I want to purchase a Chinese Laser engraver/cutter but can't figure out how much power I need. The projects of interest include RC boats, cars & planes made from hobby balsa, basswood and birch plywood up to about 1/4 inch thick. I see some posts that claim you can cut 1/4" wood with as little as 2 watts! Others say much more is needed. I suspect that cutting wood that thick with 2W would require multiple passes.
The real question I need answered is how much power does it take to cut 1/4" birch plywood or basswood in a single pass. That should tell me how much power I need.
I will give you one tip extra: on low power machines cut will be slow and char on cut is a strong. So strong- it is a hard to paint/glue it later. Using sandpaper does not solve problem, as it is not only on surface, is carbonated bit deeper. Probably It can be challenge to use such elements.
P.S. I tested cut 22mm spruce board on 80W laser, but char was bad. On ply/mdf is even worse. 80-100W should be ok for 1/4" birch laser ply I suppose.
I will look for an 80W machine in the smallest format I can find. (space limitations).
Most of what I cut will be thinner than 1/4" and when I do use the larger stuff it will be for framing the boats and that won't be visible or have critical cuts.
hi
yes so the lowest I can go on a 130w is 12secs at 25% power and with little burning so an 80 w will cut but as abyss says the burning will be heavier
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What exactly can 40W laser cut?
