Laser Engraving Font Settings for Acrylic
Acrylic is one of the best materials for single-line font engraving: the clean, frosted engraved surface contrasts beautifully with the clear material. But acrylic is less forgiving than wood — too much power melts and resolidifies the surface, creating a "wet" look instead of a clean frost.
Cast vs. extruded acrylic
Cast acrylic (higher quality, used in awards and displays) engraves with a clean white frost and is the preferred choice for engraving. Extruded acrylic (lower cost, more common for cutting) engraves with a slightly less clean frost and can melt more easily. For engraving text, always specify cast acrylic if appearance matters. Both can be engraved with the same settings, but cast will produce a more polished result.
CO₂ laser settings for acrylic
CO₂ lasers engrave acrylic beautifully. 40W: Speed 300mm/s, Power 10–15%. 60W: Speed 400mm/s, Power 8–12%. 100W: Speed 600mm/s, Power 5–8%. Keep power as low as possible while maintaining a consistent frost — excess power melts rather than frosts. For very fine text (5–8mm cap height), reduce power by 2–3% and keep speed high to prevent edge melting.
Diode laser notes for acrylic
Clear acrylic does not absorb the 455nm wavelength of most blue diode lasers efficiently. Colored acrylic (especially dark colors) works better. For clear acrylic with a diode laser, apply a thin coat of Cermark/Brilliance spray or use engraving tape — the coating absorbs the energy and transfers the mark. Without a coating, most diode lasers cannot engrave clear acrylic.
Finishing engraved acrylic
After engraving, clean the surface with a soft cloth and isopropyl alcohol to remove any fine acrylic dust. For awards and display pieces, fill the engraved area with opaque acrylic paint (white or gold), let it dry, and wipe the surface clean — leaving paint only in the engraved channels. This creates a high-contrast, professional look that is impossible to achieve with standard fonts.
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