Does Engraving Wood Call for a Different Laser Than Cutting It?
Summary
No. Blue diode (455 nm) and CO2 (10.6 µm) are the two technologies xTool recommends for wood, whichever job you're doing, and 1064 nm fiber isn't recommended unless the wood is coated. Where the two jobs part ways is cutting, which needs more power as the wood gets denser and depends heavily on how smoke is cleared away.
Cutting takes power, and airflow
xTool's material guide says denser wood needs more power to cut. Without enough, you end up slowing down or adding passes, which stretches job time and leaves more charring along the cut.
Scorch marks are a different story. The same guide traces surface scorching mainly to dark smoke particles settling on the wood, not to high power. Masking tape on the surface is described as the most effective fix. A honeycomb bed helps with marks on the back, air assist blows smoke and debris clear of the cut, and stronger exhaust helps too. For thick boards, xTool suggests setting the focus inside the material.
One board is not like another
Density, moisture content, surface smoothness, grain, and knots all change the result, according to the guide. Very dry wood burns and chars easily. Very wet wood smokes heavily and cuts slowly. xTool recommends storing stock at 40 to 60 percent relative humidity to limit warping.
If you plan to sell engraved cutting boards, xTool advises against letting laser-engraved surfaces touch food directly and suggests sealing them with food-grade epoxy. That is xTool's advice; check the food-contact rules that apply where you sell.
Sources
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