So I am trying to make a harp, and I am weirdly having issues cutting through 1/4 inch baltic birch ply. It is getting burnt on the raven heads (this one is not burnt but didnt cut through), I didnt think the lines were that close together. The “Thick Plywood Basswood” does not cut through for me. …

Try multiple passes - 2 or 3 runs of “medium maple plywood”. It will take longer but reduce char greatly.

Got it, any suggestions on speed and power? 137 was still charring quite a bit!

:slight_smile: I meant literal use the built in settings for “medium maple plywood”, It’s in the drop down. Then just add passes.

1/4" anything is really hard to cut cleanly. The thickest material I use regularly is 5/32", typcically 1/8" or even thinner. You’re using fire to cut, and that is literally burning.

[image] thanksfortheride: 137 was still charring quite a bit! Having your lenses, etc. clean is very important as well as using Set Focus. I have cut a lot of 1/4"- 7/16" and you are definitely pushing the max thickness, so everything has to be right. This was near 5/16" material… [Dragon…

Hmm i wonder if set focus would do the trick. Does the laser not automatically set the focus?? Ive been using the thick draftboard settings, but I thought it focuses before cutting.

[image] thanksfortheride: Does the laser not automatically set the focus?? Where the machine automatically does a set focus it could even be an empty place and be very wrong, but if the focus is other than perfect it will be wider and more burnt than otherwise.

The proofgrade settings and auto-focus (or set-focus) all target the surface, which is often NOT the best place for the beam to be centered. When you learn how to use manual settings to best suit your material, you will find you get much better results.

Trying to cut 1/4" Baltic Birch Ply, having burning issues...any recommended settings?

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rbtdanforth November 27, 2024, 1:49pm 2

Baltic is considerably more resistant than basswood. Oak is more similar and I have 137/full for solid 1/4" oak. At the least I would run tests as laid out here…