVG exports are clean single-path vector files with no stray nodes, no open paths, and no hidden layers that would cause unexpected cuts. Here are some of the most popular tools:
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
Custom keychain with text, layered shapes, or truck silhouette. Set your exact material thickness and the hole size adjusts automatically. Works great on 3mm acrylic or birch.
Split Monogram Generator
Classic vine or interlocking monogram split into two interlocking halves. Enter your initials and download. Designed for 1/8" and 3mm plywood and acrylic.
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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