This page describes a laser engraving setting published for Mylar / film PET (pochoirs) at 0.2 mm, tested on a Kern Laser Systems Micro fitted with a CO2 150W source (10,600 nm CO2, 150 W). It states the exact machine, source, material, thickness and operation of the test; power, speed and number of passes are shown with a Premium pass.
Why those four facts matter: a engraving setting that works on Mylar / film PET (pochoirs) at 0.2 mm does not transfer to another thickness, nor to another source. A 10,600 nm CO2 rated 150 W does not deposit the same energy as a stronger module, and the speed has to be adjusted accordingly. Copying a number without checking those four points is the first cause of a ruined part.
Published by LaserSettings (estimation). No other workshop has confirmed it yet: treat it as a starting point, and confirm it from your account if you reproduce it.
No photo comes with this setting yet. If you reproduce it, publish yours from your account: a picture of the result is worth more than a line of numbers.
Recommended routine before running the part: clean the lens, redo the focus, engrave a small test grid on an offcut of the same Mylar / film PET (pochoirs), then adjust the speed rather than the power. Work with fume extraction and air assist, wear glasses rated for 10,600 nm CO2, and never leave the machine unattended.
Kern Laser Systems builds large-format CO2 and fibre systems for industrial production, with beds several metres long. Settings are documented per approved material and thickness, and assume extraction and optics maintained on a schedule rather than by feel.
Mylar is a thin, translucent, flexible PET film used for painting, airbrush and sandblasting stencils. It cuts very fast with a CO2 and survives dozens of uses, which makes it the most cost-effective stencil support.
Very little power is needed: around 30% at 900 mm/min with a 40 W CO2 for 0.3 mm film. Excess power melts the outline and closes fine detail.
The film ripples with heat: keep it flat, otherwise focus is lost and the line becomes uneven. A honeycomb bed with suction is ideal.
Avoid metallised or gold mylar: the metal layer reflects the beam and can damage the optics.
Common thicknesses: 0.2 mm (very fine stencils, single or light use), 0.3 mm (everyday use) and 0.5 mm (reusable stencils, sandblasting).
Pitfall: bridges. A stencil with fully closed outlines loses its islands (the centre of an “O” falls out). Design 1 to 2 mm bridges before cutting; the laser will not invent them.