Introduction: Speak Laser, Create Confidently
When I bought my first laser, I didn’t realize I was entering a new world with its own language, and if you don’t speak it, you’ll waste materials, time, and patience.
That’s why I built this Laser Lingo 101 glossary. A complete list of the 100 most common terms every laser owner should know, what they mean, and when they matter.
Bookmark this post, because once you start understanding the language, you’ll start mastering your machine.
Section 1: Machine & Hardware Basics
| # | Term | Meaning | When It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CO₂ Laser | Uses gas to cut/engrave wood, acrylic, leather. | You’ll use this type if you own an xTool P2S, Glowforge, Thunder, or Aeon Mira. |
| 2 | Fiber Laser | Uses fiber optics; engraves metals and jewelry. | Needed for stainless steel, brass, gold, and aluminum marking. |
| 3 | Diode Laser | LED-based; affordable but weaker. | Great for small projects or engraving coated metals. |
| 4 | Wattage | Power output of your laser. | Determines how deep or fast you can cut; e.g., 60 W vs. 100 W. |
| 5 | Beam Alignment | Ensuring mirrors direct the beam correctly. | If cuts are inconsistent or weak, realign mirrors. |
| 6 | Lens | Focuses the beam to a fine point. | Must be cleaned regularly for precision. |
| 7 | Mirror | Reflects the beam to the lens. | Dirty or misaligned mirrors cause poor cuts. |
| 8 | Air Assist | Airflow that prevents burn marks. | Always use when cutting wood or acrylic. |
| 9 | Exhaust Fan | Removes smoke and fumes. | Mandatory for indoor use — keeps air clear. |
| 10 | Bed Size | Maximum area your machine can engrave. | Impacts how large your projects can be. |
| 11 | Gantry | Moving framework that carries the laser head. | Affects stability and alignment. |
| 12 | Nozzle | The tip where the beam exits. | Clean if cuts start flaring or edges scorch. |
| 13 | Z-Axis | Moves bed up/down for focus. | Adjust when switching between thick and thin materials. |
| 14 | Red-Dot Pointer | Preview beam position safely. | Use to align cuts before engraving. |
| 15 | Water Cooling | Keeps CO₂ tube from overheating. | Always on during long or high-power jobs. |
Section 2: Software & Design Terms
| # | Term | Meaning | When It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Vector | Path-based line for cutting or scoring. | Use SVGs for clean cuts. |
| 17 | Raster (Bitmap) | Pixel-based image (JPG, PNG). | Used for engraving photos or artwork. |
| 18 | LightBurn | Popular laser control software. | Great for power/speed layering and camera preview. |
| 19 | xTool Creative Space | xTool’s official design software. | Beginner-friendly for basic designs. |
| 20 | Kerf | Width of material removed by beam. | Important for fitting parts like puzzle pieces. |
| 21 | Offset | Adjusts cut path for kerf compensation. | Keeps fit snug for joints or boxes. |
| 22 | Line Interval | Space between engraving passes. | Adjust to improve detail or reduce time. |
| 23 | Passes | Number of times the laser repeats. | Used for thicker materials or deeper engraves. |
| 24 | Power (%) | Strength of the laser beam. | Control depth and contrast. |
| 25 | Speed (mm/s) | Movement rate during job. | Slower = deeper; faster = lighter. |
| 26 | DPI | Dots per inch, or engraving density. | Higher DPI = finer detail but longer job. |
| 27 | Frequency (Hz) | Pulses per second. | Adjust on fiber lasers for metal engraving tone. |
| 28 | Focus Height | Distance between lens and surface. | Misfocus = blurry engraves or incomplete cuts. |
| 29 | Origin (Home) | Starting coordinate for job. | Set manually to control where your design begins. |
| 30 | Layers | Color-coded job types (cut, engrave, score). | Each color can have its own settings. |
| 31 | Node Editing | Adjusting vector points in design. | Fixes shapes, sharp corners, or smooth curves. |
| 32 | Fill | Engraving the inside of a shape. | For logos, photos, and solid areas. |
| 33 | Outline (Stroke) | The perimeter of a design. | Defines where to cut or score. |
| 34 | Text to Path | Converts text into shapes. | Prevents missing fonts in software transfer. |
| 35 | Preview | Simulation of your job before running. | Avoids mistakes and material waste. |
Section 3: Materials & Finishing
| # | Term | Meaning | When It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Plywood (Laser-Grade) | Flat, glue-free wood for cutting. | Reduces smoke and burns. |
| 37 | MDF | Medium-density fiberboard. | Great for cheap prototypes, not for food use. |
| 38 | Basswood | Lightweight wood perfect for engraving. | Ideal for ornaments and signs. |
| 39 | Acrylic (Cast) | Produces clear, smooth edges. | Best for signage and layered art. |
| 40 | Extruded Acrylic | Melts easily, rougher edges. | Avoid for precision cutting. |
| 41 | Leather (Veg-Tanned) | Safe to engrave. | Used for patches, keychains. |
| 42 | Chrome/Metal Marking Spray | Chemical coating to mark metals with CO₂ lasers. | Apply before engraving stainless steel. |
| 43 | Masking Tape | Protects surface from soot. | Essential for wood projects. |
| 44 | Painting Fill | Adding paint into engraves. | Enhances contrast on wood or metal. |
| 45 | Resin Infill | Clear or colored epoxy in deep engraves. | Popular in jewelry and signage. |
| 46 | Slate | Natural stone that engraves light gray. | Great for coasters or plaques. |
| 47 | Glass | Requires low power and slow speed. | Engraves frosted texture. |
| 48 | Ceramic Tile | White engraves to black tone. | Used for photo engraving. |
| 49 | Cork | Lightweight, engraves dark. | Ideal for coasters and trivets. |
| 50 | Rubber (Laser-Safe) | Used for making stamps. | Avoid standard rubber — can melt or smell. |
Section 4: Techniques & Testing
| # | Term | Meaning | When It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Material Test Grid | Small power/speed matrix. | Find settings before running real projects. |
| 52 | Power Scale Test | Progressive engrave bar. | Helps determine shading range. |
| 53 | Focus Ramp Test | Cuts at various heights. | Finds the sharpest focus distance. |
| 54 | Engrave vs. Score | Engraving burns deeper; scoring is a light line. | Choose based on detail or time. |
| 55 | Cut Through | Beam fully separates material. | Required for puzzle pieces, signage. |
| 56 | Photo Engraving | Converts images to grayscale. | Perfect for portraits on wood or slate. |
| 57 | Masking Removal | Peeling protective layer post-engrave. | Prevents smoke stains. |
| 58 | Cleaning Pass | Low-power extra run. | Removes debris after engrave. |
| 59 | Multi-Layer Design | Combining materials or stacked cuts. | Creates 3D signage or décor. |
| 60 | Inlay | Fitting one material into another. | For wood/epoxy art and jewelry. |
| 61 | Jig | Template to hold items in place. | Use for batch engraving products. |
| 62 | Tiling (Pass-Through) | Engraving large items in sections. | For small lasers with limited bed size. |
| 63 | Mask Alignment | Repositioning masking precisely. | Useful for multi-pass jobs or color fills. |
| 64 | Etching | Light surface removal. | Used for metals and glass. |
| 65 | Deep Engraving | Multiple passes for texture depth. | Common in wood carving or jewelry. |
Section 5: Safety & Maintenance
| # | Term | Meaning | When It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | Air Filter | Captures particles and fumes. | Replace regularly for safe indoor use. |
| 67 | Fume Extractor | External ventilation system. | Essential for enclosed setups. |
| 68 | Grounding | Electrical safety measure. | Prevents static damage to boards. |
| 69 | Overburn | Excess power charring edges. | Lower power or increase speed. |
| 70 | Warping | Material bending under heat. | Secure with magnets or tape. |
| 71 | Lens Cleaning Kit | Tools to remove soot. | Use weekly or after heavy jobs. |
| 72 | Mirror Adjustment Screws | Fine-tunes beam reflection. | For consistent power across bed. |
| 73 | Cooling Water Flow Sensor | Detects coolant circulation. | Protects CO₂ tube from overheating. |
| 74 | Emergency Stop (E-Stop) | Button to halt machine instantly. | Use for any unexpected flame or jam. |
| 75 | Flame Sensor | Detects small fires. | Safety feature on advanced models. |
| 76 | Maintenance Schedule | Routine cleaning/calibration. | Keeps laser running smoothly. |
| 77 | Exhaust Hose Clamp | Secures tubing. | Prevents leaks or smoke backflow. |
| 78 | Fire Blanket | Extinguishes small fires. | Keep nearby every laser setup. |
| 79 | Ground Glass Window | Viewing window in cover. | Always keep clean for visibility. |
| 80 | Static Discharge | Buildup of electricity. | Dangerous for diode lasers; ground workspace. |
Section 6: Business & Workflow Terms
| # | Term | Meaning | When It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | Batch Engraving | Running multiples of same design. | Great for production efficiency. |
| 82 | Job Queue | List of designs ready to run. | Organizes workflow in software. |
| 83 | Production Settings | Optimized parameters for bulk jobs. | Saves time once perfected. |
| 84 | Engraving Time Estimate | Calculated duration before running. | Plan batch jobs efficiently. |
| 85 | Material Cost Tracking | Monitoring expenses per item. | Crucial for pricing products. |
| 86 | Machine Warm-Up | Quick test job before production. | Ensures consistent performance. |
| 87 | File Organization | Folder structure for designs. | Keeps you sane long-term. |
| 88 | Design Library | Your collection of ready-to-engrave files. | Saves prep time. |
| 89 | SVG Optimization | Cleaning extra points in design. | Makes jobs faster and smoother. |
| 90 | Proof Engrave | Miniature test before final run. | Prevents ruining expensive materials. |
| 91 | Recalibration | Periodic mechanical reset. | Ensures accuracy over time. |
| 92 | Firmware Update | Software that controls your laser hardware. | Fixes bugs or adds features. |
| 93 | Error Code Log | Machine’s built-in diagnostics. | Helps troubleshoot issues. |
| 94 | Job Origin Marker | Indicator of where to reload a project. | Useful for resuming failed jobs. |
| 95 | Return to Origin | Sends head back to start after job. | Keeps layout consistent. |
| 96 | Camera Alignment | Calibrating onboard camera to bed. | For accurate material placement. |
| 97 | Network Connection | Wi-Fi or USB link to software. | Affects reliability of long jobs. |
| 98 | Engraving Preview Overlay | Camera-based visual of project. | Avoids misplacement or overlap. |
| 99 | Work Coordinate System (WCS) | Defines position references. | Used in advanced setups with jigs. |
| 100 | Backup Settings File | Copy of your tested presets. | Protects from data loss or software resets. |
Final Thoughts
The secret to becoming a confident laser creator isn’t just practice — it’s understanding.
Once you know what these terms mean and when to use them, troubleshooting becomes easy, designs go smoother, and projects turn out beautifully.
Print this list. Keep it near your workspace.
And remember: the more you speak “laser,” the more you create like a pro.
Follow along for next week’s post:
“Design Prep 101: How to Make Images Laser-Ready” where we’ll talk about converting files, prepping photos, and avoiding the mistakes that ruined my first dozen projects.
