Atomstack X20 Pro 20W Settings for Acrylic (PMMA)

Cutting Settings

How to Set Up Acrylic (PMMA) on the Atomstack X20 Pro 20W

1. 1Secure your acrylic (pmma) flat on the work bed using clamps, magnets, or a honeycomb pin set to prevent movement during the job.
2. 2Set your focus distance accurately — use the auto-focus probe if your machine has one, or measure manually with the focus gauge.
3. 3Important: Diode lasers can only cut dark or colored acrylic. Clear and transparent acrylic will not absorb the 445nm wavelength and the beam will pass straight through.
4. 4Enable air assist if available. A steady stream of air at the cut point removes debris, reduces charring, and helps prevent flare-ups.
5. 5Enter the speed, power, and pass count from the settings table above into LightBurn. Use the “Cut” or “Engrave” layer settings panel.
6. 6Run a small test cut or engrave on a scrap piece of acrylic (pmma) before committing to your final project piece. Adjust power up or down by 5–10% based on results.

What to Expect When Lasering Acrylic (PMMA)

Diode lasers produce a frosted, matte edge finish on dark acrylic rather than the flame-polished look that CO2 lasers achieve. Engraving creates a lighter frosted mark on the surface. Results are best on black, dark blue, or dark red acrylic. Processing speed will be slower compared to CO2 machines.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ✗Running at full power on the first attempt — always start with a test piece at the recommended settings and adjust incrementally. Going straight to maximum power risks burning through the material or causing fire.
• ✗Not accounting for the slower cutting speed of diode lasers compared to CO2. Diode lasers need multiple passes for thicker materials — be patient and let the machine do multiple passes rather than increasing power beyond recommended levels.
• ✗Trying to cut clear or transparent acrylic with a diode laser — the 445nm wavelength passes directly through clear acrylic without being absorbed. Only dark or opaque colored acrylic works with diode lasers.
• ✗Not removing the protective masking film before engraving — while masking helps during cutting, it must be removed for engraving to get clear results.

Tips for Acrylic (PMMA) on Laser Machines

• ✓CO2 lasers produce flame-polished edges on acrylic automatically.
• ✓Diode lasers cannot cut clear acrylic -- use dark or opaque colors only.
• ✓Leave the protective paper on while cutting to prevent surface marks.
• ✓Reduce speed for thicker sheets to ensure a full clean cut.
• ✓For engraving, use high speed and moderate power to get a frosted white finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Materials for Atomstack X20 Pro 20W

Acrylic (PMMA) Settings for Other Machines