Laser engraving speed protocol (v1.0)

Version: 1.0 (September 25, 2026)
Applies to: diode lasers, galvo lasers, CO2 lasers, fiber lasers, rotaries
Results so far: None. Testing starts with our first purchased machines.

What we measure

Measurements in this protocol
Measurement	Unit	Better	Notes
Job time, standard file (median of 3)	min:s	Lower	Wall-clock time including acceleration, overscan and travel moves.
Software estimate vs. real time	%	Lower	How far the machine’s own time estimate is off.
Darkness reached (mean L* of fill square)	L*	Lower	Makes sure a fast run is not just a faint run.
Tumbler job time (rotary only)	min:s	Lower	Wrap-around logo on a standard 20 oz stainless tumbler.

Why this test

Manufacturers quote a maximum axis speed (for example "600 mm/s"). Real jobs rarely reach it: the head has to accelerate, slow for corners and travel between shapes.

For a seller, what decides profit is how many finished items per hour a machine can produce at sellable quality. That is what this protocol measures.

Equipment

We list instrument classes and specifications rather than brands, because the exact units are still being purchased. Each result page will name the exact model and serial-level calibration date.

Equipment list
Item	Minimum spec	Why
Test file KP-ENG-01 (v1.0)	50 × 50 mm grayscale photo (dithered raster), 40 × 40 mm solid fill square with 6 pt to 24 pt text, 60 mm vector outline of a coaster shape	Covers the three kinds of work sellers actually run: photos, text/logos and line work. The file will be downloadable on this page.
60 fps video camera + on-screen timer	Any camera recording at 60 fps or better, framed on the machine and a visible clock	Start and end are read from video frames, not a hand stopwatch, for ±0.1 s timing.
Flatbed scanner	600 dpi optical, color-managed with an IT8.7/2 reference target	Measures darkness (CIE L*) of the fill square so fast-but-faint settings cannot win.
Wood moisture meter	Pin-type, 5–40% range	Wood moisture changes how fast a laser browns wood. We only use boards at 6–10%.
Thermo-hygrometer	±0.5 °C, ±3% RH	Room conditions are logged for every run.
Materials	3 mm basswood plywood (single batch), 3 mm black cast acrylic, anodized aluminum business-card blanks, 20 oz powder-coated stainless tumbler	Common, cheap, repeatable sellers’ materials. Batch numbers are recorded.

Setup

Condition all wood for 48 h in the lab at 20–24 °C and 40–60% RH; check moisture is 6–10%.
Assemble, level and calibrate the machine exactly as the manual says. Update to the latest public firmware and record the version.
Clean the lens/mirrors, set focus with the machine’s own method (autofocus, probe or focus gauge).
Use the manufacturer’s own software (for example xTool Creative Space or xTool Studio) and, where supported, LightBurn. Record software version.

Procedure

Run 1 — "out of the box": load the manufacturer’s built-in material preset for 3 mm basswood and run KP-ENG-01. Record video, the software’s time estimate and room conditions.
Scan the result at 600 dpi. Measure the mean L* of the fill square (lower = darker).
Run 2 — "matched darkness": adjust speed/power until the fill square reaches L* ≤ 35 ± 2 on basswood (our sellable-dark target) at the fastest setting that does so. Record final settings.
Repeat the matched-darkness job three times on fresh material; keep the median time.
Repeat steps 1–4 on anodized aluminum (all laser types that can mark it) and on black acrylic (lasers that can engrave it).
Rotary only: engrave the wrap-around KP-ENG-TUM logo on the tumbler three times; keep the median.
Log every failed or aborted run and why. Failed runs are published, not discarded.

Controls

Same material batch for every machine in a comparison; a new batch triggers a re-run of the reference machine.
Same test file, same image dithering mode where the software allows it (named in the results).
Room 20–24 °C, 40–60% RH. Runs outside that window are repeated.
Air assist on if the machine ships with it; off otherwise (noted).
EU-voltage version of the machine where one exists; version and power supply are recorded.

Scoring

The speed sub-score (0–10) compares machines within the same laser category only; a diode is never scored against a fiber laser.

Scoring weights
Component	Weight	Based on
Photo raster job, matched darkness	50%	Median time
Fill + text job, matched darkness	25%	Median time
Vector outline job	10%	Median time
Estimate accuracy	15%	\|estimate − real\| ÷ real
Total	100%

Formula. Each time component scores 10 × (fastest time in category ÷ this machine’s time). Estimate accuracy scores 10 × (1 − error), floored at 0. The sub-score is the weighted sum, rounded to one decimal.

Scores are a convenience. The raw measurements are always published next to them, and our picks explain which measurement mattered for which kind of seller.

What we publish

Every run’s time, settings, firmware and software version, room temperature and humidity (CSV).
Scans of every test piece and the L* measurements.
The exact project files we ran, so you can reproduce the job on your own machine.
Aborted and failed runs, with the reason.

Limitations

Our test file is a proxy for real orders; your designs may run faster or slower.
Matched darkness on basswood does not mean matched quality on every material.
We test one retail unit per model. Unit-to-unit variation is possible and we say so when we see it.

Where results will appear

On every product page this protocol applies to, a lab slot like the one below stays empty until we have measured that machine:

Lab slotengrave_speed_real

Job time, standard file (median of 3)

Measurement pendingWe'll measure this on a unit we buy ourselves and publish the raw data. Read the protocol for Job time, standard file (median of 3)

Protocol changelog

When we change a protocol, we bump its version, explain why here, and re-run or flag any results measured under the old version.

Protocol version history
Version	Date	Change
v1.0	September 25, 2026	First public version, published before any machine was tested so readers can critique the method first. Not yet run on any machine.

Laser engraving speed protocol