Help/Advice requested with new Diode laser and Lightburn - New user to both!

Hi, I am totally new to lasers and lightburn.
I have an ACMER P2 33w Diode laser ( Grbl) and the latest version of Lightburn.
I am looking for advice on how to cut tracing paper or very light weight paper with regards to speed and power.
I get a little confused where some places refer to m/m others to mm/s etc whilst my machine makers uses 30,000mm/min with reference to movement and 500mm/s for engraving!! and and power in %. I see lightburn uses mm/s but says that is for Co2 lasers and mm/m for Diodes or does that not matter?? All very confusing for a new user to both.
I would like to do a test sheet for the cuts and whilst I get the gist of how to do one for wood etc I have not been able to find one or any refference to something for paper!
Can anyone help with some advice or pointers on how to do this please.
I am only looking for simple shapes to be cut out of the sheet so no engraving on the paper. Thanking you all in advance. :+1:

Tracing paper (Vellum) is semi-transparent. Finding the right numbers to find that magic point between nothing and campfire is going to be tricky. Especially true with a 33w laser. Using the Material Test tool may be helpful here. I would start out using higher speeds and no air assist.

Use the recommended mm/m setting. 175mm/m is 2.9166666667mm/s, so which one would you prefer to use? It is exactly(+/-) the same thing, but you get into rounding issues. The other speed unit is seen for CO2 and Galvo machines which can run much faster. Bottom line is pick whichever is easiest to use for you.

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Hi Subsea
Just searched acmer p2 33w and it recommended 20000mm/m at 40% power…Ballpark! for thin paper.
Test from there for your specific material.

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I’d also recommend using mm/m. Here is where to find the “better for diode” laser settings in LightBurn. (just in case you didn’t know)

The ACMER page displays settings for cutting and engraving in mm/m, including kraft paper in the cut parameters.


Additionally, check the tips at the bottom of the page.

Additionally, here’s a link to the ACMER material settings page for further details.

Hope this is helpful.

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Thanks for the info and thoughts. :+1:

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Cheers Peter :+1:

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Thanks John, I had actually found that previously but was also hoping to find someone who may have already used it or was already cutting paper but thanks for the input, much appreciated. :+1:

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