5 Common Laser Cutting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Do you have a few outsourcing projects coming up that you aren’t sure you’re ready for them? Do you want to avoid costly mistakes and make the best use of your time, money, and effort?

Then you need to find out about common laser cutting mistakes. Without them, you could lose money, machines, and more while you try to get your projects out the door.

Want to learn more? Then read on. Here are the most common mistakes that you need to avoid.

1. Improper Cutting of Power and Speed Settings

Too much cutting speed can lead to overheating, which can lower the cutting quality significantly. Too much cutting power can damage the material and lead to inconsistencies as well. Start with low speed and low power settings, and then adjust them according to the material, thickness, and desired cutting quality.

2. Using the Wrong Type of Material

Using the wrong type of material when laser cutting is a common mistake. The types of materials that are suitable for laser cutting depending on the laser machine’s wattage and the laser engraver’s capabilities.

Hard materials, such as metals and stone, need significantly more power and time to cut than soft materials, like wood. It is possible to damage the laser machine, or even cause an electrical fire if you use unsuitable material.

To avoid this mistake, research to make sure any material is compatible with the machine. It is beneficial to know what wattage of laser machine is needed to cut the intended material.

For safety, a low-power machine should never be used to cut material that is not recommended for that wattage. And if your main material is acrylic, you can check this page for acrylic cutting machine to learn more about it.

3. Incorrect Fixtures and Jig Setups

Incorrect fixtures and jig setups are the most common laser cutting process mistakes. When the laser cutter moves over the material, the jig’s motion has to be consistent and precise, so any misalignment can create errors in the finished product.

To avoid such mistakes, it is important to make sure the laser cutting jig is securely clamped to the work table of the machine. All the nuts and bolts of the jig should also be tightened and there should be enough force to keep the material in place.

4. Lack of Patience

It takes time to set up and run a laser cutting technology, and rushing through the process can cause mistakes as well as safety hazards. To avoid these mistakes, one must first have patience and take the time to double-check work before sending it through the machine. If a job looks to take too long, use the pause feature and take breaks so the material and the operator can rest and stay safe.

5. Failure to Maintain the Machine

This can include improper cleaning, so get rid of dust and debris that can build up and clog the small crevices for machine safety. This dust can also start to damage the laser lens and reduce cutting accuracy. Replacing parts when damaged or starting to wear is also important, as a misaligned laser or worn drive belts can degrade the laser’s performance time. 

Avoid These Common Laser Cutting Mistakes

Laser cutting is a great way to produce efficient and correct cuts in a wide variety of materials. To maintain accuracy and avoid these common laser cutting mistakes, check your file settings and feed rate settings, use the right materials, clean the lens and mirrors, and watch the temperature.

If you find this article helpful, check out our other blogs today!