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Plywood and MDF: diode, CO2 and fiber laser compatibility
xTool lists plywood and MDF for engraving and cutting on diode and CO2 lasers. Boss Laser lists plywood for CO2 lasers and states that laser-grade plywood is best. xTool lists fiber lasers as not suitable for wood.
- Also called
- basswood ply, birch ply
- Diode laser
- Engrave or mark: Yes (1), cut: Yes (1)
- CO2 laser
- Engrave or mark: Yes (2), cut: Yes (2)
- Fiber laser
- Engrave or mark: No (1), cut: No (1)
- Thickest one-pass cut listed
- 15 mm, xTool S1 40W
- Listed as No by
- xTool
Compatibility by laser type
Yes (2) 2 manufacturers or stores list it as workableNo (2) 2 list it as not workableDisagree manufacturers list bothWith conditions workable only under a stated conditionNot listed no manufacturer statement
| Laser type | Engrave or mark | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Diode laser (blue, about 450 to 455 nm) | Yes (1) Yes: xTool. | Yes (1) Yes: xTool. |
| CO2 laser (10,600 nm) | Yes (2) Yes: xTool, Boss Laser. | Yes (2) Yes: xTool, Boss Laser. With conditions: xTool. |
| Fiber laser (1064 nm) | No (1) No: xTool. | No (1) No: xTool. |
The material lookup adds a cut thickness for plywood and MDF.
Manufacturer statements
| Laser and job | Manufacturer | Lists it as | Wording or table entry on the page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diode, engrave or mark | xTool | Yes | Engraving: Wood Plywood MDF Bamboo Leather Paper Some dark and opaque acrylic Rubber Silicone Glass (with coating) Stone Ceramics (with coating) Plated/coated metal Stainless steel Fabric Cork | xTool: Fiber vs CO2 vs diode laser guide (blog) |
| Diode, cut | xTool | Yes | Cutting: Wood Plywood MDF Bamboo Leather Paper Some dark and opaque acrylic Felt Cork | xTool: Fiber vs CO2 vs diode laser guide (blog) |
| CO2, engrave or mark | xTool | Yes | Engraving: Acrylic Wood Plywood MDF Bamboo Leather Paper Rubber Silicone Glass Stone Ceramics Plated/coated metal Fabric Cork | xTool: Fiber vs CO2 vs diode laser guide (blog) |
| CO2, engrave or mark | Boss Laser | Yes | A CO2 laser cuts and engraves non-metals: wood and plywood (laser-grade plywood is best), acrylic, genuine leather, paper and cardstock, fabric and felt, cork, and laser-safe rubber. | Boss Laser: Materials and safety FAQ |
| CO2, cut | xTool | Yes | Cutting: Acrylic Wood Plywood MDF Bamboo Paper Rubber Fabric Foam Cork | xTool: Fiber vs CO2 vs diode laser guide (blog) |
| CO2, cut | Boss Laser | Yes | A CO2 laser cuts and engraves non-metals: wood and plywood (laser-grade plywood is best) | Boss Laser: Materials and safety FAQ |
| CO2, cut | xTool | With conditions | xTool's P2S page advises against cutting plywood thicker than 12 mm. | xTool: xTool P2S product page |
| Fiber, engrave or mark | xTool | No | Fiber lasers are not suitable for wood, glass and clear acrylic. | xTool: Fiber vs CO2 vs diode laser guide (blog) |
| Fiber, cut | xTool | No | Fiber lasers are not suitable for wood, glass and clear acrylic. | xTool: Fiber vs CO2 vs diode laser guide (blog) |
One-pass cut depth
These are the manufacturers' one-pass cut depths for this material. No multi-pass cut depth is listed.
| Machine | Laser type | One-pass cut depth | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| xTool S1 40W | Diode | 15 mm | xTool: xTool S1 product page. Stemfinity (store): xTool S1 listing. |
| xTool P2S | CO2 | 12 mm | xTool: xTool P2S product page. |
| xTool S1 20W | Diode | 10 mm | xTool: xTool S1 product page. |
| xTool S1 10W | Diode | 6 mm | xTool: xTool S1 product page. |
Notes
- xTool's diode and CO2 lists include plywood and MDF. Its fiber statement covers wood in general.
Fumes
Laser cutting and engraving give off fumes. The machine's manual has the venting rules for that machine. The fume and room lookup compares a machine's exhaust airflow with fume extractor airflow.