Diode 33–40W · 455nm
Starting settings for Paper & cardstock on a Diode 33–40W machine
air assist will send it flying — pin or weight the sheet
Focus on the material surface (ramp-test if you have never dialed this machine).
Copy into a test grid
P 5–10% × S 2245–4830 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 33–40w on paper & cardstock. 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 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 paper & cardstock on a diode 40w?
Start around 8% power and 3450 mm/s, 254 LPI. Then run a test grid from 5–10% × 2245–4830 mm/s on scrap and circle the sweet spot — your lens, air, and material batch shift the window.
Do these Diode 40W settings transfer to other machines?
They transfer within the class — any honest 33–40W 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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