Thunder Laser Nova 35 80W Settings for Rubber

Cutting Settings

Engraving Settings

How to Set Up Rubber on the Thunder Laser Nova 35 80W

1. 1Secure your rubber 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. 3Ensure your water cooling system is running and the coolant temperature is between 15–25°C before starting the laser.
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. The table lists both mm/min and mm/s — LightBurn defaults to mm/s, so use the mm/s value unless you have switched units. Use the “Cut” or “Engrave” layer settings panel.
6. 6Run a small test cut or engrave on a scrap piece of rubber before committing to your final project piece. Adjust power up or down by 5–10% based on results.

What to Expect When Lasering Rubber

Cutting rubber produces a strong, unpleasant smell — robust ventilation or an enclosure with a fume extraction system is essential. Cut edges will be clean but may show slight melting. Engraving creates a lighter mark on dark rubber surfaces. Rubber stamp making is one of the most popular laser applications for this material. With 80W of CO2 power, this machine cuts thick acrylic, wood, and other non-metals rapidly — usually in a single pass — and holds up to high duty cycles for production runs. Edge quality stays excellent even at speed.

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.
• ✗Over-powering thin or delicate stock — at 80W it is easy to melt acrylic or scorch thin wood. Lower the power and raise the speed for fine work.
• ✗Not having proper ventilation — laser-cut rubber produces intense, noxious fumes that are harmful to breathe. A fume extraction system is essential, not optional.
• ✗Using rubber that contains chlorine (such as some synthetic rubbers) — these release hydrochloric acid fumes when lasered.

Tips for Rubber on Laser Machines

• ✓Use dedicated laser-safe stamp rubber (e.g., trodat or similar) for cleanest results.
• ✓Mirror your design before engraving stamps so the impression reads correctly.
• ✓Lower speed with multiple passes gives deeper, cleaner stamp impressions.
• ✓Clean rubber residue from the laser bed and lens after each session -- it can be sticky.
• ✓Air assist should be moderate -- too strong and it cools the rubber before cutting through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Materials for Thunder Laser Nova 35 80W

Rubber Settings for Other Machines