Is there any reason why a laser cutter’s performance deteriorates?
I’ve been cutting 3mm plywood with a 1600mW laser without issues and now it doesn’t cut through - just makes a black sooty mess…
Is it a new batch of ply? Different supplier? Previous discussions have identified a different glue used in the ply as the root of similar issues. If you have an offcut of a piece that worked before you could test to confirm whether it’s the material or the laser that is the problem.
Is that a fresh batch of ply or same batch.
Initially I I thought it could be the fact that it was a different batch, so I tested on the same piece of ply (in a different but adjacent spot) -which I successfully cut last week and it leads me to conclude it must be a laser issue - unless plywood density / grain etc can be so inconsistently distributed across an A5 area…
Hi Des
Can you check if it will cut some thick card or anything & does it still engrave ok.
It sounds like the laser is doing its job and there is a lot of conversations on the plywood quality topic…most generally point to the same culprit.
Beauty may only be skin deep! but thats still ok for engraving.
I think there may be different grades per country, but I read that good laser quality ply is rated bb/bb here in Ireland so look up your local grades. I figured it would save me time & money in the long run to find a supplier local as possible and go get it in bulk, full sheets…mini battery ripsaw in hand.
best to call first and if they dont know the grade they stock yr callin the wrong supplier.
The soot would I think indicate the resins glues whatever! are the problem.
Thanks for this Pete - you were right - the laser is Ok (and so is the plywood) it was my error - in Inkscape I applied an offset but forgot to convert back to path …
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