CO2 Laser Settings
CO2 lasers produce infrared light at about 10.6 µm from a glass tube or a metal RF tube. They are the workhorse for cutting and engraving organic materials and plastics: wood, acrylic, leather, paper, fabric, and rubber, plus etching glass and stone.
18 community settings from 8 machines. Select a material for its full settings, notes, and photos.
CO2 Laser engraving settings
| Material | Machine | Thickness | Speed | Power | Density | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black WalnutWood | xTool P3 | — | 600 mm/s | 50% | 160 LPCM | 1 |
| Round Glass OrnamentsGlass | xTool P3 | — | 250 mm/s | 30% | 200 LPCM | 1 |
| Small Cutting Board with Handle - AcaciaWood | xTool P3 | — | 600 mm/s | 40% | 160 LPCM | 1 |
| Leatherette Notebooks - Green to BlackLeather | xTool P3 | — | 450 mm/s | 18% | 120 LPCM | 1 |
| Leatherette Passport Holders Red to WhiteLeather | xTool P3 | — | 400 mm/s | 18% | 140 LPCM | 1 |
| Denim Beige/Black LeatheretteLeather | xTool P3 | — | 400 mm/s | 18% | 140 LPCM | 1 |
| Matte/Gloss Acrylic (Solid Colors)Acrylic | OMTech Polar | — | 200 mm/s | 25% | 355 LPI | 1 |
| Acrylic SheetAcrylic | Aeon Laser MIRA 9 | — | 200 mm/s | 40% | 1016 LPI | 1 |
| Walnut HardwoodWood | Thunder Laser Nova 24 | 19 mm | 500 mm/s | 55% | 762 LPI | 1 |
| Stanley Wooden Handled HammerWood | xTool P3 | — | 400 mm/s | 80% | 200 LPCM | 1 |
| Wood Pendant JewelryWood | OMTech AF Series (80W) | — | 200 mm/s | 35% | 762 LPI | 1 |
| TruFlatPlywood - MDF | Thunder Laser Bolt | — | 300 mm/s | 30% | 508 LPI | 1 |
| AcaciaWood - Acacia | Aeon Laser MIRA 7 Pro S Redline | — | 300 mm/s | 45% | 508 LPI | 1 |
| TruFlatPlywood | Aeon Laser MIRA 9 | — | 250 mm/s | 45% | 1016 LPI | 1 |
CO2 Laser cutting settings
| Material | Machine | Thickness | Speed | Power | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8-inch White PlyCoreWood | xTool P3 | 3 mm | 20 mm/s | 85% | 1 |
| 1/4-inch EcoBirch WhiteWood | xTool P3 | 6 mm | 15 mm/s | 80% | 1 |
| Matte/Gloss Acrylic (Solid Colors)Acrylic | OMTech Polar | — | 10 mm/s | 55% | 1 |
| Acrylic SheetAcrylic | Aeon Laser MIRA 9 | — | 15 mm/s | 85% | 2 |
| 1/8” MDFOther | Glowforge Pro | — | 170 mm/s | 0% | 1 |
| TruFlatMDF | Aeon Laser MIRA 9 | — | 15 mm/s | 75% | 2 |
| TruFlatPlywood - MDF | Thunder Laser Bolt | — | 10 mm/s | 75% | 0 |
| TruFlatPlywood | Aeon Laser MIRA 9 | — | 15 mm/s | 75% | 2 |
CO2 Laser scoring settings
| Material | Machine | Speed | Power | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matte/Gloss Acrylic (Solid Colors)Acrylic | OMTech Polar | 220 mm/s | 20% | 1 |
| Acrylic SheetAcrylic | Aeon Laser MIRA 9 | 200 mm/s | 40% | 1 |
| TruFlatPlywood | Aeon Laser MIRA 9 | 300 mm/s | 0% | 1 |
What to know about co2 laser settings
- Glass tubes vs. RF tubes
- Glass tubes usually have a minimum firing power and slower response, which shows up as uneven fine engraving. RF tubes pulse much faster and handle detailed, high-speed engraving better. Settings rarely transfer directly between the two.
- Min and max power
- Many CO2 controllers use a minimum and maximum power. The maximum drives most of the result; the minimum applies as the head slows into corners and can matter for clean corners on thin material.
- Lens and focus
- Short focal-length lenses give a smaller spot for detailed engraving; longer lenses keep a straighter kerf through thick material. Settings assume the lens the author used.
- Metal needs help
- CO2 light reflects off bare metal. It can remove anodizing and painted coatings, but marking bare steel needs a marking spray or paste.
New to these terms? Read how laser settings work, or convert LPI and line interval with the line density converter.
Before you run these settings
Settings vary between individual machines, even of the same model: lens, focus, alignment, air assist, and the exact material all change the result. Run a small test grid on scrap from the same sheet first, never leave the laser unattended, and never cut PVC or vinyl.