| Fab Lab
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| 3D Printing
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2D Cutting
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Misc
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Cutting Tips
Power settings and tips from other hackerspaces
Engraving Tips
Do Not Cut
- Lexan
- Anything with PVC
- Vinyl Stickers
- Don't even try to cut metal, it will not work.
- PETG
The laser was not properly focused previously, so new values must be found for all materials
These settings will work properly if, and only if, you have refocused for the current piece of material. It is very important that you refocus for every new piece of material.
Laptops
MacBook Aluminum Case
Cut
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Notes
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| 100
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60
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40
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Doesn't actually cut. This works for etching if you're doing a vector design
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Engrave
| Speed
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Power
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Scan gap
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Other flags
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Results
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| 500
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30
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This works well for etching a well defined binary design (QR Code).
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| 500
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60
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This works well for etching a bitmap design that has been dithered.
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Hardwood
3/8" Poplar
| Image Key
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Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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| 1
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10
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100
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95
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| 2
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10
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95
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90
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| 3
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10
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90
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85
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| 4
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8
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100
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95
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| 5
|
8
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95
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90
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| 6
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8
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90
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85
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| 7
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6
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100
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95
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| 8
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6
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95
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90
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| 9
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6
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90
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85
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| -
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5
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100
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95
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Plywood
1/4" Birch
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Engrave Power
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Result
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| 25
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90
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85
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cuts through well, but close. Lower speed 5 if you want a 100% successful cut.
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| 300
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20
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15
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very nice engrave, no burn marks
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| 10
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35
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30
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clean cut, very little burn
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1/4" Oak
| Image Key
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Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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| 1
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25
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100
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95
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| 2
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25
|
95
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90
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| 3
|
25
|
90
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85
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| 4
|
20
|
100
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95
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| 5
|
20
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95
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90
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| 6
|
20
|
90
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85
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| 7
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15
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100
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95
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| 8
|
15
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95
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90
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| 9
|
15
|
90
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85
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| 10
|
10
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100
|
95
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Masonite
Cut
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Other flags
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Results
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| 70
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25
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22
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Nice cut about halfway through
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| 15
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50
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45
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Cuts all the way through but just barely
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| 15
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60
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55
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Cuts all the way through but a bit smokey on the outside edges
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Paper
110 lb Card Stock
Cut
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Other flags
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Results
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| 100
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25
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20
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Cut Through, burned the corners a bit
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| 150
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25
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20
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Barely cut through, nice clean edges. Corners still burnt
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| 175
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25
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10
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Think perforated tear lines, corners STILL scorched.
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| 145
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25
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14
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-
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| 135
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35
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25
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Cuts two sheets at the same time.
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Engrave
| Speed
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Power
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Scan gap
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Other flags
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Results
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|
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Yogi Bear Printer Paper
Cut
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Other flags
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Results
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| 200
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20
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12
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Cut Through, burned the corners a bit
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| 200
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15
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10
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Barely cut through, perforated edges on the long cuts, corner power was perfect
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Engrave
| Speed
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Power
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Scan gap
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Other flags
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Results
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|
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Yupo (synthetic paper - polypropylene)
Cut
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Results
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| 200
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96
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30
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Cuts well.
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Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard (Rendezvous boxes)
Cut
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Other flags
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Results
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| 75
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10
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8
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Nothing
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| 75
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15
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12
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Nice engraved line, corners very slightly darker
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| 75
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20
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16
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Top layer cut only, corners slightly more. Tiny pinhole at one corner through the back layer
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| 75
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25
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22
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Top layer cut, bottom layer corners only
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| 70
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25
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22
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Top layer cut, bottom layer not cut
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| 30
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35
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30
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Worked well, cut all the way through.
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Engrave
| Speed
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Power
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Scan gap
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Other flags
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Results
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| 300
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31
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0.03
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Bidir/Blow
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Top layer gone, bottom layer blackened
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| 600
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31
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"
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"
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Burns through top layer; 50% halftone only darkens
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| 1000
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31
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"
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"
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Top layer becomes like netting. 50% halftone is not much darker than 0% areas.
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Probably a lower power is needed. Burning through the top layer isn't good - any unburned portions are not held on by much. Corrugated cardboard probably is not the best material for rastering.
Cereal Boxes
Cut
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Type of cereal
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Result
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| 100
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40
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40
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Kellogg's Cinnabon
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Sharp cut, no charring.
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Engrave
| Speed
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Power
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Scan gap
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Other flags
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Type of cereal
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Results
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| 500
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31
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0.03
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Bidir/Blow
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Kellogg's Cinnabon
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Great for small details (e.g. text), but burns through for large regions.
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| 500
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25
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"
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"
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Kellogg's Cinnabon
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Maybe cuts too thin; contrast with 50% halftone areas is not good.
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| 500
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20
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"
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"
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Kellogg's Cinnabon
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Darkens well but still leaves plenty of material. Good contrast with 50% halftone.
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Engraved cereal-box cardboard benefits from being blown off after cutting.
Pro tip: Engrave first, then cut. Wobbly cardboard doesn't raster well.
Acrylic
Printer Transparency
Cut
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Other flags
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Results
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| 200
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15
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10
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Perforated edges, small details are melty
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| 150
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25
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20
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Barely cut through, nice clean edges. Corners still burnt
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Engrave
| Speed
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Power
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Scan gap
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Other flags
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Results
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|
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1/10"
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Engrave Power
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Result
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| 25
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70
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65
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Cuts Through
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| 300
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25
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Engraves about 1/16 of an inch, leaves 'shadows' on the plastic.
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0.340"
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Engrave Power
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Result
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| 3
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100
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95
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Cuts Through
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| 5
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100
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95
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Deep gash, does not cut through.
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3mm
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Engrave Power
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Result
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| 19
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80
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75
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(Almost) Cuts Through
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| 10
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99
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95
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Definitely Cuts Through
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| 35
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65
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35
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Makes a good etch/engrave - doesn't cut through
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1/2"
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Engrave Power
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Result
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| 4
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90
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90
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(Almost) Cuts Through
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| 4
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95
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92
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Definitely Cuts Through
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Black acrylic heats up and there is a slight melting/warp at the exit edge. Not sure how to prevent this.
Linoleum Blocks
Make very, very certain that you have real Linoleum and not some knockoff made from PVC or the like.
Speedball Linoleum Block (3mm thick Linoleum)
| Speed
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Power
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Corner Power
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Engrave Power
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Result
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| 500
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60
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0.56 mm of cut
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| 500
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|
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80
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0.84 mm of cut
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| 300
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|
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80
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1.18 mm of cut
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| 200
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|
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80
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1.64 mm of cut
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| 150
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|
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100
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2.35 mm to 3 mm of cut
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Leather
Moistening the leather with a sponge prior to cutting will lessen scorch marks. Running a through-cut as a separate job (so the leather can be re-moistened) is also suggested.
2-3 oz
Settings for a cut through with minimal charring are 50 Speed / 75 Power / 0 Corner Power
(Note: All engraving was done at 500 speed.)
5-6 oz
(Note: All engraving was done at 500 speed.)
Fabric
Cotton blend with thick interfacing
| Speed
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Power
|
Corner Power
|
Engrave Power
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Result
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| 80
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30
|
25
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Clean cut
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(Note: All engraving was done at 500 speed.)