Best Acrylic for Diode Lasers: What Cuts and What Doesn't
CMBACRYLIC Buying Guide
Buying Guide · Diode Lasers
Best Acrylic for Diode Lasers
What cuts, what doesn't, and how to choose sheets for your diode machine.
Quick answer: Diode lasers cut opaque, darker acrylic best: black, dark matte and gloss colors, and many glitter, pearl, metallic and iridescent sheets. They usually can't cut clear, blue or most transparent acrylic, because the light passes through. Our printed pattern sheets cut on a diode when you choose a black core.
Diode lasers are affordable and compact, but they work differently from CO2 lasers. A diode beam is absorbed by color. If the sheet doesn't absorb it, the beam passes through and nothing cuts. That is why material choice matters so much more on a diode.
What works
Acrylic That Works on Diode Lasers
Black and dark opaque colors
Gloss black, matte black and other dark, solid colors absorb the beam best and are the easiest place to start.
Matte colors
Many of our matte colors have been cut by customers on diode machines, including darker and warmer shades.
Glitter, pearl, metallic & iridescent
Several specialty sheets cut well on a diode, especially black-based glitters and iridescent on black.
Printed patterns with a black core
Our pattern sheets are diode friendly when you choose a black core color.
What to avoid
Acrylic That Usually Won't Cut on a Diode
Clear acrylic
Colorless, so the beam passes straight through. Use a CO2 laser.
Blue and most transparent colors
Blue light passes through blue and transparent sheets. Most won't cut.
Mirror acrylic
Not recommended for diode lasers.
Light, pale colors
Results vary. Test first and expect more passes.
How we know
Where Our Diode List Comes From
Our customers tested these sheets on diode lasers of various powers and shared their results. Machines, power and focus differ, so cut a sample chip first. You'll find customer-reported settings in our Diode Tested Products list, and more background in Let's Talk Diode-Safe Materials.
Diode tips: Leave the masking on, focus carefully, and expect multiple passes on 1/8" sheets. If a cut doesn't go through, slow down or add a pass before increasing power.
Quick answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a diode laser cut clear acrylic?
Usually not. Clear and most transparent acrylic let the diode beam pass through. Use a CO2 laser for clear, or choose an opaque, darker sheet.
Can a diode laser cut 1/8" acrylic?
Many 1/8" sheets cut on a diode, usually in several passes. See our Diode Laser collection for sheets customers have tested.
What color acrylic is best for a diode laser?
Black and dark opaque colors. Blue, clear and transparent colors are the hardest.
Get diode-ready
Shop diode-tested acrylic
Sheets our customers have cut on diode lasers.
Shop the Diode Laser collection →
