60–100W Acrylic Laser Cutting Settings (3–10 mm) — Ultimate Cheat-Sheet

Cutting acrylic on a CO₂ laser is simple in theory — but getting a smooth, flame-polished “mirror edge” requires the right balance of power + speed + airflow + lens.

This guide provides real-world settings for 60–100 W CO₂ lasers (GWEIKE M-Series / Cloud compatible), covering the most commonly used thicknesses: 3 mm / 5 mm / 10 mm.

✅ Best for cast acrylic
✅ Settings validated at ~90% power
✅ Includes lens choice, airflow guide, troubleshooting

Quick Settings — 3/5/10 mm Acrylic

Start with the Best Speed setting for cleaner, clearer edges. Adjust ±20% based on machine, material quality, and airflow.

Thickness Laser Power Best Speed High Speed Pass
3 mm 60W 10–15 mm/s 15–20 mm/s 1
3 mm 100W 25 mm/s 30 mm/s 1
5 mm 60W 5–7 mm/s 7–10 mm/s 1–2
5 mm 100W 10–15 mm/s 15–20 mm/s 1
10 mm 60W 1–2 mm/s 2–3 mm/s 2
10 mm 100W 3–6 mm/s 6–8 mm/s 1
💡 Pro Tip: 10 mm acrylic is much easier with ≥80W. For best transparency, use a 63.5 mm lens.

Cast vs. Extruded Acrylic

Type Result
Cast Acrylic Mirror-edge finish ✅ (recommended)
Extruded Acrylic More frosting / weaker clarity

→ Mirror edge only comes consistently from cast acrylic.

Lens Selection

Thickness Lens Reason
≤5 mm 50 mm Sharper focus, better detail
5–10 mm 63.5 mm Deeper focal depth, better clarity
If you cut 10 mm frequently → 63.5 mm lens = more stable edges.

Airflow Setup (Important!)

Acrylic cutting quality depends heavily on airflow management.

  • Recommended: Side-blowing + bottom airflow
  • Avoid: Strong downward air only → causes frosting
✅ Side airflow = pushes smoke away, improves clarity
✅ Bottom airflow = prevents fire under material

Single-Pass vs. Double-Pass

Thickness Recommendation
3 mm Single pass ✅
5 mm Single pass (2-pass optional)
10 mm Single pass preferred (≥80W)

If double-pass is necessary:

  • Second pass → -15% power / +10% speed

Cutting SOP (Quick Workflow)

  1. Use cast acrylic
  2. Choose correct lens → 50 mm / 63.5 mm
  3. Focus mid-thickness
  4. Enable side + bottom airflow
  5. Run Best-Speed value
  6. Inspect edge → tune

Mirror-Edge Optimization

  • Cast acrylic only
  • Side airflow
  • Bottom ventilation
  • Correct focal lens
  • Single pass when possible
❌ Avoid extruded acrylic
❌ Avoid downward airflow only
❌ Avoid too low speed

Troubleshooting

Issue Cause Fix
White / frosty edge Air too strong / power low Reduce air; increase power
Yellowing / burning Speed too low Increase speed
Not cutting through Focus / low power Re-focus / +power
Flaming Poor airflow Increase side airflow
Edge rough Wrong lens Switch to 63.5 mm

Safety Tips

  • Must have ventilation
  • Keep bottom airflow open
  • Do not leave unattended

FAQ

Q: Can 60W cut 10 mm acrylic?
Yes — but slower (~1–2 mm/s). 80–100W recommended.

Q: Why is my edge white?
Too strong air or too little power → reduce air / increase power.

Q: Cast or extruded?
Cast acrylic only for mirror-edge.

Q: Single or double pass?
Single pass preferred; double pass only when required.

Conclusion

Acrylic cutting performance depends on coordinated control of speed, power, lens, and airflow. With the right setup, you can consistently achieve clean, transparent, mirror-edge finishes on 3–10 mm acrylic with a 60–100 W CO₂ laser.

Use this cheat-sheet as your baseline → tune airflow → choose the right lens → enjoy perfect results.

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