sTuDiOArtur Hebenstreit5 min

Laser Cutting & Engraving Materials - What Works?

Overview of CO2 and Fiber laser materials: wood, acrylic, leather, metal, glass, stone. Thicknesses, limitations, and pricing at AEJaCA sTuDiO.

Laser Cutting & Engraving Materials - What Works?

Not every material works with a laser - and the same material behaves differently under CO2 vs Fiber. Here's the complete overview.

CO2 Laser Materials

The CO2 laser (xTool P2, 55W) is designed for organic and non-metal materials. Engraving + cutting.

MaterialEngraveCutMax thicknessNotes
Plywood/wood10mmBirch, beech, bamboo work best
Acrylic (plexiglass)12mmCast > extruded
Natural leather4mmNo PVC! (toxic fumes)
Felt/fabric3mmSynthetics may melt
Paper/cardboard2mmPerfect for invitations, models
Glass - Surface frosting
Anodized aluminum - Removes color layer

Fiber Laser Materials

The fiber laser (Raycus 30W) is a precision tool for metals and hard materials. Engraving only - no cutting.

MaterialEngrave qualityApplication
Stainless steelExcellentJewelry, tools, plates
Silver 925ExcellentRings, pendants, signets
GoldVery goodBands, bracelets
BrassExcellentBusiness plates, decor
TitaniumVery goodRings, implants
CeramicsGoodMugs, tiles, plates
StoneGoodTombstones, souvenirs

What to Avoid

  • PVC / Vinyl - toxic fumes, forbidden
  • Polycarbonate (Lexan) - yellows, doesn't cut cleanly
  • ABS - melts, releases fumes
  • Styrofoam/foam - fire hazard

Thickness Limits

Our cutting limits depend on material and laser power (xTool P2 55W CO2):

  • Wood: up to 10mm (single pass), 15mm (multi-pass, rougher edges)
  • Acrylic: up to 12mm (cast), 8mm (extruded)
  • Leather: up to 4mm
  • Work area: 600×300mm

Indicative Pricing

ServicePrice fromTurnaround
CO2 engraving (up to A4)from €51 business day
CO2 cutting (up to A4)from €81 business day
Fiber engraving on metalfrom €101–2 business days
Jewelry engraving (ring)from €151 business day
Batch 50+ piecesindividual quote2–5 business days

Tools for this topic

We can make it for you

CO2 laser cutting

Shapes from a vector file: plywood, acrylic, leather, felt.

from €2.29
FAQ

FAQ

No. CO2 55W cuts organic materials (wood, acrylic, leather) up to 10mm. Metal requires a fiber laser.

Wood up to 10mm, acrylic up to 12mm, leather up to 4mm. Beyond these, edge quality drops.

Yes - CO2 laser engraves glass (frosting effect) but doesn't cut it. Fiber handles ceramics and stone.

Vector: SVG, AI, DXF. For raster engraving: PNG, JPG (min. 300 DPI).