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Thunder Laser Bolt Settings & Speeds

Updated August 2026 Β· 9 tested settings Β· 5 materials

Accessories

Essential laser accessories

Every Thunder Laser Bolt owner eventually needs these. Goggles first: always.

Laser safety goggles: diode (450nm)OD5+ rated at 450nm. Required for any open-frame diode laser.Shop on Amazon β†’
Honeycomb cutting bed (400Γ—400mm)Lifts work off the bed, prevents flashback marks, improves airflow under material.Shop on Amazon β†’
6-inch digital calipersMeasure material thickness before entering settings: essential for consistent focus.Shop on Amazon β†’
Welding fire blanketFibreglass blanket under and around the machine: standard laser safety recommendation.Shop on Amazon β†’
Photoelectric smoke alarmMount above the machine: photoelectric type responds faster to laser fumes than ionisation.Shop on Amazon β†’
Lens cleaning wipes (Zeiss)Keep the laser lens clean: residue reduces power and causes inconsistent burns.Shop on Amazon β†’
Laser safety goggles: CO2 (10600nm)CO2 wavelength passes straight through diode goggles. Use CO2-rated eye protection only.Shop on Amazon β†’
6-inch inline duct fanCO2 machines need more CFM than diode: a 6-inch fan handles larger cabinet volumes.Shop on Amazon β†’
Laser alignment target paperThermo paper for checking CO2 beam alignment at each mirror: essential after moving the machine.Shop on Amazon β†’
Honeycomb cutting bed (600Γ—400mm)Larger honeycomb for machines with wider work areas: xTool S1, OMTech 60W+.Shop on Amazon β†’
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Free download

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Printable one-pager with the most-used speed/power/passes. Plus 10% off your first order.

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The Thunder Laser Bolt is a 30W co2 laser engraver with a 500Γ—300mm work area and works with LightBurn. This page lists 9 community-tested settings covering speed, power, passes, air assist, and DPI across a range of materials. Always run a test cut on scrap material first: results vary depending on your material batch, focus, and ambient conditions.


Related ToolsJig Templates β†’Rotary / Tumbler Calculator β†’Photo β†’ SVG Vectorizer β†’Personalised Gifts β†’
Power30W
Laser Typeco2
Work Area500Γ—300mm
Software
LightBurn
+ Submit a settingβŽ™ Print cheat sheet

Similar machines

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Materials covered

Stone

Don't see your material?

9 settings

Slateengrave
Speed250 mm/sPower65%Passes1

40W-class CO2 baseline from the settings database.

Buy Slate β†’
Genuine Leatherengrave
Speed200 mm/sPower25%Passes1

40W-class CO2 baseline from the settings database.

Buy Genuine Leather β†’
Genuine Leathercut
Speed11 mm/sPower70–75%Passes1
πŸ’¨ Air Assist

40W-class CO2 baseline from the settings database.

Buy Genuine Leather β†’
3mm MDFengrave
Speed250 mm/sPower10–15%Passes1

40W-class CO2 baseline from the settings database.

Buy 3mm MDF β†’
3mm MDFcut
Speed15 mm/sPower48%Passes1
πŸ’¨ Air Assist

40W-class CO2 baseline from the settings database. At a base 30W tube, expect to need slightly lower speed or a 2nd pass.

Buy 3mm MDF β†’
3mm Clear Acrylicengrave
Speed200 mm/sPower15–20%Passes1

40W-class CO2 baseline from the settings database.

Buy 3mm Clear Acrylic β†’
3mm Clear Acryliccut
Speed12 mm/sPower55%Passes1
πŸ’¨ Air Assist

40W-class CO2 baseline from the settings database. At a base 30W tube, expect to need slightly lower speed.

Buy 3mm Clear Acrylic β†’
3mm Basswood Plywoodengrave
Speed300 mm/sPower30%Passes1

40W-class CO2 baseline from the settings database.

Buy 3mm Basswood Plywood β†’
3mm Basswood Plywoodcut
Speed20 mm/sPower40%Passes1
πŸ’¨ Air Assist

40W-class CO2 baseline from the settings database (Monport/OMTech 40W CO2). At a base 30W tube, expect to need slightly lower speed or a 2nd pass on thicker cuts.

Buy 3mm Basswood Plywood β†’

Shopping for a Thunder Laser Bolt? Check the current price.

See price on Amazon β†’

From the Blog

→ Laser Cutting Cardstock Without Scorching: CO₂ & Diode Settings→ Laser settings for wood: speed, power, and passes for every type→ How to laser engrave leather: settings, types, and what actually works

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials can the Thunder Laser Bolt engrave or cut?

The Thunder Laser Bolt has community-tested settings for Slate, Genuine Leather, 3mm MDF, 3mm Clear Acrylic, 3mm Basswood Plywood. Results vary by material batch, focus, and ambient conditions: always test on scrap first.

Is the Thunder Laser Bolt compatible with LightBurn?

Yes, the Thunder Laser Bolt works natively with LightBurn.

What is the work area of the Thunder Laser Bolt?

The Thunder Laser Bolt has a work area of 500Γ—300 mm (approximately 20Γ—12 inches).

What settings should I use to cut Genuine Leather on the Thunder Laser Bolt?

A community-tested starting point is speed 11 mm/s, power 70–75% in a single pass. Enable air assist for a cleaner edge. Always run a test cut on scrap to confirm before committing to your project.

What can a COβ‚‚ laser like the Thunder Laser Bolt cut that a diode laser cannot?

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

Compare with similar machines

Same laser type Β· similar wattage

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What Makers Say

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5.0Β· 6 reviews
View all on Etsy β†’
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"Used it with a Glowforge: engraved beautifully with no changes. I will be purchasing more digital downloads from this shop."

: Anna

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"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

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"Excellent quality and design. Cut clean and neat!"

: LYNN

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"Great jigs. Appreciate the time saved not having to build this from scratch!"

: Bruce

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"Excellent quality. Item as described. Expectations exceeded."

: Michael

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"This template made my slate coasters so much easier. 4Γ—4 coasters from Michaels drop in easily and are easy to remove. Def worth it."

: chris

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