# Correct Laser power? **URL:** \ **Category:** Everything Lasers\ **Created:** [November 7, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/correct-laser-power/6732 "2026-11-07T00:18:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![myk5486](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@myk5486](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/myk5486)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/correct-laser-power/6732/1 "2026-11-07T00:18:44Z")
Hello, Need help confirm, feel like something is wrong since I’m at 100% and only engraving the wood minimally. I tried the suggested 70mm speed and 20% power and that didn’t do much, tried a couple others. I confirmed the 21mm distance, air is on and trigger power is set at “||”. I am not sure if more air might help, sharing a photo of the lends having stuff on it. Seems like 80mm speed and 100% power worked best. Does this seem right? Any help is appreciated. ![IMG_0973](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/f/f2f126e112fb5032ff9dc59a150f13960bd47d84.jpeg) ![IMG_0974](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/d/d7677925b7abad497c6775ac04ed19d1510fbb21.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Gbeck214](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Gbeck214](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Gbeck214)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 2:40am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/correct-laser-power/6732/2 "2026-11-07T02:40:19Z")
There is a little black slide switch on the front of the laser that changes power to 50%. Is that switch set correctly? I have accidentally moved mine before. ---
**Author:** ![myk5486](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@myk5486](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/myk5486)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 12:59pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/correct-laser-power/6732/3 "2026-11-07T12:59:03Z")
Yes, I realized that when i did the 250/90 test and re-ran again. It’s on the || level now. ---
**Author:** ![jjneeb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jjneeb/32/244_2.png) [@jjneeb](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/jjneeb)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/correct-laser-power/6732/4 "2026-11-07T16:16:41Z")
When you say 70mm speed, is that per minute, or per second? Second, are you laser rastering a picture, or is this a vector file you are burning? Is this CNC12 or Mach4 you are using? Your airflow should be 5 -15 lpm (this would be a light breeze coming out of the nozzle that you can just hear, and feel with your finger). The soot is normal with organic material. A little warm soapy water will wash that right off. ---
**Author:** ![myk5486](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@myk5486](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/myk5486)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 12:45am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/correct-laser-power/6732/5 "2026-11-08T00:45:25Z")
Per second, that is how its setup in Vcarve. I believe vector file burning. Showing what I am trying toolpath settings below. CNC12 is what I am running. How do I test the airflow? I cant tell if its enough because the fan for the laser is also running. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/0/0b1fd059bd702d75b1685750d8f6a6844e90e419.png) ---
**Author:** ![jjneeb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jjneeb/32/244_2.png) [@jjneeb](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/jjneeb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 3:17am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/correct-laser-power/6732/6 "2026-11-08T03:17:51Z")
So in most woods, if I want to make a deep etch (like cut down 1mm or so), I will run at about 15% power and 21 mm/s. If I just want a dark color, but no depth, I’ll cut the power down to 5–8%, but keep the same speed. You don’t want to go too much faster for vector work (at least when doing text like that), because of all the direction changes you are bascially never running a constant speed so you end up with a lot of speed variation. So I will just about always run my speed at 50-100ipm (21-42 mm/s) depending on how short the vectors are (yours are very short), and then just adjust power until I get the darkness/depth I want. I never go above about 30% power on organics unless I’m cutting something, and then I’m running full out at 100%. If I’m marking metal or stone, then I’ll run power at 100% and set my speed to get the results I want (you need a lot of power for those). So 70mm/s was probably way to fast and will give inconsistent results I suspect, even with high power. As for the airflow, a lot of us use a gas flow meter like this to read and adjust the flow: [Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0841WHCB5?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2) However, if you don’t have one, just disarm the laser and run a job and put your hand under the nozzle, you should feel a little breeze. You don’t need a lot of flow for etching, its mainly to keep dirt and smoke from getting back into the nozzle and fouling up the lens. ---
**Author:** ![myk5486](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@myk5486](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/myk5486)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/correct-laser-power/6732/7 "2026-11-08T18:39:23Z")
Thank you for the information and I will order one of these meters, seems important to keep an eye on this flow. I am trying to engrave cornhole boards so why trying to run faster with more power. I tested with a larger image and seems to be ok, feel the airflow over the nozzle is the issue and also will try cleaning the lens. Guessing there some gunk on it from my mistakes running. ---
**Author:** ![jjneeb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jjneeb/32/244_2.png) [@jjneeb](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/jjneeb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/correct-laser-power/6732/8 "2026-11-09T00:11:59Z")
Definitely check the lens. If they get dirty, the power gets severly degraded, but worse is all the power is going into heating the junk on the lens which can destroy the lens quickly. I have done that myself and is how I got to always using airflow no matter what I’m doing with it.