Oak 3mm Laser Settings

Dense hardwood — lower speed than basswood at same power.

Oak is dense; 20W diode struggles — increase passes or consider CO2.

What are the best laser settings for Oak 3mm?

A top-rated community setting for Oak 3mm on the Glowforge Pro is speed 300 mm/s, power 20%. There are 12 community-tested settings for Oak 3mm across 6 machines on this page.

Can a diode laser engrave or cut Oak 3mm?

Yes - there are 6 community settings for Oak 3mm on diode lasers and 6 on CO₂ lasers. CO₂ lasers generally cut faster and cleaner, but modern high-wattage diode lasers handle most wood work well.

Do I need air assist for Oak 3mm?

58% of the community settings for Oak 3mm use air assist. Air assist is strongly recommended - it reduces charring and improves cut quality.

What speed and power to cut Oak 3mm in one pass?

Settings vary by machine wattage. For a 20W diode laser, cutting Oak 3mm typically requires high power (90–100%) at moderate speed (1500–3000 mm/min) with air assist. CO₂ lasers can cut 3mm material faster - 20–60 mm/s at 50–70% power is common. Check the settings table below for your specific machine.