Warp No More: Pro Tip for Diode Laser Cutting

Warped material? No worries! This quick tip will keep your stock flat and your burns clean, and all it takes is a sheet of glass... Discover how to prevent warping, ensure precise cuts, and avoid potential hazards in your diode laser. We'll also take a look at Tabs and Bridges which don't require any glass, and even works with CO2 lasers.

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[CaptScott-ffmf]

This was such a "Duh, of course" moment.

[TheAndrian]

That's interesting and no magnets to boot.

[UndeadFleshgod]

That is so blatantly obvious that I'm mad I didn't think about it

[soniclab-cnc]

I have to run my co2 super fast for cutting thin materials and I have had it curl up and get caught up in the laser... I just added lots of suction below the honeycomb and that sucks everything down slightly better. Now I have a new diode laser will have to try this out.

[is]

Love the idea!

I am curious about focusing with a diode laser, since it seems the actual focal point is not the top surface of the glass, right? Am I missing something?

[jackyzule]

Are there certain specifications, what thickness of glass in mm should be used? I have tried that trick, using glass with a thickness of 5 mm to cut Eva foam with a thickness of 5 mm too, and the result is that the Eva foam doesn't cut well. What's wrong with the experiment I've done.

[gabrielgeller]

not exactly the best idea for bigger power diode laser. it will scratch the glass on the side with the material. I tried to cut leather with this method and the glass will be scratched this way.

[philipershler]

Well for warped plywood or any other relatively firm material, get an XTOOL S1 and use their Creative Space software to handle uneven or curved material and keep sharp focus. Soon, I hope LightBurn will be updated to be able to use the S1’s ability to engrave uneven or curved material. For something like thin vinyl, the glass is still a good idea.

[curbshooter]

can you make text in the shape of a triangle?

[paulgreen]

I don't know if this is relevant in this group but I can't get lightburn to react with the laser. I have an L2 24W Atezr.

[BitSmythe]

Sounds great…. But then we can’t use AIR ASSIST!

[skysurferuk]

Thanks for this upload, but for heavens' sake... NO WAGGY FINGERS!