This page lists 15 community-tested settings for Coated / Powder Coated Steel. Most metals require a coating (Cermark, Brilliance Laser Ink, or anodizing) for diode lasers. CO2 lasers can mark bare metal with the right settings.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ablates powder coat to reveal bare metal beneath. Works on powder coated panels, signs, and flat stock. Clean with IPA first. Black powder coat gives highest contrast. No Cermark needed — laser burns off the coating directly.
Ablates powder coat to reveal bare metal beneath. Works on powder coated panels, signs, and flat stock. Clean with IPA first. Black powder coat gives highest contrast. No Cermark needed — laser burns off the coating directly.
Ablates powder coat to reveal bare metal beneath. Works on powder coated panels, signs, and flat stock. Clean with IPA first. Black powder coat gives highest contrast. No Cermark needed — laser burns off the coating directly.
Ablates powder coat to reveal bare metal beneath. Works on powder coated panels, signs, and flat stock. Clean with IPA first. Black powder coat gives highest contrast. No Cermark needed — laser burns off the coating directly.
Ablates powder coat to reveal bare metal beneath. Works on powder coated panels, signs, and flat stock. Clean with IPA first. Black powder coat gives highest contrast. No Cermark needed — laser burns off the coating directly.
Ablates powder coat to reveal bare metal beneath. Works on powder coated panels, signs, and flat stock. Clean with IPA first. Black powder coat gives highest contrast. No Cermark needed — laser burns off the coating directly.
Powder coat is easier to ablate than bare metal. 2W can remove coating to expose steel, but results depend heavily on coating thickness and color. Thin coatings work in 1–2 passes; thick industrial coats may need more. xTool LightBurn forum painted tumbler data used as reference. | Freq: 40kHz, line interval: 0.05mm
Extra 10W over B4 means coating ablation is cleaner and faster. Slight speed increase vs 20W. Slight defocus +2mm on curved items. ComMarker B6 60W blog material settings + LightBurn painted tumbler thread (scaled for 30W). | Freq: 40kHz, pulse: 100ns, line interval: 0.05mm
Removes powder coat to expose bare steel underneath. Slightly defocus (+2mm) for cleaner coating ablation on curved objects. Consistent results across most powder coat brands. Based on LightBurn forum painted tumbler thread and general MOPA coated metal guidance. | Freq: 40kHz, pulse: 100ns, line interval: 0.05mm
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best laser settings for Coated / Powder Coated Steel?
A top-rated community setting for Coated / Powder Coated Steel on the Glowforge Pro is speed 300 mm/min, power 48%. There are 15 community-tested settings for Coated / Powder Coated Steel across 15 machines on this page.
Can a diode laser engrave or cut Coated / Powder Coated Steel?
Yes - there are 6 community settings for Coated / Powder Coated Steel on diode lasers and 4 on CO₂ lasers. CO₂ lasers generally cut faster and cleaner, but modern high-wattage diode lasers handle most metal work well.
Do I need a fiber laser for Coated / Powder Coated Steel?
Fiber lasers can mark Coated / Powder Coated Steel directly without any coating. There are 5 fiber laser settings on this page. Diode and CO₂ lasers may require a marking compound (like Cermark) to achieve a visible result on bare metal.
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