Settings database — Wood
Cherry wood laser engraving and cutting settings
For a 10W diode laser engraving cherry wood, start at 62–70% power and 2,500–3,000 mm/min (42–50 mm/s), 1 pass, 300 DPI. Cherry's fine grain produces a warm, richly-detailed brown-black mark against the wood's natural reddish-pink tone — it engraves beautifully with less energy than maple or birch. For cutting 3mm cherry at 10W: 800 mm/min, 90–95% power, 2 passes with air assist. These are calibrated starting points from two independent community sources — run a test piece first. Lasertinkerer.com LTEI avg 0.00146 J/mm (engrave, 10W), 2026-06-29.
| Operation | Wattage | Power | Speed (mm/min) | Speed (mm/s) | Passes | Air assist | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engrave (fill) | 10W | 62–70% | 2,500–3,000 | 42–50 | 1 | Off | medium |
| Cut 3mm | 10W | 90–95% | 800 | 13.3 | 2 | Yes — on | medium |
| Engrave (est.) | 20W | 61% | 5,000 | 83 | 1 | Off | low — unverified |
| Cut 3mm (est.) | 20W | 100% | 1,200 | 20 | 1–2 | Yes — on | low — unverified |
Quick answer: what settings for cherry wood?
At a glance — 10W diode laser:
- Engraving: 62–70% power · 2,500–3,000 mm/min (42–50 mm/s) · 1 pass · 300 DPI
- Cutting 3mm: 90–95% power · 800 mm/min (13 mm/s) · 2 passes · air assist on
Cherry engraves more easily than maple and cuts in fewer passes than birch or walnut. Its fine grain gives crisp, detailed marks. medium confidence
Sources: Craftgineer Blog (March 2026) + Bonny Creations / Ortur Laser Master 3 library (June 2026). Last verified 2026-06-29.
What power and speed engraves cherry wood with a 10W diode laser?
Two independent sources agree on a range of 62–70% power at 2,500–3,000 mm/min for 10W diode laser engraving of cherry wood. The Craftgineer Blog reports 70% at 2,500 mm/min; Bonny Creations documents 62% at 3,000 mm/min on the Ortur Laser Master 3. Both give a clean, warm mark in a single pass at 300 DPI.
| Machine class | Power | Speed (mm/min) | Speed (mm/s) | Passes | LTEI (J/mm) | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10W (Craftgineer) | 70% | 2,500 | 41.7 | 1 | 0.00168 | medium | community D |
| 10W (Ortur LM3) | 62% | 3,000 | 50.0 | 1 | 0.00124 | medium | community D |
| 20W (derived) | 61% | 5,000 | 83.3 | 1 | 0.00146 | low | calc. C |
| ↑ Estimated — unverified, confirm with a test grid. LTEI-derived from 10W anchors. Start here; adjust ±5% power if needed. | |||||||
The 70%/2,500 setting (Craftgineer) suits machines with standard mechanics; the 62%/3,000 setting (Ortur LM3) suits machines with faster steppers. Both deliver essentially the same energy density (0.00124–0.00168 J/mm). If you're dialling in, use the heatmap below to find your sweet spot.
How many passes to cut 3mm cherry wood with a 10W diode laser?
Cherry cuts in 2 passes at 10W — far fewer than maple (5–6 passes) or birch (3–4 passes). Its moderate density (~0.58 g/cm³) puts it between soft maple and basswood for cutting ease. Air assist is important to prevent char build-up in the kerf between passes.
| Machine class | Thickness | Power | Speed (mm/min) | Speed (mm/s) | Passes | Air assist | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10W (Ortur LM3) | 3mm | 90–95% | 800 | 13.3 | 2 | Yes — essential | medium | community D |
| 20W (derived) | 3mm | 100% | 1,200 | 20.0 | 1–2 | Yes — essential | low | calc. C |
| ↑ Estimated — unverified, confirm with a test grid. LTEI-derived from 10W 2-pass anchor. Try 1 pass first; add a second if not fully through. | ||||||||
Power × speed energy map for cherry wood engraving (10W reference)
The heatmap shows how delivered energy varies across the power/speed range for a 10W diode laser. The ringed cell (70% power, 2,500 mm/min) is the Craftgineer community recommendation. The Bonny Creations setting (62% / 3,000) falls in the adjacent cooler zone — both produce good results. Cells toward the top-right run hot and risk charring; cells toward the bottom-left are too cool for a reliable mark.
Cherry vs other woods: what makes it different?
Cherry is sometimes called the "easiest premium hardwood" for laser work. Here is how it stacks up against the most common alternatives:
| Wood | Density | Engrave power (10W) | Cut passes (10W, 3mm) | Contrast on light surface | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry | ~0.58 g/cm³ | 62–70% | 2 | Warm red-brown mark | Best balance of quality and cutting ease |
| Basswood | ~0.40 g/cm³ | 50–60% | 1–2 | Cool dark mark, pale background | Easiest beginner wood; less character |
| Pine | ~0.45 g/cm³ | 50% | 2–3 | Warm but variable grain | Cheaper; more resin/smoke than cherry |
| Walnut | ~0.65 g/cm³ | 65–100% | 2–3 | Low contrast (dark on dark) | Darker material limits mark visibility |
| Maple | ~0.70 g/cm³ | 75–85% | 5–6 | Very high contrast (pale wood) | Harder to cut; excellent engraving contrast |
The key advantage cherry has over maple is cutting ease: 2 passes vs 5–6. For jobs that require both engraving and cutting shapes (ornaments, custom keychains, name plates), cherry is the more practical premium hardwood choice on a 10W machine.
Dialling in your cherry wood settings
Start here — run a test square first
Before engraving your final piece, run the Material Test Grid Generator at the link below. Set power from 55–80% and speed from 2,000–4,000 mm/min. The sweet spot for most machines will land in the 62–70% / 2,500–3,000 mm/min region, but your specific board's moisture and density will shift it slightly.
Run material test grid →Common problems and fixes
- Mark is too light or barely visible: increase power by 5% or reduce speed by 300 mm/min. Cherry is fairly consistent but denser or more humid boards need slightly more energy.
- Edges are fuzzy or feathered: check focus. A 1mm focus error at 10W halves effective power. Re-focus using the machine's focus block or a ramp test.
- Surface scorching or shiny char film: you're running too slow or too hot. Reduce power by 5–10% and increase speed by 500 mm/min. Cherry's fine grain doesn't need as much energy as walnut.
- 3mm cut incomplete after 2 passes: add one more pass at the same settings rather than slowing down. If the piece still won't separate, check that your material is truly 3mm — cherry from craft stores is sometimes labelled 3mm but measures 3.2–3.4mm.
- Masking tape discolouration: normal. Blue painter's tape before engraving prevents smoke staining the surrounding wood surface; peel it off immediately after the job.
Cherry wood for photos and portraits
Cherry's fine, consistent grain makes it one of the better woods for photo engraving. Use a DPI of 254–300 (higher doesn't help past the beam width limit). Process the image with a stucki or jarvis dither in LightBurn rather than threshold. Reduce power by 5–10% from the flat-engrave setting to preserve mid-tone detail. Cherry's natural variation in tone across the board is a feature, not a flaw — it adds depth to portrait work.
Safety: working with cherry wood
- Ventilate: cherry smoke smells pleasant but still contains fine wood particulate and VOCs. Use ducted ventilation or a laser-rated fume extractor.
- Eye protection: OD7+ 445/450nm rated glasses whenever the lid is open or the beam is active.
- Air assist for cutting: essential for managing the char between passes and preventing brief flame-ups at cut edges.
- Avoid treated or stained cherry: raw solid cherry is safe; cherry that has been stained, lacquered, or pressure-treated may produce more hazardous fumes.
- Confirm the wood type: craft store "cherry" is usually genuine Prunus serotina (black cherry). Cheaper "cherry-look" boards may be cherry-veneered MDF — which contains formaldehyde binders and produces more fumes than solid wood.
Relevant links: laser safety overview · can a diode laser cut wood?
Where to find cherry wood for laser work:
- Cherry wood thin boards and blanks for laser engraving
- Air assist pump for diode laser cutters
- OD7+ 450nm laser safety glasses
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Frequently asked questions
What power and speed for cherry wood on a 10W diode laser?
Start at 62–70% power, 2,500–3,000 mm/min (42–50 mm/s), 1 pass, 300 DPI. Two community sources agree on this range. Run a test square first — cherry is consistent but board quality varies.
How many passes to cut 3mm cherry wood?
2 passes at 800 mm/min and 90–95% power with a 10W diode and air assist. Cherry cuts far more easily than maple or birch at the same wattage. At 20W, 1–2 passes is typical.
Is cherry better than basswood for laser engraving?
It depends on what you want. Cherry is a premium wood with a warmer, more distinctive appearance; basswood is cheaper and easier to cut. For gifts, keepsakes, and signs, cherry's reddish-pink tone and fine grain produce a more impressive result. For high-volume cutting, basswood's predictability and cost win.
Can I engrave cherry wood with a 5W diode laser?
Yes — engraving at 5W is possible at slower speeds (1,200–1,800 mm/min) and higher power (80–90%). Cutting 3mm cherry at 5W is impractical (many passes, significant char). The 5W class is much better suited to engraving cherry than cutting it.
Does cherry wood smell when laser engraved?
Yes — a pleasant, sweet, slightly fruity aroma. Cherry is universally considered the most pleasant-smelling wood to laser. However, pleasant smell does not mean safe: always ventilate, as wood smoke contains fine particles regardless of species.