Diode 5–10W · 455nm
Starting settings for Hardwood (oak) on a Diode 5–10W machine
dense grain; expect char taper on the edge
Focus on the material surface (ramp-test if you have never dialed this machine).
Copy into a test grid
P 60–100% × S 50–110 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 diode 5–10w on hardwood (oak). It is a starting point, not a guarantee: two diode 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 clean edges with minimal char and full separation — add a pass before you add power. 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 hardwood (oak) on a diode 10w?
Start around 100% power and 78 mm/s, 9 passes. Then run a test grid from 60–100% × 50–110 mm/s on scrap and circle the sweet spot — your lens, air, and material batch shift the window.
Do these Diode 10W settings transfer to other machines?
They transfer within the class — any honest 5–10W optical diode 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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