Once you nail the best laser engraving settings, to avoid burning and scorching, you're going to be absolutely amazed at the results you an get when engraving silicone.
Before we begin, I always recommend getting some practice blanks. I put together a list of my favorite silicone blanks for laser engraving on Amazon. The silicone baby spoons, I am going to use in this tutorial are on the list if you want to grab them.
You can click the image below to shop.
The Key to Perfect Silicone Engraving
Silicone can be tricky because you need to engrave deep enough that the engraving is easily visible, but you don't want to be too aggressive in your settings or you'll burn the silicone leaving behind a black stain that is nearly impossible to clean.
My suggestion is to use one of your blanks as a tester, but keep in mind - not all silicone is the same you'll need to dial in the exact settings for each of your blanks. For example, the silicone baby bib is a thin flexible material while the watch bands and spoons are thicker and more rigid.
Best Laser for Engraving Silicone
I'm using my xTool P2 CO2 laser but a diode laser will also work - and in some situation it's actually better to use a lower powered diode laser on silicone.
The reason I prefer the xTool P2 is because of the top-down camera that's extremely accurate for positioning as opposed to the M1's fish eye camera (which tends to skew placement) or the xTool S1 that doesn't have a camera at all.
Setting Up for Laser Engraving Silicone
To start place your silicone item in your laser bed. Again I'm using my xTool P2 and one of the silicone baby spoons.
In xTool Creative Space (XCS) refresh the camera so you can see your item.
For these spoons I'm just going to quickly engrave a name. If you need a refresher on how to use the XCS Text tool or how to import your own fonts for xTool check out this video.
Size the text down so it fits on the handle of the spoon. With the text selected, set the processing to "Engrave". I have both engraved and scored successfully on silicon, but for beginners I'd suggest engraving.
Don't forget to use the automatic measuring tool in XCS so the laser adjusts to the thickness of the item.
Best Settings for Laser Engraving Silicone with xTool
The biggest mistake is using settings that are too aggressive. My recommended silicone settings when using the 55w xTool P2 CO2 laser are:- Power: 40% (never go higher to start!)
- Speed: 150 mm/s
- Passes: 1 only (multiple passes create burning)
- Lines: 70 (prevents excessive laser lines)
- Bilateral
If you're using a diode laser, like the 10w xTool M1 or S1 you can start with less power due to the focused laser beam. It should give you clean results with significantly less power than CO2.
- Power: 15%
- Speed: 150 mm/s
- Passes: 2 only (multiple passes create burning)
- Lines: 70 (prevents excessive laser lines)
- Bilateral
Adjusting Your Laser Settings for Silicone
Knowing what your results mean will give you an idea of how to adjust them to get the perfect engraving.
If you're getting a flame at all that's going to result in soot. It means the laser is running too hot for engraving silicone. If you're getting any soot, increase the speed to closer to 200 to avoid the laser sitting on the same area for too long.
On the other hand, if your engraving comes out too too light, increase the number of passes rather than power.
Cleaning Up Engraved Silicone
After engraving, you'll see white residue - this is just silicone dust from the engraving process.
Use a clean Q-tip with rubbing alcohol and/or water to clean the entire engraved area thoroughly. Flip to the clean side of the Q-tip and go over it one more time. Never use a dirty Q-tip - it'll just add more debris to your project!
For a full step by step tutorial on your first laser engraving silicone project, check out this video!
Saving Your Settings for Future Projects
If you're happy with the results of your engraving - save your settings in xTool Creative Space.
Just remember, even though they're both silicone, a thick spoon and a thin silicone bib might need slightly different settings. The material composition and thickness affect how the laser interacts with it.
What Other Silicone Items Can Be Engraved
Once you master these laser engraving techniques you can apply them to all kinds of silicone items from tumblers to watch bands!
Check out and shop my full list of 10 silicone items on Amazon you can engrave.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!
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