The finest details define the finest work. In woodworking, precision is everything. Whether you are cutting signage or engraving photos, the tiny details increase the quality of the final result. An ideal wood laser cutter can help you achieve this.
In the 2024 laser market, finding a suitable wood laser cutter might be challenging. To overcome these challenges, you should have some basic knowledge about laser cutter. What is it? How does it work on wood? Do you need to cut, engrave, or etch? How much laser power is needed for which wood?
Rest assured that this guide will cover everything about wood laser cutter.
Part 1. An Overview of Laser Cutter
1. What Is a Laser Cutter?
A laser cutter is a versatile tool for cutting different materials using laser beams. Unlike mechanical methods, laser cutting is a non-contact technique, which not only reduces wear and tear but also increases precision. Besides, laser cutting can achieve high tolerances up to ±0.01 mm. This level of accuracy is impossible with other traditional methods, like plasma cutting or water jet cutting.
Furthermore, laser cutters are fast and efficient. They can complete a project within a few minutes. Most laser cutters come with CNC technology that helps move the laser gun automatically along the programmed path. Such automation greatly enchances productivity and efficiency.
Laser cutters are also safe and easy to operate. However, we always recommend wearing safety goggles during operations to ensure protection from potential hazards.
2. Types of Laser Cutters
Laser cutters are widely popular in many industries. Based on their laser sources, they are mainly classified into three categories. This diversity generally arises due to the need for various types of products.
- CO2 Laser Cutters: These machines use a gas mixture as the laser medium. Versatile and known for their precision, CO2 laser cutters are widely used for non-metal materials such as wood, acrylic, plastic, and leather.
- Fiber Laser Cutters: In these machines, several diodes first generate the laser beams, which are then combined in a fiber optic cable. Known for their efficiency and speed, fiber laser cutters excel at high-precision tasks in industrial settings, especially where metal cutting and marking are required.
- Diode Laser Cutters: Several diodes create laser beams, which are amplified and focused on the object's surface. These machines are the simplest and ideal for cutting or engraving non-metals.
3. How Does a Laser Cutter Work?
A laser cutter first produces the laser beam inside the laser source. The process of making the laser beam may vary between different laser types. Then, these laser beams accumulate and reach the laser gun. While traveling to the laser gun, these laser beams are further amplified.
A laser gun travels in multiple axes, most commonly two axes. The automated laser cutting machine typically utilizes CNC technology. CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. When you insert the design into the controller, it will automatically decide the cutting paths. Later, when you begin the process, the laser gun follows this path.
However, the highly focused laser beam creates a rapid temperature rise when it hits the object's surface. The material in the affected area evaporates quickly, forming a trench. Some laser machines can cut the whole thickness in a single pass. This way, the laser gun moves along the designated path and cuts the object into the desired shape.
Some factors are critical here. Laser power, wavelength, speed, and frequency directly affect cutting quality. So, ensure the laser settings are correct before starting the main work. However, you can get this information from the respective manufacturers.
4. What Materials Can a Laser Cutter Cut?
Laser cutters are versatile. You can cut almost anything, like wood, metal, plastics, paper, or glass. In this case, the types of lasers matter a lot. For example, fiber lasers are suitable for cutting metals, glass, and plastics. CO2 and diode lasers are ideal for cutting non-metals, like wood and leather.
Part 2. Can You Cut Wood with a Laser Cutter?
Engraving on wood is famous nowadays. Signs, decorations, hardback books, gifts, and other things can all be made with laser cutting. That's right. A laser cutter can cut wood. It is possible to work with many different types of wood, like plywood and MDF.
A wood laser cutter offers precise cuts and clean edges. It is fast and efficient, and unlike tiring traditional woodworking methods, it is straightforward to use like a plug-and-play thing.
But there might be some risks of burn marks, especially for thicker wood. Also, lasers behave differently on various types of wood. For example, softwood needs less power, while hardwood needs more.
Part 3. What to Look for When Buying a Wood Laser Cutter?
A wood laser cutter that fits your business can bring you high productivity. It can also ensure the quickest possible ROI (return on investment). Thus, when selecting a wood laser cutter, consider the following factors:
1. Price
The type of wood laser cutters significantly varies in price. CO2 wood laser cutters are more expensive than diode wood laser cutters. In this case, balancing the cost with the features you need for your project is a wise step. Also, you can consider the long-term value with ROI in mind.
2. Wood Type
The type of wood laser cutters also varies according to the wood type. As always, hardwood needs high laser powers. Some woods, like maple, birch, or oak, are hardwoods that some laser cutters can not handle. Therefore, check whether the laser cutter can handle all types of wood.
3. Laser Power
Laser power is the most crucial factor to consider in this selection process. Therefore, check the laser power carefully. Note that, to cut most woods, including hard and soft woods, a laser power between 35W and 150W is usually enough for small-scale works.
4. Workspace
Choose a laser wood engraver that fits the size of your project. Even though your products might be small, a larger workspace allows you to cut more pieces at a time. For high-volume orders, you can choose the larger workspace.
5. Safety Features
As you know, wood is more prone to catch fires. Therefore, when choosing a wood laser cutter, always focus on its safety features. Look for emergency stop buttons, safety interlocks, and protective shields.
For laser sources, observe the cooling system. It heavily affects the overall safety of your project.
6. Software Compatibility
Check whether the wood laser cutter is compatible with popular design software. Does it support popular software like LightBurn or LaserGRBL?
Software compatibility is crucial because it controls your wood laser cutter. If the software is incompatible, the controller won't support many configurations, and you won't get satisfactory results.
7. Maintenance
Regular maintenance is always necessary for long-lasting service life. Therefore, choose a wood laser cutter that supports easy access to different parts. In this case, portability matters a lot. Hence, diode laser cutters are easy to maintain and repair.
8. Warranty
A good warranty provides peace of mind and technically increases the brand's reliability. Most manufacturers give a guarantee of 1 to 2 years. Always read the terms and conditions to understand what is included in the warranty.
9. Customer Support
Finally, check how helpful the manufacturer's customer support is. You might need assistance during setup, maintenance, and repair. Good customer support will save you valuable time and professional costs. Therefore, choose a wood laser cutter brand that offers reliable customer service.
Part 4. The Best Laser Engraver for Wood
Are you looking for an exceptional wood laser cutter? Then AtomStack A70 Max Laser Cutter is absolutely something you cannot miss. As the world's first 70W desktop diode laser cutter and one of the best laser engravers for wood on the market, the AtomStack A70 Max helps you cut thicker materials faster.
Let's explore what makes this laser cutter the best option:
- 35W/70W Switchable Laser Power
- Exceptionally 850*800MM Large Working Area
- 400mm/s High Productivity & 0.01mm Engraving Accuracy
- Built-in Screen Controller and Intelligent Air Assist
- User-Friendly One-Button Operation
- Comprehensive Safety Protections
- Compatibility With Software of All Levels
Part 5. Tips for Working with a Wood Laser Cutter
Tip 1: Optimal Laser Settings
As pointed out earlier, lasers act differently on different woods. Hence, laser settings should be varied depending on the woods used to get the best results. Adjusting laser settings reduces the chances of burning and guarantees sleek cutting.
Tip 2: Proper Wood Selection
Choose the correct type of wood for the project. For example, Paulownia has low density, which makes this wood lighter and easier to cut with laser cutting. On the other hand, Maple, Oak, and Birch are all hardwoods, while cherry and basswood are among the soft ones. Cherrywood is famous for its rich color. However, experts recommend avoiding woods with many knots and resins since they interfere with lasers.
Tip 3: Burn Marks Prevention
One of the best tips for working with wood is using masking tape. It dramatically helps prevent burn marks during laser cutting.
Tip 4: Cut Test
Test cuts ensure that the given laser settings are optimal for your project. By doing so, you can identify and correct any issues with laser settings, eventually saving material costs.
Conclusion
A wood laser cutter is a tool for cutting different types of wood. CO2 lasers and diode lasers are widely used for engraving on wood. However, diode lasers are a preferred option nowadays because they are cheap and easy to use.
AtomStack A70 Max Laser Cutter is the best laser engraver for wood. This device has many incredible features which make it one of the best laser engravers for wood.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. Our team of experts is always happy to help.
