OMTech 60W CO2 Settings & Speeds

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Cardboard on OMTech 60W.

Kraft paper. Very efficient on 60W CO2.

Cardstock on OMTech 60W. Single pass.

Paper on OMTech 60W. Faster than 40W at similar power %.

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.

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.

60W CO2 cuts leather cleanly in one pass. Keep power moderate to avoid charring edges.

Generic plywood varies by glue. 75% power typical for 3mm stock.

Cork cuts very easily on 60W. No air assist needed.

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Bamboo is dense — slightly lower speed than basswood. Air assist prevents flare-ups.

Basswood cuts fast and clean on 60W. Minimal char with air assist.

Baltic birch cuts cleanly in one pass. Watch for glue layer variation.

60W CO2 cuts 3mm MDF easily in a single pass.

CO2 60W on stainless with marking spray.

CO2 60W on 3mm cork.

CO2 60W on marble. Fast engrave.

CO2 60W on cotton fabric.

CO2 60W on 5mm foam board.

CO2 60W on 3mm bamboo.

CO2 60W on chipboard.

CO2 60W on corrugated cardboard.

CO2 60W on rubber stamp blank.

CO2 60W on denim. Very fast pass.

CO2 60W on HTV. Very light touch.

CO2 60W on faux leather.

CO2 60W on mylar. Very fast.

CO2 60W on EVA foam. Very fast, low power.

CO2 60W on felt. Very fast, low power.

CO2 60W on copy paper. Minimal power, max speed.

CO2 60W on cardstock. Very fast and light.

OMTech official documentation for 60W (Pronto series): 200–250 mm/s, 18% power, 0.08 mm line interval. Higher wattage allows faster speed at same or lower power vs 40W. Black anodize preferred; clear anodize typically needs marking spray with CO2. Source: help.omtech.com/en/training-center/metal-processing + omtech.com/blogs/tips/how-to-engrave-metal-with-co2-laser

Good relief depth on photopolymer at 60W. Start conservative — photopolymer can melt rather than ablate at too-high power. Test on off-cuts first. Invert design.

12mm MDF at 60W needs 2 passes. Very heavy fumes — strong ventilation essential. Refocus between passes for best edge quality.

Apply Cermark spray to mug surface, let dry 10 minutes. Laser with rotary attachment. Wash off Cermark with water — permanent black fused mark remains. Allow 24 hours before dishwasher use.

Dense hardwood. Higher power than basswood. Beautiful results for premium products.

Excellent contrast on bamboo. Great for personalised gifts and kitchenware.

Deep relief for stamp blanks. Invert design — dark file areas engrave deep.

Bright white engrave. Invert image. CO2 gives excellent contrast on slate.

Rich dark engrave. 22% at 60W — very easy to overpower leather, test first.

Clean cut. Remove film. Black acrylic engraves beautifully too at 200mm/s 20%.

Flame-polished edge. Perfect single pass cut.

10mm plywood at 60W. Occasional voids in core may need a second pass.

60W cuts 6mm MDF cleanly in one pass. Good for thick sign blanks.

Fast photo engrave at 350mm/s. Drop to 250mm/s for finer detail work.

Single pass, clean cut. Keep power conservative at 60W to avoid charring thin wood.

What materials can the OMTech 60W CO2 engrave or cut?

The OMTech 60W CO2 has community-tested settings for Cardboard, Kraft Paper, Cardstock, Paper, Ceramic Tile, Plywood, 3mm Black Acrylic, 3mm MDF, and 55 more. Results vary by material batch, focus, and ambient conditions — always test on scrap first.

Is the OMTech 60W CO2 compatible with LightBurn?

Yes, the OMTech 60W CO2 works natively with LightBurn.

What settings should I use to cut Cardboard on the OMTech 60W CO2?

A community-tested starting point is speed 100 mm/s, power 15% 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 OMTech 60W CO2 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 OMTech 60W CO2 more versatile for craft and production use.