This page describes a laser engraving setting published for Tilleul (basswood) at 2 mm, tested on a Boss Laser LS-2440 fitted with a CO2 100W source (10,600 nm CO2, 100 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 Tilleul (basswood) at 2 mm does not transfer to another thickness, nor to another source. A 10,600 nm CO2 rated 100 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 Tilleul (basswood), 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.
Boss Laser assembles and distributes workshop-format CO2 and fibre machines with US-based support. The CO2 models suit wood, acrylic and leather; the fibre models target metal marking, where pulse frequency matters as much as power.
Basswood is the favourite wood of model makers and beginner engravers: soft, light, without pronounced grain and inexpensive. It cuts fast and engraves cleanly, which makes it the best wood to learn on.
Basswood needs little power: 30% at 3,200 mm/min with a 20 W diode already gives a legible engraving. Too strong a setting digs into the surface instead of darkening it, a very visible flaw on a soft wood.
For cutting, one pass is enough up to 4 mm with a 20 W diode, and up to 6 mm with a 40 W CO2. Do not slow down too much: heat builds up and burns widely around the line.
Common thicknesses: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm, often as modelling sheets. Those sheets are frequently warped: hold them down before engraving, otherwise focus varies from edge to edge.
Pitfall: its softness makes basswood sensitive to mechanical marks. A clamp, a badly placed magnet or tape pulled off too fast leaves a permanent imprint.