5 Common Errors and Avoidance Methods in Laser Carving

Error 1: When carving fabric, the laser will burn through the material
The first step in avoiding burning through fabrics when using laser engraving/cutting machines is to understand which fabrics can withstand this process and the temperature they can withstand. Durable fabrics such as denim, canvas, and leather can withstand higher temperatures during carving. But for softer fabrics, the most important thing is that the initial setting speed should be fast (close to or equal to 100%) and the power should be low (about 5% to 10%). Test these initial settings on some backup materials to see if the fabric can withstand carving using these settings, and gradually increase the power until you achieve the desired results.

When directly carving clothing, reducing the dots per inch (DPI) in the carving area will help with carving. The higher the DPI, the more material will be engraved. Carving at a lower DPI ensures that the laser only slightly evaporates the surface material without completely burning through the fabric. Controlling DPI between 150 and 300 can effectively engrave most fabrics.

Error 2: Acrylic material cannot carve frosted white effect
This is likely due to the use of the wrong acrylic material in carving applications. There are two commonly used acrylic materials for laser engraving, and both materials are suitable for different purposes.

Acrylic casting boards and objects are made by pouring liquid acrylic into molds of various shapes and sizes. This type of acrylic is an ideal material for carving, as it turns frosted white during carving and is suitable for making medals. You can also use a laser machine to cut this type of material, but it cannot form flame polished edges.

Another type of acrylic material used for laser engraving is acrylic extruded sheet, which is a sheet made by machine. The price of acrylic extruded sheet is usually lower than that of acrylic casting material because it is made through mass production processes. However, when using laser engraving machines to engrave this material, the resulting effect is completely different. This type of acrylic material cuts very cleanly and smoothly, and produces flame polished edges. But the cut effect is not a frosted white effect, but rather a fairly clear carved pattern. So, if you want to get a frosted white finish, make sure to use acrylic casting material.

Error 3: Contradictory glass carving
Normally, laser irradiation on glass will break the surface of the glass, but it will not deeply engrave or remove the material required for complete engraving. A broken glass surface will produce a frosted appearance, but depending on the type of glass being carved, it may be rough and may have gaps. Although the frosted appearance is ideal, no one wants a rough or chipped carved surface.

To achieve a smooth frosted finish, please try combining one or more of the following tips:
Using a lower resolution of approximately 300 DPI can produce better results on glass when moving the engraving position.
Change the black color in the graphic to 80% black.

Sometimes, laying a thin layer of wet newspaper or tissue on the carving area can help dissipate heat and improve the quality of the carving. But make sure the paper is not wrinkled after being laid on.

Another way to dissipate heat is to apply a thin layer of dishwashing detergent to the carving area with your fingers or a tissue.
Finally, if there are glass fragments after carving, please use a scratch free scouring pad to clean the carving area.

Error 4: Under the same settings, wood carving will yield different results
Wood is one of the most suitable materials for laser engraving because it is not only easy to cut, but also has a good engraving effect.
However, different types of wood have different reactions to laser engraving, and the results obtained are also different. When laser ablates wood, lighter woods such as cherry or maple produce a rich contrast; When cutting or carving stronger wood, higher laser power is required.

Depending on the type of wood you process, the particle density may vary significantly. The textures of cherry wood, alder, walnut, and maple are very dense, while the texture of oak is medium to rough. For example, if a large square is carved on cherry wood, the resulting appearance will be very uniform, the carved area will be relatively smooth, and the height variation will be small. However, if the same size square is carved on oak, the height of the appearance will vary greatly, and the appearance will also be very inconsistent.

Error 5: The operating speed of the laser engraving machine cannot be as fast as before
Clean your machine! Like other types of design equipment, a clean machine produces better results than a machine that has not been properly maintained. Your laser machine user manual includes maintenance requirements. If the performance deteriorates rapidly, the first step to fixing the problem may be to inspect and clean the optical components.

We recommend checking the optical components (lenses and mirrors) in the laser machine weekly and cleaning them as needed. If the material you cut produces more residue, you may need to clean the optical components more frequently. Normally, optical components should be clear golden yellow, bright, and glossy. If they look blurry or have stains or debris, it means it's time to clean them up.