This page lists 75 community-tested settings for Stainless 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.
Stainless steel can be marked by a laser using coatings like Cermark or black spray paint that
fuse to the surface under heat, leaving a permanent, dishwasher-safe mark.
Bare stainless steel requires a fiber or IR laser to mark directly. For diode and CO2 lasers, use
Cermark spray, titanium dioxide paste, or dry molybdenum lubricant as a marking agent. Tumblers and water bottles are the most popular stainless blanks.
Apply Cermark or black Molybdenum spray before engraving. Wash residue with water after. Without coating, diode lasers cannot mark bare stainless steel.
Apply Cermark or black Molybdenum spray before engraving. Wash residue with water after. Without coating, diode lasers cannot mark bare stainless steel.
Apply Cermark or black Molybdenum spray before engraving. Wash residue with water after. Without coating, diode lasers cannot mark bare stainless steel.
Apply Cermark or black Molybdenum spray before engraving. Wash residue with water after. Without coating, diode lasers cannot mark bare stainless steel.
Apply Cermark or black Molybdenum spray before engraving. Wash residue with water after. Without coating, diode lasers cannot mark bare stainless steel.
Apply Cermark or black Molybdenum spray before engraving. Wash residue with water after. Without coating, diode lasers cannot mark bare stainless steel.
Apply Cermark or black Molybdenum spray before engraving. Wash residue with water after. Without coating, diode lasers cannot mark bare stainless steel.
2W fiber is very low power — 100% power + multiple passes required for any visible mark on stainless. Result is light gray mark, not deep black. xTool official: IR (2W) is ideal for marking stainless. xTool F1 max speed 4000mm/s, freq range 30–60kHz. Expect lighter result than 20W+ MOPA. Pulse width not user-adjustable on F1. | Freq: 50kHz, line interval: 0.05mm
Deep material removal / mechanical engraving. Low frequency is more aggressive. Multiple passes with slight defocus between passes can clear debris. LightBurn forum 30W settings thread. | Freq: 25kHz, pulse: 200ns, line interval: 0.03mm
BCF/JPT 30W validated settings from barchlaser.com 150mm lens test. Same core parameters as 20W B4 but 30W gives slightly faster throughput. Dark oxide mark. LightBurn: set freq min 20, max 200. | Freq: 30kHz, pulse: 200ns, line interval: 0.01mm
For deeper mechanical removal rather than surface oxide. Slower speed + lower frequency for more aggressive ablation. Based on barchlaser.com 20W settings and community scaling from 30W data. | Freq: 20kHz, pulse: 200ns, line interval: 0.03mm
Produces a dark oxide mark. Lower frequency (20–30 kHz) gives darker result. ComMarker official material settings page + LightBurn forum confirmation. Run a material test grid before production. | Freq: 25kHz, pulse: 200ns, line interval: 0.054mm
The LP4 is a handheld fiber laser — set on its stand for stationary marking. Black oxide mark on brushed stainless at 80%. The app controls speed and power via preset profiles. Ideal for marking items too large to fit in a desktop laser. Permanent, dishwasher-safe result.
Portable fiber laser. Black oxidation mark on brushed stainless. Ideal for small items and jewellery personalisation. Compact galvo head gives very sharp detail.
Tested directly on stainless steel at 200mm/min, 100% power, 1 pass with air assist on. Result: legible text/marks. Varying power and line interval (0.05–0.1mm) produces color oxidation effects (blues, oranges, purples) — a standout feature of the P2's high power. Black acrylic paint pre-coating not required at full power.
Flat black acrylic paint coated — fast/lightengrave
Speed3000 mm/minPower50%Passes1
💨 Air Assist★★★★★
Faster pass for simple logos or large fills. May leave slight paint haze — a second pass at same settings cleans it. Use if 2000mm/min setting feels too slow for large jobs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best laser settings for Stainless Steel?
A top-rated community setting for Stainless Steel on the Glowforge Pro is speed 120 mm/s, power 70%. There are 75 community-tested settings for Stainless Steel across 39 machines on this page.
Can a diode laser engrave or cut Stainless Steel?
Yes — there are 25 community settings for Stainless Steel on diode lasers and 30 on CO₂ lasers. CO₂ lasers generally cut faster and cleaner, but modern high-wattage diode lasers handle most metal work well.
Do I need air assist for Stainless Steel?
3% of the community settings for Stainless Steel use air assist. Air assist is optional for most operations but can improve edge quality on cuts.
Do I need a fiber laser for Stainless Steel?
Fiber lasers can mark Stainless Steel directly without any coating. There are 16 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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