Forums bury the right power and speed forty replies deep. Manufacturers only chart their own machines. Pass Depth gives you a clean class-based starting chart for any material, machines scored on what they cost to run and earn from, and the ROI math behind the buy.
Power / speed test grid
Every chart ships with a bracketed range. Circle the sweet-spot cell on scrap — the chart gets you close, the grid makes it yours.
Original graphics for laser engravers and makers, printed to order and shipped with tracking.
Pick a machine class, a material, and an operation. Class-based on purpose — a diode-20W chart is true for every honest 20W diode, no SKU churn. Chlorinated materials get a hazard card, not a number.
Starting chip row
Focus on the material surface (ramp-test if you have never dialed this machine).
This class covers machines like xTool D1 Pro 20W, Atomstack A20 Pro V2, Creality Falcon 2 22W — ~20W optical, 455nm. Named for reference only; settings are by class, not brand.
Starting points only Starting points only — every tube/diode, lens, and material batch differs. Always run a test grid on scrap. Ventilate; never leave a laser unattended.
Latest from the bench
A listing-based guide to six laser engravers and one enclosure for Black Friday 2026 (Friday, November 27): which suit wood, metal or large cuts, what to confirm with the maker first and when to skip. It lists no prices or event dates.
Mara Vance· Oct 20, 2026· 10 min
Mara Vance · Oct 20, 2026 · 8 min
Mara Vance · Oct 20, 2026 · 9 min
Mara Vance · Oct 17, 2026 · 10 min
Mara Vance · Oct 17, 2026 · 10 min
Mara Vance · Aug 25, 2026 · 11 min
Mara Vance · Aug 25, 2026 · 10 min
The line we don’t cross
PVC, vinyl, and PVC-backed faux leather release chlorine gas — hydrochloric acid in your lungs and on your optics. Polycarbonate and ABS burn and off-gas instead of cutting. Our tool refuses them outright, and every settings page carries the same three lines: run a test grid, ventilate, never leave a laser unattended.
The full ranking lives on our best-gear hubs.
A quick, honest note: some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we may earn a commission when you buy through them — at no extra cost to you. It never changes the price you pay.
69 guides published
58 products vetted
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Original designs, made to order.
New settings charts, machine verdicts, and the occasional payback-math teardown. No noise.
