Fiber Laser Settings
Fiber and other 1064 nm infrared lasers, including MOPA sources and the infrared modules on some dual-laser machines, are usually galvo machines built for marking and engraving metal and many plastics. Their settings revolve around speed, power, frequency, and fill spacing rather than passes alone.
2 community settings from 1 machine. Select a material for its full settings, notes, and photos.
Fiber Laser engraving settings
| Material | Machine | Speed | Power | Density | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black MarkMetal - Silver | xTool F1 | 2 mm/s | 100% | 300 LPCM | 1 |
| Monarch Pine Silver Engrave - SilverMetal | xTool F1 | 5 mm/s | 100% | 300 LPCM | 1 |
What to know about fiber laser settings
- Frequency and pulse width
- Frequency (kHz) sets how many pulses fire each second. On MOPA sources, pulse width (ns) sets how long each lasts. Together they decide whether you get a deep engrave, a black mark, or annealed colors on stainless steel.
- Fill spacing is much finer
- Galvo fills often use line spacing well under 0.05 mm, far finer than gantry machines. Use the line density converter when a setting is written in LPI or lines per centimeter.
- Not for wood or clear materials
- 1064 nm light marks wood and leather poorly compared with CO2 or diode lasers, and passes through clear materials. Use these settings for metal, coated surfaces, and plastics that absorb infrared.
- Lens size changes everything
- A larger field lens covers more area but spreads the energy. A setting is only a close match for the same lens size and source wattage.
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.