Tips for laser cutting wood 

Here is some questions about laser cutting wood

Does the wood burn during laser cutting ?

Yes. Wood lasering is a sublimation process. However, this is not bad and very often actually desirable. Accurate focusing, selection of the appropriate parameters, use of suitable optics and supply of compressed air allow cutting and engraving of the highest quality.

Can any type of wood be processed with the laser?

Since wood is a natural material, the laser user must consider a number of parameters such as the density and the resin content of the wood for the processing. Soft woods, e.g. balsa, require less laser power and can be cut more quickly. Hardwood, as an example of dense wood, on the other hand requires more laser power. For MDF, which consists of glued wood fibers, Triumphlaser recommends using compressed air.

Will the laser engraving always become dark?

The brownish-colored laser engraving is well known. When processing varnished wood, with the appropriate laser settings you can also achieve a white engraving. Here we recommend very low power at high speed.

How to achieve a particularly dark engraving?

By defocussing the laser beam – about 0.5 to 2 mm – the laser spot becomes larger. The power density is thus reduced. With this beam, you get a particularly dark laser engraving. Details may be lost. Simply try this method!

There is smoke in the processing area. What to do?

Laser processing of wood is a sublimation process. I.e., the solid material is converted directly into gaseous state through combustion.