45W laser cutting 3mm plywood—edges turn black. How to prevent?

Fixing Black Edges on 45W 3mm Plywood Cuts
Black edges = carbonization. Usually caused by settings, air assist, or material. Here's how to fix it:

1. Cut in one pass — multiple passes re-burn the edge.
2. Speed up, dial in power — try 80-100% power at 20-30 mm/s as a starting point.
3. Max out air assist — turn pump to 100%, clear the nozzle, keep it close to the surface.
4. Use masking tape — apply paper tape before cutting, peel off after. It catches the soot.
5. Check materials & focus — cheap plywood has too much glue. Try laser-grade or Baltic birch. Also, check your focus — slightly deeper can help smoke escape.

Quick summary:

Tape it.
Blow max air.
One pass only.
Dial the right speed/power.

You can start by addressing the issue from the following aspects:

1. Prioritize parameter tuning: Follow the principle of "cutting through in a single pass." Start with the reference parameters, then fine-tune the speed and power to find the optimal combination for your specific machine.
2. Turn on the air assist: Check and ensure that the auxiliary air blowing is set to maximum. If possible, use an air compressor for better results.
3. Use simple tricks: Apply masking tape to the material surface—this is almost an instant fix.
4. Inspect the material and focus: If the above measures don't yield satisfactory results, look into the material quality and check the focus settings.