Why You Should NEVER Walk Away From Your Laser Cutter

If you're using a laser cutter - to cut any material - listen up. This is an important safety reminder.

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In my recent tutorial on how to make DIY cookie cutters, I mentioned it's important not to walk away from your laser due to fire risk.

While this happened while cutting thick acrylic on my laser, it's a good reminder for everyone.

Here's what makes thick acrylic different

When you're cutting something like 1/4 inch acrylic, you have to run your laser at HIGH power and LOW speed. That combination gets the job done - but it is also the riskiest type of laser cutting you can do.

High power + low speed = more heat dwelling in one spot for longer. And more heat means a higher chance of flare-ups.

It's not just the acrylic

When I was laser cutting cookie cutters, I had multiple layers going on at once - the acrylic itself, a 3M adhesive mask on the back, and a protective cover on the front of the acrylic. That is a LOT of material for a laser to work through.

Any debris in your laser bed adds to the risk. Even tiny pieces of leftover material - specifically wood - can flare up when your laser is running at that kind of power.

This is why you HAVE to stand by your machine and watch as it laser cuts.

What to do if you get a flare-up

If you see any kind of flame - even a small one - power off your laser immediately by hitting the emergency stop or the power button.

This is exactly why the xTool P2 and P2S have an enclosed design. That enclosure helps contain issues if something goes wrong. But your best tool is still to be at the ready.

A few habits that help

Keep your laser bed clean. Scraps and debris in the bed are just kindling for flare-ups, and it takes two minutes to clear them out before you start a job.

Do a test cut first. Before you run a full sheet of expensive acrylic, cut a small piece to confirm your settings are actually getting through cleanly. I slowed my speed down to 5 for the masked pieces and that made all the difference - but that is really slow.

Stay in the room. I know it's tempting to walk away while the laser does its thing, but specifically for thick acrylic stay nearby.

The laser I used for this project

I cut my acrylic cookie cutters on my xTool P2 55W CO2, which is my fastest, most powerful CO2 laser. It handled the 1/4 inch acrylic beautifully — but I still stood right next to it the entire time.

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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