Laser Settings for Cork
Can you laser engrave and cut cork?
Yes — cork is a lovely, forgiving material that engraves with warm contrast and cuts easily up to a few millimetres. It's a favourite for coasters, boards and pinboard tiles. CO2 handles it effortlessly; a diode engraves well and cuts thinner stock with a few passes.
DIODE450 nm settings
| Variant | Operation | Speed | Power | Passes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cork | Engrave | 3,000–5,000 mm/min | 40–60% | 1 | 10 W |
| Cork 3mm | Cut | 200–350 mm/min | 100% | 2–3 | 10 W |
✓ EngraveCork darkens fast — start low. A light touch keeps detail crisp.
⚠ CutFlammable — fire watch, air assist on.
CO210.6 µm settings
| Variant | Operation | Speed | Power | Passes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cork | Engrave | 300–500 mm/s | 12–20% | 1 | 60 W |
| Cork 3mm | Cut | 15–25 mm/s | 45–60% | 1 | 60 W |
✓ EngraveLow power — cork chars easily.
PrepPreparation & technique
Cork darkens quickly, so start at low power and creep up. It's naturally flat and needs no masking.
⚠ SafetyCork is flammable and holds an ember — keep air assist on, fire-watch cuts, and check for glowing spots before you walk away.
LearnMatching tutorials
All values are starting points at the stated reference wattage. Run a test grid on your own machine and material batch first.