Three reads.
First project done.
Most new laser owners have the same three questions: what settings do I use, which machine should I have bought, and what should I actually make first. Start with whichever is most urgent — each guide is self-contained.
§ Disclosure
This site contains affiliate links — if you buy a machine through them we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Editorial content is written before monetization is considered. Full disclosure.-
STEP 01 Settings cheat sheet
Laser engraving settings cheat sheet: wood, acrylic, leather, slate
Starting-point speed, power, and passes for 12 materials across diode and CO2 lasers. Framed with a test-grid methodology so you can dial in your specific machine — because settings that work for one batch rarely transfer perfectly to the next.
Settings cheat sheet Read the guide
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STEP 02 Machine comparison
xTool vs Glowforge: honest comparison for beginners (2026)
The manufacturer's blog ranks first for this query — which tells you something. This comparison doesn't pick a winner: it maps each machine to the persona type that fits it, so you can make the call for your actual situation.
Machine comparison Read the guide
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STEP 03 First project guide
10 beginner laser projects you can finish this weekend
Not another list of 127 ideas with no decision scaffolding. Ten projects ranked by beginner-friendliness, each with a specific material, time estimate, and direct link to a free or paid SVG source — so you can load a file and cut tonight.
First project guide Read the guide
Common questions
Do I need to buy expensive software to use these SVG files?
No. LightBurn ($60 one-time, or free 30-day trial) is the most capable option and works with nearly every diode and CO2 laser. xTool Creative Space is free and works exclusively with xTool machines. Glowforge uses its own browser-based app — also free. Our SVG files are designed to work in all three.
Are the settings on this site safe to use?
Every setting published here is a starting point drawn from documented community sources — not first-hand testing we performed. Your machine, material batch, and ambient conditions will vary. Always run a 5×5 test grid at varying power and speed before engraving your final workpiece. Never cut PVC, vinyl, ABS, polycarbonate, or fiberglass — see our safety guide for the full list.
How does LaserCraftLab choose what to cover?
We prioritise topics where documented community evidence lets us provide specific, verifiable guidance: machine comparison specs, material settings with sourced starting points, and project files we can verify are cut-ready. We do not publish topics that would require untested first-hand claims.
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