Laser Settings for Mild & Carbon Steel
Can you laser engrave mild steel?
Yes on fibre — straightforward etching and marking. Coated or galvanised steel is a different story: zinc coatings produce fumes that cause metal fume fever, and mystery paint is mystery chemistry. Bare, identified steel only.
FIBRE1064 nm settings
| Variant | Operation | Speed | Power | Passes | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild / carbon steel | Etch | 800–1,500 mm/s | 60–90% | 1 | 20–40 kHz |
✓ EtchDegrease first — oil blotches the mark.
PrepPreparation & technique
Degrease thoroughly.
⚠ SafetyNever laser galvanised steel — zinc fumes. Verify coatings or strip to bare metal.
LearnMatching tutorials
All values are starting points at the stated reference wattage. Run a test grid on your own machine and material batch first.