Due to acrylic's water-proof, UV-resistant, and corrosion-resistant properties, it has become a favorite material in DIY projects. I f you are looking for the best way to cut acrylic, the EM-Smart Dual dekstop laser engraver offers a precise, efficient solution for all your personalized projects. With this desktop laser engraver, it's easy to transform flat designs into stunning 3D products, just like the beatiful acrylic butterfly shown below.
Previously, a blog about how to laser engrave on acrylic with the EM-Smart Dual desktop laser engraver has been shared with you. In this article, the focus will be on the step-by-step guide for acrylic cutting, helping you improve both efficiency and final quality.
How Thick of an Acrylic Sheet can EM-Smart Dual Desktop Laser Engraver Cut?
As demonstrated in the video below, the EM-Smart Dual can cut acrylic sheets up to 14.3 mm thick with precision and smooth edges.
A Step-by-step Guide for Acrylic Cutting
1. Prepation for cutting acrylic sheet
Hardware: EM-Smart Dual desktop laser engraver integrates a 20W diode and a 20W fiber laser in one compact machine, making it perfect for both home and office use. Check out the latest review from Gadget to learn more about the machine.
Materials: Black opaque acrylic sheets in 2 mm, 5 mm, 7.5 mm, and 14 mm thickness.
Software: Copy LightBurn software from the USB provided and paste it on your desktop.
2. Graphic Design
Typically, you have two ways to get desired design: one is design directly, that is use the side toolbar in LightBurn to create basic shapes such as hearts, circles, or stars. For example, we designed a star in this case. After finishing the shape you want, you can ddd customized details like textures, geometric patterns, or personalized text onto it;
Another one is importing exsiting design files. Go to "File" → "Import" in LightBurn. Supported formats include DXF, SVG, PDF and so on. Keep in mind that after importing the graphic, you need to check that all lines are solid as dashed lines may cause incomplete cuts. If needed, you may also need to adjust the size and position.
3. Motorized Focus Adjustment
Place the acrylic sheet on the cutting panel at the back of the baseplate. Then, use the built-in electric focusing system to adjust the height until the two focal points align perfectly. You might wonder, "Should I place the material before focusing?" — Yes, you should. Different materials require different focal distances, so placing the acrylic sheet first is essential for achieving a clean, precise cut. You can learn more about electric-focusing with our demo.
4. Parameter Settings
Here is a recommended settings for laser cutting acrylic sheet with EM-Smart Dual desktop laser engraver:
| Laser Source | Material | Power (%) | Speed (mm/s) | Frequency (kHz) | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diode laser | Acrylic | 80% | 50 mm/s | 20 kHz | 100 |
5. Laser Source Switching
To cut acrylic with the diode laser, simply enable the "Use Laser 2" option to switch lasers. If it doesn’t activate properly, please check your port and laser settings. Make sure the port settings match the ones shown in the images below.
6. Path Preview
If you choose to laser engrave some personalized elements on the cutting parts, "path review" is a good helper. It's a good idea to use different colors for different layers and optimize the cutting order to maximize efficiency.
7. Material Testing
Looking for consistent, clean cuts without charring or carbonization? LightBurn's Material Test feature is made for just that! It helps you in adjusting powe and speed settings while letting you observe cutting despth and edge quality, so you can find the perfect combination for your material.
8. Start Acrylic Cutting
Prioritize high-power, high-speed cutting first, then gradually lower the speed for final finishing to avoid overheating the acrylic sheet. Always use the red light frame preview to ensure proper placement before starting.
With these steps, you should now be ready to perform high-quality acrylic cutting with the EM-Smart Dual desktop laser engraver. From material preparation to adjusting parameters, every detail matters to achieve the perfect result.
Testing with sample pieces first to get familiar with the device's capabilities and to optimize your settings is highly recommended in this laser cutting process. Laser cutting opens up endless possibilities for creative projects, and we can't wait to see what you make!
Lastly, we warmly invite you to join our Facebook groups ("EM-Smart Laser" and "EM-Smart US User Group") where we regularly share finished projects and tips. We'd love to see your laser creations and exchange ideas with you there!
(photo engraving on leaf shared in group)