Glowforge Basic — 3mm Clear Acrylic
4 community-tested settings for engrave, cut 3mm Clear Acrylic on the Glowforge Basic. Always run a test on scrap material first.
Where to buy
Buy the Glowforge Basic — check current price & availability
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
These 4 settings cover engrave and cut 3mm Clear Acrylic on the Glowforge Basic (45W CO₂ laser). Cast acrylic engraves more cleanly than extruded; for cutting, a single clean pass at the right speed usually beats multiple passes.
4 settings
Frequently asked questions
What speed should I use to engrave 3mm Clear Acrylic on the Glowforge Basic?
The top-rated community setting uses 1000 glowforge_units at 40% power. Frosted engrave on acrylic. Reduce power for lighter frosting.
How many passes does the Glowforge Basic need to cut 3mm Clear Acrylic?
All settings here use a single pass. Confirm focus and do a small test burn before committing to your final design.
Do I need air assist for 3mm Clear Acrylic on the Glowforge Basic?
Yes — 1 of the 4 settings here specify air assist on. It clears smoke and debris from the cut line, improves edge quality, and reduces fire risk especially during cutting.
What DPI should I use to engrave 3mm Clear Acrylic on the Glowforge Basic?
Settings here use 270 DPI. For photographic detail or fine artwork, consider testing at higher DPI, but expect longer run times.
What software do I use with the Glowforge Basic for 3mm Clear Acrylic?
The Glowforge Basic works with Glowforge App. Enter the speed, power, and passes directly into your software's layer settings — no conversion needed.
Now make something with 3mm Clear Acrylic
Templates ready to cut on your Glowforge Basic once you've dialed in the settings.
"Used it with a Glowforge — engraved beautifully with no changes. I will be purchasing more digital downloads from this shop."
— Anna
"I was struggling with lining up my NFC business cards. I was able to not only line them up much better but also do multiple cards at once — making that job so much easier."
— Camp
"Excellent quality and design. Cut clean and neat!"
— LYNN
"Great jigs. Appreciate the time saved not having to build this from scratch!"
— Bruce
"Excellent quality. Item as described. Expectations exceeded."
— Michael
"This template made my slate coasters so much easier. 4×4 coasters from Michaels drop in easily and are easy to remove. Def worth it."
— chris