About
A CO₂ laser cutter uses a high-powered laser beam, typically generated by electrically stimulating a gas mixture (mainly CO₂ in this case), to cut and engrave materials with extreme precision. The laser operates in the infrared spectrum and is well-absorbed by organic materials, making it ideal for timber, MDF, leather, paper, and certain plastics eg. acrylic.
The beam is directed using mirrors and focused through a lens to a fine point, creating a concentrated heat zone. This vaporizes, burns, or melts material with incredible accuracy, allowing for clean, narrow kerfs and sharp internal corners. Cut edges are typically smooth and require minimal post-processing, especially in acrylic where the heat can produce a polished finish.
How
CO₂ lasers are particularly well-suited to vector cutting and raster engraving. Vector cutting follows paths defined in CAD files, ideal for parts, signage, and detailed shapes. Raster engraving scans back and forth like a printer, etching surface designs, text, or images.
Our machines use stepper motors to move the cutting head along the X and Y axes, using software that interprets files from vector design programs. Power output, speed, and pulse frequency can be tuned to suit different materials and thicknesses, giving excellent control over cut depth and finish.
Our setup includes an air assist system to blow away debris and reduce charring, plus a fume extraction unit to maintain safety and clarity during operation.
Benefits of lasers over routers:
- Laser cutters produce finer detail and sharper corners than CNC routers.
- They leave cleaner edges. Acrylic edges look like they have been polished
- No physical contact means consistently clean results without tool marks or wear-related imperfections.
- Faster cutting speeds on thin materials boost efficiency.
- Ideal for intricate engraving and delicate work.
- Lasers can burn text, logos, and graphics (including photos) directly into the surface for permanent, high-contrast marking.
The width of the laser beam is around 0.25mm.
We are unable to set a depth of how deep the laser can go but can control the power output of the beam and how fast we move the beam. This means we can’t pocket like we can on a CNC router—but we can etch your images, text, or logos directly into the material with precision.
With the precision and versatility of our CNC lasers, we can cut an extensive range of materials with ease and precision. Explore our Materials A–Z to see the full list of what we mainly work with. If it is not listed there, ask us here and we can advise or trial new materials for you.
Whatever you need cut, etched, engraved or fabricated, just send us your files — we’ll put the right machine to work, drawing on the full range of our capabilities to deliver precision and quality.
If the product is not suitable for our lasers, we can probably process it with our Oscillating tangential knife or on our CNC Routers.