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 Whether you are an accomplished engineer or a novice maker, learning the proper uses of laser cutting/engraving equipment to avoid pitfalls and mistakes takes time and experience. Here’s a rundown on some of the most common mistakes when it comes to cutting/engraving and ways to avoid them.
Burning Through Fabric
· Heartier fabrics can withstand higher power settings - denim, canvas and leather are very durable fabrics.
· Delicate fabrics require a high speed (100%) and low power (5-10%).
· Lower the DPI - Most fabric engravings do fine at 150 to 300 DPI.
 Inconsistent Results on Glass
To produce a smooth frosted finish on glass, try incorporating one or several of the tips below:
· Use a lower resolution - 300 DPI. The laser will produce a better result on glass as you separate the dots you are engraving.
· Change the black in your graphic to 80% black.
· Some operators apply a thin coat of liquid dish soap to the engraving area to dissipate the heat of the laser.
· If any shards remain, polish the area with a non-scratch scour pad.
Laser Isn’t Performing as Fast Anymore
Clean your machine! Much like other types of design equipment, a clean machine produces better results. If a drop in performance happens quickly, checking and cleaning the optics may be the first step in correcting the problem.
We recommend inspecting the optics in the laser (the lenses and mirrors) weekly and cleaning as needed. If you’re cutting materials that produce more residue, like wood or acrylic, you may find your optics need to be cleaned more frequently. Optics are typically are clear-gold in color and are bright and shiny. If yours are cloudy or have smudges or debris, it’s time to clean them.
Happy lasering!
Editor's note: This post is sponsored by Epilog Laser.
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