free tools
The Material Test Grid Generator
The only free firmware-aware test-grid tool for diode lasers. Pick your machine and material, set power and speed ranges, download an SVG for LightBurn or GRBL G-code with full safety checklist. Runs in your browser — no account, no install.
Tool · Flagship · Free
Material Test Grid Generator
Firmware-aware SVG and GRBL G-code. 15 machine profiles, banned-material safety gate, M4 dynamic power, dry-run framing. localStorage persistence.
open generator →Tools index
Settings Finder, Converter & Compare
On-site UX tools: translate settings between machine wattages using the energy index formula, find settings by machine and material, compare machines side-by-side.
view all toolssettings database
Sourced settings by material
Every setting carries a provenance tag, a confidence level, and a verified date. Ranges instead of false-precise single values. Wattage-normalized using the Laser Tinkerer Energy Index.
Wood · Cutting
3mm Basswood Plywood Cutting
Passes, speed, and power for 5W–40W machines, with and without air assist. The most-asked cutting question in the niche.
view settings →Wood · Engraving
Basswood Engraving
Logo/text mode and photo engraving across the 5W–40W range. DPI, dither mode, EI values, and grain-direction tips.
view settings →Leather · Engraving
Leather Engraving (Veg-tan)
Veg-tan leather settings 5W–40W. Chrome-tanned leather safety warning. Contrast tips and depth guidance.
view settings →Metal · Engraving
Anodized Aluminum Engraving
Logo/text and photo mode settings. Why less power is usually better. Color and tumbler guidance.
view settings →Acrylic · Cutting
Acrylic Cutting
Opaque and colored acrylic (450nm diode cannot cut clear acrylic). Cast vs extruded, air assist, multi-pass approach.
view settings →MDF · Cutting + Engraving
MDF Cutting & Engraving
3mm and 6mm MDF settings. Formaldehyde fume warning — ventilation is non-negotiable. Energy index values for translation.
view settings →Paper · Cutting
Cardboard & Chipboard Cutting
Corrugated card, plain card stock, and chipboard settings. Fire hazard guidance — never leave cardboard unattended.
view settings →All materials
Settings Database Index
All materials, all machine classes. Browse by material type or by machine. Includes banned-material warnings.
browse all →capability verdicts
Can a diode laser cut or engrave X?
Physics-based answers to the most common capability questions — not just "yes/no" but why, with wattage thresholds, failure modes, and decision tables.
Capability
Can a diode laser cut acrylic?
The 450nm beam transmits through clear acrylic — but opaque colors work. Explained with physics and a wattage feasibility table.
read answer →Capability
Can a diode laser engrave metal?
Bare metal reflects diode light — but anodized, coated, and treated surfaces engrave beautifully. Full coverage.
read answer →Capability
Full capability matrix →
20 materials, clear verdict, physics explanation, and wattage thresholds for each. The most comprehensive capability reference for diode lasers.
view matrix →original research
Cross-machine normalization: the Laser Tinkerer Energy Index
The only open, citable method for translating diode laser settings between machine wattages. The formula: EI = power_pct × W × 0.6 ÷ speed_mm_min. Published as CC BY-SA with full source attribution. The index stays near-constant for engraving; cutting uses intentionally higher EI at higher wattages to reduce pass count.
read the normalization report → download the open dataset