Birch, maple, cherry, mahogany, walnut, and oak are beautiful materials to work with and are favorites for laser cutters. They require more powerful lasers because of their density, but thick sheets can still be cut with the right power.

What type of wood is best for laser cutting?

Two types of plywood that are good for laser cutting are birch and bamboo laser plywood. Like maple and cherry, birch is a dense but easy-to-use hardwood that’s readily available. It’s great for beginners looking to get into laser cutting because it cuts smoothly and reliably.

Can all wood be laser cut?





With the Rayjet you can engrave and cut just about all natural wood and laminated wood types up to a thickness of 6 mm. Most often plywood and MDF are used for laser processing due to their uniform surface.



Which wood types can be cut with the Rayjet laser?

​Solid wood
Eucalyptus ​ ​Walnut

What materials are suitable for laser cutting?

Safe Materials



The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. Etching can be done on almost anything, wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, marble, stone, tile, and glass.

What wood can you laser engrave?

Both hardwoods and softwoods have the ability to engrave really well, however, choosing a non-porous wood would be best for a 3D engraving and usually has a better cut quality. Some examples of ideal wood types for laser engraving are maple, cherry, birch and select white pines.

Is plywood good for laser cutting?

Plywood is great for laser marking and engraving because of the light and clean surface. It’s also great for assembly projects because of its lightweight material, and it has a relatively low chance of snapping.

Is pine plywood good for laser cutting?





Most commonly sourced from Queensland plantations, Hoop Pine Plywood has made a reputation for being the Rolls-Royce of the Marine Plywood industry. Despite its traditional uses, it’s made the switch to laser cutting with aplomb.

What materials Cannot be laser cut?

Unsafe Material for Laser Cutter

Material: Danger:
PVC (Poly VinylChloride) /vinyl/pleather/artificial leather Emits pure chlorine gas when cut!
ABS Emits cyanide gas and tends to melt
Thick ( >1mm ) Polycarbonate/Lexan Cut very poorly, discolor,catch fire
HDPE/milk bottle plastic Catches fire and melts

What are the disadvantages of a laser cutter?

Disadvantages of Laser Cutting Process

  • Laser cutting demands high power consumption as compared to other techniques.
  • The laser beam is very delicate to handle. …
  • The laser beam is harmful if it comes in contact with human workers. …
  • Laser cutting is still not capable of cutting thick metals.

How thick of plywood can a laser cutter cut?

Laser cutting involves cutting the material with a powerful and precise laser, which focuses on a small area of material and can cut a thickness of up to 15 mm.

Is maple good for laser engraving?



Maple – This is an excellent wood for engraving photos. It has light streaking, burns dark most of the time, and is light in color.

What’s the best wood to engrave?

Top 10 Woods for Engraving

  • Walnut. …
  • Oak. …
  • Plywood. …
  • Pinewood. …
  • Maple. …
  • Cherry Wood. …
  • Alder. …
  • Engineered Wood. This type of wood lacks any form of grain and is therefore very suitable for Laser Engraving.

How do you prepare wood for laser engraving?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You can also try sanding but sandy can actually lose a lot of the details or break some of these little bits.

How do you prepare wood for laser engraving?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You can also try sanding but sandy can actually lose a lot of the details or break some of these little bits.

What type of wood can you cut with Glowforge?

The Glowforge can cut leathers, paper, acrylics, mylar, fiberglass, Corian, wood, MDF, fabric, sandpaper, cork, rubber, and food.

Is poplar wood good for laser cutting?

These types of wood, such as balsa wood or poplar, require a lower laser power level and can be engraved and cut faster. Engraving produces less contrast (it is lighter). These types of wood, such as oak or cherry, are examples of dense woods, which require a higher laser power level for cutting and engraving.