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Ceramics
When engraving on ceramics, generally use moderate to high power. Using more loops rather than higher
power and lower speed can help avoid cracking the material during work. Be mindful of the health risk posed
by dust generated from ceramic engraving, especially for repetitive industrial applications. Depending on
the material and the amount of work, a fan or even full ventilation system may be required to address the
problem. Similarly, operators and others in the work area may need to use breathing PPE such as masks and
respirators.
Glass
When engraving glass, generally use high power and low speed. As with ceramics, it can be helpful to run
more loops at lower settings to avoid cracks. Care must be taken when engraving fiberglass and carbon
fiber to avoid combinations of settings that produce a laser intensity great enough to damage the structural
integrity of its component fibers, producing blurry marking. PPE should be worn to avoid exposure of the
eyes, nose, mouth, and skin to the dust produced by working with either material, especially for repetitive
industrial applications. Clothing worn while working with fiberglass should be washed separately afterwards.
Leather
When engraving leather products, generally use low to moderate power at high speed. Be especially
attentive to the possibility of fire, as well as the dust produced in repetitive applications.
Metal
CO₂ laser engravers should not be used for marking, engraving, or cutting metal. They are best suited for
working coatings applied to a metal base, and care must be taken not to attempt work on the underlying
metal itself. A variety of coatings specialized for CO₂ engraving are available, and the user should follow the
instructions provided as the parameters vary from product to product and metal to metal. Generally, work
on aluminum coatings should be done more quickly at lower power and work on steel coatings can be done
more slowly at higher power.
Paper and Cardboard
When engraving various paper products, generally use low to moderate power and fast speed. Test samples
from each batch, as only small parameter differences can separate effects that are too light from those that
burn through the substrate. As with leather, be especially attentive of the possibility of fire, as well as the
dust produced in repetitive applications.
Plastics
Plastics for engraving are available in many different colors and thicknesses and with many different coatings
and surfaces. The majority of available plastics can be well engraved and cut with the laser. Plastics with
a microporous surface seem to give the best result, because less surface material needs to be removed.
When engraving plastics, generally use low power and high speed settings. Marking and engraving with too
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