The wood laser cutting machine is a laser machine that engraves and cuts wood using a CO2 laser source to create 2D or 3D crafts. It uses a CNC system to control the machine to engrave and cut wood. It is easy to operate and you only need a few steps to complete a woodworking project.

Although the operation of a wood laser cutting machine is very simple, there are still many things to keep in mind for beginners of laser machines. This article provides you with a guide to using a laser wood cutting machine, which will hopefully help you to operate the machine.

Since laser cutting wood uses laser energy to melt the wood, blackening will occur during the cutting process. Usually, cutting wood below 5mm thickness will not blacken too much. However, when cutting wood boards thicker than 5mm, improper operation will cause serious blackening. For this problem, you can avoid laser cutting wood blackening by the following methods

1. Set ideal cutting parameters

Use high speed and low power when laser cutting. It should be noted that it is not always the faster the cutting speed the better, the lower the power the better. Because the faster the speed, the lower the power, it will be more difficult to cut into. If the cut is not ideal and several cuts are required, the carbonization and blackening will be more serious. So the first thing is to ensure a successful cut.

According to our cutting tests, faster speed is more important than lower power. So you can try to get the lowest power at the fastest cutting speed, and this is the ideal cutting parameter. Of course, this needs to be tested by the user according to the cutting material and the specific cutting thickness to get the best value.

2. Use of auxiliary gas

Another important factor to avoid blackening of laser cut wood is blowing air. Compressed air is directed through the nozzle into the cutting gap, which allows dust and heat to be removed more quickly. In addition to preventing wood blackening, the auxiliary gas also reduces the risk of burning the wood using CO2 laser cutting. As you gain more experience with wood laser cutting machines, you will learn through trial and error how to use air assist to get the best cutting results.

3. Adjust the laser focus

You can switch the settings on the laser machine to manual and then exit the laser focus. Manually adjust the laser focus so that it is slightly narrower. A more diffuse laser will reduce the amount of smoke produced while still providing enough energy to engrave or cut your woodworking project.

The above methods will help you get the cleanest cut edge possible when cutting wood. In addition to taking the approach during the cutting process, you can also avoid the problem of laser cut blackening by choosing a more suitable wood. For example, softer woods with simple grain patterns are often better suited for laser cutters.

Laser cutting machines for wood use non-contact cutting, which minimizes cutting distortion. And the laser-cut wood has smooth burr-free edges, eliminating the need for post-sanding and reducing labor time. Even if you end up with marks on the finished product when laser cutting wood, there is no need to worry unduly. In most laser cut wood projects, leaving a brown or amber color on the edges will not ruin these projects.