CO2 40–55W · 10600nm
Starting settings for Veg-tan leather on a CO2 40–55W machine
low and fast; damp-wipe the soot after
Focus on the material surface (ramp-test if you have never dialed this machine).
Copy into a test grid
P 5–15% × S 230–490 mm/s · 5×5 on scrap · circle the sweet spot
How to dial it in
The chip row above is the middle of the known-good window for a co2 40–55w on veg-tan leather. It is a starting point, not a guarantee: two co2 machines with the same sticker can want different numbers once lens condition, air pressure, and material batch get involved.
Run the bracketed grid on the exact scrap you plan to sell. Watch for even tone without scorching or grain flare — drop power before you drop speed. Then log the winning cell so the next batch starts from your machine’s truth, not a forum thread’s.
Safety first, every time
Ventilate, keep a fire blanket or extinguisher within reach, and never leave the laser running unattended. If you are ever unsure a material is safe, it isn’t — chlorinated plastics like PVC and vinyl release chlorine gas and never belong on the bed. See the never-laser list.
Questions on this chart
What power and speed for veg-tan leather on a co2 55w?
Start around 10% power and 350 mm/s, 254 LPI. Then run a test grid from 5–15% × 230–490 mm/s on scrap and circle the sweet spot — your lens, air, and material batch shift the window.
Do these CO2 55W settings transfer to other machines?
They transfer within the class — any honest 40–55W tube co2 machine is a good starting match. Across classes they do not: power percentages mean different energies on different sources, which is exactly why the library is class-based.
Why does the chart say “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.
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