Cutting Leather Cleanly on the Ray5 20W
laserray5leathercuttingsettings
Leather is one of the best materials for the Ray5 — it cuts and engraves beautifully. Here's how to get clean edges without burning or charring excessively.
Know Your Leather
| Type | Ray5 Compatible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable-tanned | ✓ Excellent | Clean cut, good engrave |
| Chrome-tanned | ✓ Good | Slightly more char |
| Genuine suede | ✓ Good | Engrave only, cut frays |
| PU / faux leather | ✓ Usually | Check for PVC content |
| Patent leather | ⚠ Test first | Coating may be PVC |
| PVC vinyl | ✗ Never | Chlorine gas — toxic |
The PVC test: Cut a tiny piece in ventilated area. Sharp acrid smell = PVC = stop immediately.
Engraving Settings
| Speed | Power | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 4000 mm/min | 25% | Light surface texture mark |
| 2500 mm/min | 40% | Standard engrave, medium depth |
| 1500 mm/min | 60% | Deep dark engrave |
| 800 mm/min | 75% | Very deep, almost cutting |
Cutting Settings
| Thickness | Speed | Power | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1mm | 800 mm/min | 70% | 1 |
| 2mm | 500 mm/min | 85% | 2 |
| 3mm | 400 mm/min | 90% | 2–3 |
| 4mm | 300 mm/min | 100% | 3–4 |
Getting Clean Cuts
- Pin or tape leather flat — any movement ruins cut quality
- Raise off honeycomb — put leather on small risers so air flows underneath
- Air assist ON — removes char, cools edge as it cuts
- Multiple slow passes vs one fast pass = cleaner edges
- Don't over-power — scorching = char buildup on cut face
Post-Processing
- Wipe cut edges with damp cloth immediately after — removes surface char
- Beeswax or edge paint on cut edges for professional finish
- Leather conditioner on engraved areas after cutting — restores some flexibility
- Sand lightly with 400 grit if edges have fuzz
Jig for Repeat Cuts
For wallets, keychains, or repeat items:
- Engrave a registration outline on scrap cardboard
- Place leather inside outline each time
- Consistent positioning = consistent results