Contents
Most CO2 laser cutting guides give you one speed per material and power level. In practice there are always two: the fastest speed at which the laser still cuts through, and the slower speed that produces a cleaner, more consistent result. That distinction - and understanding why it matters - is more useful than any single number.
This guide covers reference cutting parameters for acrylic, wood, MDF, leather, rubber, paper, cloth and two-color board across six CO2 power levels from 40W to 150W. All values come from GWEIKE production tests at 90% laser power output. They are starting points, not fixed standards - your specific material batch, tube age, optical alignment, and ventilation conditions will influence where the optimal settings land for your setup.
High Speed vs Best Speed
Every entry in the parameter tables includes two speed values. Understanding what each represents helps you choose the right starting point.
Maximum throughput
- Definition: Fastest feed rate at which the laser still cuts through in a single pass
- Edge result: Cut goes through, but edge may show roughness, slight charring, or a wider kerf
- Use when: Back-side cuts, hidden edges, prototypes, or when throughput matters more than appearance
- Risk: Near the operating limit - tube condition or alignment changes can cause incomplete cuts
Quality-optimized
- Definition: A slower setting that produces a cleaner, more consistent edge with less charring
- Edge result: Cleaner face, tighter kerf, more uniform appearance - especially visible on acrylic
- Use when: Visible surfaces, display work, acrylic signage, or when edge quality is inspected
- Relationship: Typically around 65-75% of the high speed value for the same material and power
Three Setup Variables That Affect Every Cut
Parameter tables give you speed. But three setup variables determine whether those speeds produce the results you expect.
Focal length selection
Short focal length for thin, soft materials. Concentrates energy at the surface. Recommended with 60W-100W tube and small air compressor.
The default for most non-metal materials including acrylic up to ~10mm, wood, MDF, rubber, paper, two-color board and PVC.
Longer focal depth keeps the beam narrow through thick material. For acrylic above 10mm and knife template cutting (15-20mm) where kerf consistency is critical.
Airflow direction for acrylic
For acrylic cutting, airflow direction has a direct impact on edge quality. Reducing top-surface air pressure and using side-blow or directed airflow is recommended. Strong downward blowing from above cools the molten acrylic edge unevenly, creating micro-fractures or a cloudy appearance instead of the smooth result that a correctly set acrylic cut produces.
Bottom airflow is not optional - it serves a safety function. Without airflow below the material, combustion gases and fine debris accumulate under the workpiece and can ignite. Ensure the cutting bed allows adequate ventilation beneath the material at all times when cutting any combustible non-metal.
Power percentage and tube condition
All speed values in this guide were obtained at 90% laser power output. Running a CO2 glass laser tube at 100% continuously accelerates tube degradation. At 90%, the tube operates within a more sustainable range while delivering near-full cutting performance.
As the laser tube ages, its peak output at any given percentage setting decreases. If a previously reliable parameter is no longer cutting cleanly, check whether tube output has dropped before changing the parameter table values. Dirty optics, misaligned mirrors, or a degraded focus lens all reduce effective power at the workpiece. Always eliminate these factors before increasing power or reducing speed.
Acrylic Cutting Parameters
Acrylic is the material where the gap between high speed and best speed matters most. A clean acrylic cut should produce a smooth, slightly glossy edge. Achieving this consistently requires the right combination of speed, power, airflow and focal length for your specific material grade and thickness.
Cast acrylic (GS) and extruded acrylic (XT) respond differently to laser cutting. Cast acrylic tends to produce better edge quality and is recommended where edge appearance is critical. Extruded acrylic may require lower speed or reduced power percentage to achieve comparable results. Verify on your specific grade before production.
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| Thickness | 40W High | 40W Best | 60W High | 60W Best | 80W High | 80W Best | 100W High | 100W Best | 130W High | 130W Best | 150W High | 150W Best | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 15 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 25 | 35 | 30 | 40 | 35 | ||
| 5 mm | 8 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 15 | ||
| 8 mm | - | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 10 | |||
| 10 mm | - | 6 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 7 | |||||
| 15 mm | - | 3 | 1.5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 4 | |||||
| 20 mm | - | 2 | 0.7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1.5 | |||||||
| 25 mm | - | 1 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | |||||||||
| 30 mm | Not achievable with these power levels | |||||||||||||
At 8mm and above, switch to a 100mm+ focal length lens. At 20mm and 25mm, best speed is very slow (0.4-1.5 mm/s) - ensure material is secured and bottom ventilation is clear before running. 60W at 8mm: only high speed tested (3 mm/s) - no best speed data for this combination.
Knife template acrylic (die-cutting applications)
Knife template cutting uses thick acrylic (15-20mm) as a base for steel rule dies. Kerf width consistency from top to bottom directly affects whether the steel rule blade seats correctly. A 100mm+ focal length lens and high airflow through a small outlet nozzle (higher pressure per unit area) are both important for accurate knife-stitch results.
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| Thickness | High speed (mm/s) | Best speed (mm/s) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 mm | 6 | 4.5 |
| 18 mm | 4 | 2.5 |
| 20 mm | 2.5 | 1.8 |
Knife template cutting at these thicknesses requires 150W - lower power levels do not achieve reliable single-pass penetration. Verify kerf width on a test cut and adjust focal point position if top and bottom kerf widths differ significantly.
Wood and MDF Cutting Parameters
Wood and MDF respond differently to airflow. For standard wooden board, higher airflow directly assists the cutting process by expelling combustion gases and debris from the kerf. For MDF, airflow must be controlled - too much air pressure scatters fine MDF dust within the kerf and affects cut quality. Adjust air pressure for MDF until cuts are clean without excess debris disturbance, rather than running at maximum pressure.
The parameters below apply to softwoods and common hardwoods at normal density. Dense or resinous hardwoods may require 20-30% speed reduction. Tropical hardwoods or woods with high resin content should be tested carefully - they can produce more smoke and may require slower speeds than common pine or MDF equivalents.
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| Thickness | 40W H | 40W B | 60W H | 60W B | 80W H | 80W B | 100W H | 100W B | 130W H | 130W B | 150W H | 150W B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 6 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 20 | 18 | 25 | 22 | 30 | 28 | 35 | 33 |
| 5 mm | 3 | - | 10 | 8 | 15 | 10 | 20 | 18 | 25 | 22 | 30 | 28 |
| 10 mm | - | 4 | - | 8 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 14 | |
| 12 mm | - | - | 4 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 13 | ||||
H = high speed, B = best speed. The 10mm wood entry at 100W shows best speed (10) higher than high speed (8) - this is a data inconsistency in the source material. Treat both as a reference range and verify on test material. 40W at 5mm wood: only high speed tested (3 mm/s), no best speed data available.
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| Thickness | 40W H | 40W B | 60W H | 60W B | 80W H | 80W B | 100W H | 100W B | 130W H | 130W B | 150W H | 150W B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 9 | 7 | 15 | 12 | 20 | 15 | 23 | 18 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 25 |
| 5 mm | 5 | 3.5 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 18 |
| 10 mm | - | 3 | - | 5 | 3.5 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 6.5 | 12 | 9 | |
| 15 mm | - | 2.5 | - | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5.5 | |||||
| 18 mm | - | 4 | - | |||||||||
Some MDF entries have no best speed value where testing was limited to a single data point. 18mm MDF at 150W is near the practical limit for single-pass cutting - result consistency depends heavily on board density and moisture content.
Other Non-Metal Materials
Leather (single layer, approximately 2mm)
Use a 50mm focal length lens with a 60W-100W laser tube and small air compressor. For detailed parameters covering leather, suede, felt and synthetic materials, see the Fabric and Leather Laser Cutting Guide.
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| Material | 40W H | 40W B | 60W H | 60W B | 80W H | 80W B | 100W H | 100W B | 130W H | 130W B | 150W H | 150W B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leather (2mm) | 15 | 12 | 40 | 35 | 45 | 40 | 50 | 45 | 60 | 55 | 65 | 60 |
Cloth / Fabric (single layer, 50mm focal lens)
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| Material | 40W H | 40W B | 60W H | 60W B | 80W H | 80W B | 100W H | 100W B | 130W H | 130W B | 150W H | 150W B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloth (single layer) | 40 | 38 | 60 | 58 | 100 | 98 | 200 | 150 | 300 | 150 | 350 | 150 |
At 130W and above, best speed plateaus at 150 mm/s - higher speeds cause fraying rather than clean cuts.
Two-color board (2mm, 63.5mm lens, power 50-70%)
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| Thickness | 40W H | 40W B | 60W H | 60W B | 80W H | 80W B | 100W H | 100W B | 130W H | 130W B | 150W H | 150W B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mm | 15 | 13 | 25 | 20 | 35 | 30 | 40 | 35 | 45 | 40 | 55 | 50 |
Rubber board (surface cutting, 63.5mm lens)
Rubber parameters are for surface cutting - the laser penetrates the surface layer only. The cut depth noted in brackets is approximate cut depth, not total material thickness.
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| Thickness (cut depth) | 40W H | 40W B | 60W H | 60W B | 80W H | 80W B | 100W H | 100W B | 130W H | 130W B | 150W H | 150W B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4mm board (~1mm depth) | 10 | 5 | 15 | 8 | 20 | 23 | 30 | 27 | 35 | 33 | 40 | 38 |
| 6mm board (~2mm depth) | - | 10 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 9 | 20 | 15 | 25 | 20 | |
The 80W entry for 4mm rubber shows best speed (23) higher than high speed (20) - this is a data inconsistency in the source. Treat as a reference range and verify on test material.
Paper (single layer, 63.5mm lens)
A key note for paper: the higher the rated power of your laser tube, the lower the power percentage you should set. For 100W and above machines, paper cutting may work better at 50-65% power rather than the standard 90% used for other materials. Reduce power percentage and use speed to control cut quality.
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| Material | 40W H | 40W B | 60W H | 60W B | 80W H | 80W B | 100W H | 100W B | 130W H | 130W B | 150W H | 150W B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper (single layer) | 80 | 40 | 200 | 40 | 300 | 150 | 350 | 150 | 350 | 150 | 400 | 150 |
The wide high-speed to best-speed gap (e.g., 200 vs 40 mm/s at 60W) reflects paper's sensitivity to laser energy. Best speed gives more reliable clean cuts for intricate designs.
PVC - Safety Warning
When PVC is laser cut, it releases hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas - a corrosive and toxic fume. HCl attacks the machine's optical components and frame over time, and presents a respiratory hazard to operators. Standard CO2 laser extraction systems are not designed to handle HCl safely.
Reference speeds from the source data are provided below for completeness. They apply only to fully enclosed metal-body machines with HCl-rated extraction, verified ventilation meeting local safety standards, and appropriate operator PPE. Do not cut PVC unless your setup meets these requirements.
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| Thickness | 40W H | 40W B | 60W H | 60W B | 80W H | 80W B | 100W H | 100W B | 130W H | 130W B | 150W H | 150W B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mm | 35 | 32 | 50 | 45 | 60 | 58 | 70 | 68 | 80 | 78 | 90 | 88 |
| 3 mm | 30 | 27 | 40 | 38 | 50 | 48 | 60 | 58 | 70 | 68 | 80 | 78 |
| 4 mm | 25 | 20 | 35 | 30 | 45 | 40 | 55 | 50 | 65 | 63 | 75 | 73 |
Power Scaling: Diminishing Returns
A common assumption when selecting machine power is that doubling the wattage doubles the cutting speed. The data shows this is only roughly true at the lower power range, and returns diminish significantly as power increases.
Using 3mm acrylic best speed as a reference point:
| Power | Best speed (mm/s) | Speed gain vs previous | Power increase vs previous | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40W | 10 | - | - | Baseline |
| 60W | 15 | +50% | +50% | 1:1 - efficient |
| 80W | 20 | +33% | +33% | 1:1 - efficient |
| 100W | 25 | +25% | +25% | Still fair |
| 130W | 30 | +20% | +30% | Diminishing |
| 150W | 35 | +17% | +15% | Diminishing |
The practical implication: the upgrade from 40W to 60W or 60W to 80W delivers the highest speed gain per additional watt. Higher power primarily pays off when cutting material thicknesses that lower-powered machines cannot reach - particularly acrylic above 15mm. For most shops cutting 3-10mm acrylic and wood at standard production speeds, 80W to 100W is typically the practical sweet spot.
Metal Cutting: Special Note
The source data includes parameters for thin iron plate and stainless steel at 150W only, both requiring oxygen assist at 1 MPa. These do not apply to a standard CO2 laser machine used for acrylic and wood. A machine set up for non-metal air-assist cutting cannot be safely or effectively switched to oxygen-assist metal cutting without dedicated configuration changes.
For reference, 150W stainless steel parameters with oxygen assist at 1 MPa:
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| Thickness (SS) | High speed (mm/s) | Best speed (mm/s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 mm | 35 | 30 |
| 1.2 mm | 25 | 15 |
| 1.5 mm | 15 | 8 |
| 2.0 mm | Not achievable | |
Iron plate: 150W + oxygen assist cuts 2mm at 8 mm/s (high) / 6 mm/s (best). 3mm iron is not achievable. For regular metal cutting, a fiber laser is the appropriate solution. See the Fiber Laser Cutting Parameters Guide.
Troubleshooting
Acrylic edge is cloudy or frosted, not clear
Likely cause: Top-surface airflow is hitting the molten acrylic edge and cooling it unevenly before it resolidifies.
Fix: Reduce top-surface air pressure. Switch to side-blow configuration if your nozzle supports it. Ensure bottom ventilation is adequate. If edge clarity remains poor, reduce speed to best speed or 10-15% below, and verify focal point is correctly positioned at the material surface.
Cut does not go all the way through
Likely cause: Speed too high for current power and material, or effective laser power is lower than expected due to tube aging, dirty optics, or mirror misalignment.
Fix: Reduce speed by 15-20% and retest. If the problem persists, clean the cutting lens and check mirror alignment before changing any power settings. If the tube has logged many hours, have output power verified before assuming the parameter table is wrong.
Excessive charring on wood or MDF edges
Likely cause: Speed too slow relative to power, or power percentage too high for the material and thickness.
Fix: Increase speed toward the high speed value. If already at high speed, reduce power percentage by 5-10% and increase speed proportionally. For MDF, also verify air pressure is not excessive - too much airflow can cause secondary ignition from scattered dust and uneven char.
Paper cuts are inconsistent - some areas connected, others over-cut
Likely cause: Power percentage too high for the machine wattage; too much energy deposited per unit length for intricate designs.
Fix: Reduce power percentage to 50-65% for 100W+ machines cutting paper. Then set speed to best speed and test the specific design at lower power before optimizing further.
Acrylic cuts at 15-20mm show tapered kerf (wider at top than bottom)
Likely cause: Using a 63.5mm focal length lens instead of a 100mm+ lens at these thicknesses. The beam diverges over the full cut depth, widening the kerf toward the bottom.
Fix: Switch to a 100mm or longer focal length lens. Also adjust the focal point to approximately the midpoint of the material thickness - for 20mm acrylic, set focus approximately 10mm below the top surface and verify kerf width at top and bottom of a test cut.
Need starting parameters for your specific material?
The values in this guide are starting points tested on GWEIKE CO2 systems under controlled conditions. If you are working with an unusual material, a thickness combination not covered here, or a tight edge-quality requirement, our team can suggest starting parameters or help identify a suitable machine configuration.
Helpful to include: material type and grade, thickness, target edge quality (functional vs aesthetic), machine rated power, lens focal length, and approximate production volume.
FAQ
What is the difference between high speed and best speed in CO2 laser cutting?
High speed is the fastest feed rate at which the laser still cuts through in a single pass - the edge may be rougher or show more charring. Best speed is a slower setting that produces a cleaner, more consistent edge. For visible surfaces and quality-critical applications, start at best speed. Both are reference values - verify on your material before production.
Why are all the speed values based on 90% laser power?
Running a CO2 glass laser tube at 100% power continuously accelerates tube degradation. The values in this guide were obtained at 90% power output - a production setting that balances cutting performance with tube longevity. If your machine runs at a lower percentage, reduce speed proportionally. If your tube is aging, you may need to reduce speed further to maintain cut-through.
What focal length lens should I use for cutting thick acrylic?
For acrylic thicker than approximately 10mm, a lens with a focal length of 100mm or longer is recommended. A longer focal length creates a longer focal depth, keeping the beam narrow through the full cut depth. For knife template cutting at 15-20mm, this is especially important for die accuracy. Standard non-metal materials use a 63.5mm lens. Leather and cloth work better with a 50mm lens.
Can a standard CO2 laser machine cut metal?
Not reliably without specific modifications. Cutting iron plate or stainless steel with a CO2 laser requires oxygen assist gas at approximately 1 MPa - a setup that differs from standard air-assist non-metal cutting. For regular metal cutting, a fiber laser system is the appropriate solution.
Does higher laser power always increase cutting speed proportionally?
No. The relationship follows diminishing returns. For 3mm acrylic, going from 40W to 80W (doubling power) roughly doubles best speed from 10 to 20 mm/s. Going from 100W to 150W (50% more power) adds only 40% more speed (25 to 35 mm/s). Higher power is most valuable for reaching thicker materials that lower-power machines cannot cut.
Why should I avoid cutting PVC with a CO2 laser?
Standard PVC releases hydrogen chloride (HCl) when laser cut - a corrosive gas that damages machine optics and the frame, and is a respiratory hazard to operators. Standard CO2 laser extraction systems are not rated for HCl. If your application requires PVC cutting, you need a fully enclosed metal-body machine with HCl-rated fume extraction and ventilation meeting local safety standards.
