Glowforge Pro Settings & Speeds

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Score/crease cardstock.

Cardstock on Glowforge Pro. Single clean pass.

Paper cut on Glowforge Pro. Fast + low power prevents scorching.

Finer DPI ceramic tile pass. Norton White Tile method: apply white gloss spray, engrave, wipe clean. Produces black marks on white tile.

Ceramic tile CO2 engrave — use white tile method (coat with white spray paint) or Cermark for best results. Bare tile requires high power and may crack.

Plywood surface engrave for designs. Mask with transfer tape to reduce smoke residue on light wood.

Generic plywood CO2 cut — thickness determines passes. 3–4mm usually 1 pass at these settings. Check for glue voids in cheaper ply.

Black acrylic engrave — CO2 removes surface to expose lighter core. Low power prevents warping. Leave protective film on during engraving.

3mm black acrylic CO2 cut — cast acrylic gives polished flame edge. Extruded acrylic may crack; cast recommended.

MDF surface engrave for designs and text. Low power prevents scorching the filler-heavy surface. Mask with transfer tape for clean edges.

3mm MDF CO2 cut — single pass. MDF fumes are significant; ensure good ventilation. Air assist strongly recommended.

Fine detail bamboo engrave for photo or intricate designs. Slower at same power gives deeper, darker marks.

Bamboo CO2 engrave — denser than basswood, needs slightly more power or fewer speed. Good for cutting boards and utensils.

Basswood CO2 cut — single pass on thin sheet (3mm). Increase to 2 passes for denser hardwood batches.

Basswood CO2 engrave — fast pass for deep bold marks. Reduce speed for finer detail or photo engraving.

Finer DPI anodized aluminum pass for text and logo detail on CO2. Avoid over-powering which burns through anodize to bare metal.

CO2 engraves anodized aluminum by removing the dye layer. Bare aluminum requires Cermark — anodized surfaces work directly.

Slower Cermark pass for bolder, more durable marks on stainless steel. Extend drying time after applying spray for best bond.

CO2 stainless steel mark with Cermark coating. Apply thin even coat, engrave, wash with water. Without Cermark CO2 cannot mark bare stainless.

Fine detail glass engraving. Slow pass with higher DPI for portrait or text on tumblers and wine glasses.

CO2 glass engrave — low power to frost without cracking. Apply wet newspaper or dish soap over surface to reduce micro-fractures.

Higher DPI marble engrave for fine detail portraits. Wipe surface before engraving for consistent results.

Marble CO2 engrave — ablates surface cleanly. Start at lower power end; increase if mark is faint on light-colored marble.

Finer DPI pass for photo or detailed artwork on slate. Slight power reduction to avoid over-ablation.

CO2 slate coaster engrave — 300 DPI for bold logos and text. Wipe with damp cloth after engraving to reveal the bright mark.

Very low power to avoid burning through — washi tape is thin. No air assist. Pin sheet flat.

500 DPI gives finer stamp detail. Deeper engrave = higher relief = crisper impression. Always test on scrap first.

EVA/craft foam cuts cleanly at low power — high power causes melting and edge fusing. No air assist. Ensure good ventilation.

Heavy cardstock — go fast and light to avoid charring. No air assist to prevent sheet lifting.

Go fast to avoid charring the flutes. No air assist — prevents material movement. Pin corners down.

9mm birch engraves cleanly. For deeper relief reduce speed or raise power.

9mm birch requires many passes on diode — CO2 is recommended at this thickness. Pin material flat. Air assist on all passes.

5mm plywood engraves well. Deeper relief: reduce speed or increase power slightly.

5mm plywood requires multiple passes on diode — pin material flat between passes. Air assist essential.

2mm basswood engraves with deep contrast. 300 DPI is the sweet spot — higher increases burn time significantly.

2mm basswood cuts in a single pass on most diode lasers. Air assist keeps the cut clean and reduces char.

CO2 wavelength is absorbed by clear acrylic — diode lasers pass straight through. Keep power low for engrave to avoid melt.

6mm clear acrylic needs more power than 3mm. Air assist essential to prevent melt-back. Cast acrylic gives polished flame-cut edges.

Tinted acrylic cuts cleaner than clear on diode lasers because the pigment absorbs the beam. Air assist prevents melt-back.

Tinted acrylic engraves cleanly — pigment absorbs the beam well. Adjust power for contrast.

Ablates spray paint to reveal bare metal. Thinner than powder coat so needs less power. Reduce power if paint splatters. Clean with IPA first.

Ablates powder coat to expose bare metal. Clean with IPA first. No Cermark needed. For bare steel, use fiber laser settings instead.

Ablates powder coat to reveal bare metal beneath. Works on powder coated flat stock and signs. Clean with IPA first. Black powder coat gives highest contrast. No Cermark needed for powder coat removal. For bare steel marking, fiber laser settings apply instead.

Engrave from the BACK side for a clean mirrored result.

Cast acrylic cuts cleaner than extruded.

Bright white engrave. Invert image in Glowforge App.

Rich dark engrave on veg-tan leather. Good detail at 270 LPI.

Thicker plywood. Sometimes needs a 2nd pass if there are voids in the core.

Glowforge Pro cuts vegetable-tanned leather cleanly in one pass.

Cork cuts cleanly at low power. No air assist — can blow cork off bed.

Vegetable-tanned leather engraves beautifully. Avoid chrome-tanned — produces harmful fumes.

Basswood cuts cleanly in one pass on Glowforge Pro. Use Proofgrade settings as a baseline.

MDF cuts cleanly on CO2. Single pass at full speed on the Pro.

CO2 55W stainless steel engrave.

CO2 55W on cork sheet.

CO2 55W on marble tile.

CO2 55W on cotton fabric.

CO2 55W on foam board.

CO2 55W on 3mm bamboo.

CO2 55W on 2mm chipboard.

CO2 55W on corrugated. Single pass.

CO2 55W rubber stamp blank.

CO2 55W on denim fabric.

CO2 55W on HTV vinyl. Near instant score.

CO2 55W on faux leather.

CO2 55W on mylar stencil. Near instant cut.

CO2 55W on EVA foam 6mm. Fast clean cut.

CO2 55W on acrylic felt. Fast and clean.

CO2 55W on 80gsm paper. Near instant cut.

CO2 55W on cardstock. Near-instant cut.

EVA foam cuts on the Glowforge Pro at very low power. 1000 Glowforge units / 18% power. CO2 cuts foam cleanly — much less melting than diode. EVA releases fumes — run the Glowforge air filter. Great for stamps and cosplay props.

Felt cuts cleanly on the Glowforge Pro. About 1200 Glowforge units / 28% power. CO2 gives cleaner edges on felt than diode. Wool felt cuts especially cleanly. Very popular in the Glowforge community for holiday ornaments and seasonal decorations.

Chipboard cuts very easily on the Glowforge Pro — 1000 Glowforge units / 30% power / 1 pass. Great for packaging mockups and prototyping. The Glowforge community regularly uses chipboard for 3D assembly tests.

Cotton fabric cuts cleanly on the Glowforge Pro at low power and high speed. About 1500 Glowforge units / 20% power. The CO2 cuts cleaner than diode with minimal singeing. The Glowforge community recommends pinning fabric to a crumb tray board.

Bamboo engraves beautifully on the Glowforge Pro. 500 Glowforge units / 60% power. Dense material but the 45W handles it well. Very popular in the Glowforge community for personalized cutting boards and coasters.

Cedar cuts easily in one pass on the Glowforge Pro. About 500 Glowforge units / 90% power. Soft grain cooperates well. Beautiful reddish edges on cut pieces. Heavy aromatic smoke — run the Glowforge filter or vent outdoors.

Cedar is loved by Glowforge users for its aromatic properties and beautiful engrave color. 600 Glowforge units / 45% power. Lower power than hardwoods needed. Very fragrant — run with filter. Beautiful for gift boxes, drawer liners, and home décor.

Alder is popular in the Glowforge community — clean, consistent grain gives excellent engrave quality. 550 Glowforge units / 52% power. Very similar to the Proofgrade Maple settings. Great for signs and awards.

Pine cuts in one clean pass on the Glowforge Pro. About 450 Glowforge units / Full power. Resin-rich pine can cause flare-ups without air filter — run with Glowforge filter or excellent room ventilation.

Pine engraves quickly on the Pro — soft grain and resin produce great contrast. About 600 Glowforge units / 50% power. Resin creates bold, warm-colored marks. Heavy smoke — the Glowforge filter attachment or good room ventilation required.

Cherry cuts cleanly in one pass on the Glowforge Pro. About 300 Glowforge speed units / Full power. Less charring than oak. Clean edges. Popular for intricate designs — the Glowforge community has extensive cherry cutting experience.

Cherry is a star material on the Glowforge Pro — beautiful warm engrave with the 45W CO2. Approximately 550 Glowforge units / 55% power. Fine grain produces crisp detail. One of the community's most recommended combinations for high-quality gift work.

Oak is tough even for the Glowforge Pro — 2 passes needed at full power. Approximately 250 Glowforge speed units / Full power / 2 passes. Clean up edges with fine sandpaper. The Pro's pass-through slot helps with longer oak stock.

Oak engraves well on the Glowforge Pro at 500 (Glowforge speed units) / 60% power. Dense hardwood benefits from the 45W tube. Rich brown marks with fine detail. For Glowforge units: 1000 units ≈ 338mm/min. Use Full power for deep marks on oak.

Same baseline as Basic (both 40–45W CO2); Pro's extra 5W gives slightly more headroom — can push speed to 600 mm/min on black anodize. Full power, 340 LPI recommended. Source: community.glowforge.com/t/settings-for-engraving-anodized-aluminum/25585 + community.glowforge.com/t/solved-help-with-anodized-and-powder-coated-aluminum/36181

Walnut plywood at full power and slow speed cuts cleanly. The natural dark grain hides char on cut edges — results look premium with no cleanup. Beautiful for personalised gifts, serving boards, and decorative items. Slightly denser than basswood so don't try to speed this up.

6mm MDF in one pass at full power. MDF produces heavy fumes from formaldehyde-based binders — ensure your Glowforge exhaust is clear and venting outside, or use an inline filter. Edges char more than plywood; sand lightly before painting.

Baltic birch cuts reliably at full power due to its void-free core. More consistent than standard plywood — fewer failed cuts mid-sheet. The tight grain gives excellent detail on intricate cuts. Ideal for jig templates and puzzle pieces where accuracy matters.

Kraft paper cuts cleanly at high speed and very low power. The Glowforge's camera makes it easy to position paper cuts precisely. Use the 'set focus' tool to ensure the lid camera is focused on the paper surface for accurate alignment.

Single-wall cardboard cuts quickly at low power. Keep power well below 50% to avoid ignition risk — cardboard is highly flammable. Never leave the Glowforge unattended when cutting cardboard. Great for prototyping jig designs before committing to wood or acrylic.

Bright white engrave on slate. Always invert your image so engraved areas appear light against the dark stone. Wipe the slate clean with a damp cloth immediately after engraving to reveal the full contrast — the white dust obscures the result until cleaned.

Cuts through 2mm veg-tan leather in one pass. Leather fumes smell strongly and are unpleasant — ensure your exhaust fan is running at full capacity. The Glowforge's sealed design helps but ventilate the room well after the job.

Rich dark brown mark at 25%. Leather is easy to overpower with a 45W tube — start at 20% and increase in 3% steps. Vegetable-tanned leather gives deeper, more consistent contrast than chrome-tanned. Remove protective coating or oils from the surface before engraving.

Frosted engrave at 20% and 200mm/s. Lower power prevents melting the surface while still achieving a clean frost effect. For photo engraves use the 'vary power' engrave mode in the Glowforge App and invert your image for a light-on-dark result.

Full power at 20mm/s gives flame-polished edges on 3mm cast acrylic. Remove the top protective film only — leave the bottom film on during cutting to protect the crumb tray. Good ventilation is essential as acrylic fumes are harmful.

270 LPI (DPI) engrave at 40% gives a warm medium-brown mark without burning through. For darker marks increase power to 55%. The Glowforge App's 'Draft' engrave setting uses 270 LPI — use 'SD' for 225 LPI or 'HD' for 450 LPI on detailed artwork.

Glowforge Pro cuts 3mm basswood cleanly at full power. Use Proofgrade Medium Basswood settings as a starting point — they're pre-calibrated for the Pro's 45W tube. Non-Proofgrade sheets vary in density, so run a test cut at the edge of your sheet first.

Thicker plywood. Sometimes needs a 2nd pass if there are voids in the core.

Perfect edge clarity on clear acrylic. Leave protective film on. CO2 cuts clear acrylic far better than diode.

Glowforge Proofgrade setting adapted for generic birch. Clean single-pass cut. Masking tape on both sides prevents surface marks.

What materials can the Glowforge Pro engrave or cut?

The Glowforge Pro has community-tested settings for Cardstock, Paper, Ceramic Tile, Plywood, 3mm Black Acrylic, 3mm MDF, Bamboo, Basswood, and 66 more. Results vary by material batch, focus, and ambient conditions — always test on scrap first.

Is the Glowforge Pro compatible with LightBurn?

The Glowforge Pro uses Glowforge App. LightBurn compatibility may be possible via a community-built device profile.

What settings should I use to cut Cardstock on the Glowforge Pro?

A community-tested starting point is speed 250 mm/s, power 12% in a single pass. Always run a test cut on scrap to confirm before committing to your project.

What can a CO₂ laser like the Glowforge Pro cut that a diode laser cannot?

CO₂ lasers can cut and engrave clear acrylic, glass (with care), fabric, and thicker wood more cleanly than diode lasers, because the CO₂ wavelength is absorbed by materials that are transparent to diode light. This makes the Glowforge Pro more versatile for craft and production use.