This page describes a laser engraving setting published for Bambou massif (planche) at 3 mm, tested on a Gweike LC400 Pro fitted with a Diode 10W source (445 nm blue diode, 10 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 Bambou massif (planche) at 3 mm does not transfer to another thickness, nor to another source. A 445 nm blue diode rated 10 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 Bambou massif (planche), then adjust the speed rather than the power. Work with fume extraction and air assist, wear glasses rated for 445 nm blue diode, and never leave the machine unattended.
Gweike builds both enclosed CO2 machines and compact fibre units (Cloud range). The enclosed CO2 models with extraction suit regular work on wood and acrylic; the fibre models target metal, with scanning speeds unrelated to a CO2's.
Solid bamboo sold as boards is not a wood: it is a grass, glued in strips to form a panel. It engraves beautifully — a very crisp dark brown on a light, even background — but it cuts poorly, because of its silica content and the glue joints between strips.
Bamboo is the most flattering engraving support in this category: its surface is homogeneous, with no pronounced grain, so artwork comes out exactly as it looks on screen. Around 45% at 2,500 mm/min with a 20 W diode, contrast is already strong.
Do not try to engrave deep: the silica in bamboo turns a deep engraving grey and powdery instead of dark. A shallow, fast engraving gives a better black than a slow, powerful one.
For cutting, allow plenty: at comparable density, bamboo needs roughly 20% more power than oak, and the glue joints regularly stop the beam. Two passes from 5 mm, and always check before lifting the part off the bed.
Bamboo boards are often slightly warped. A board bowed by two millimetres loses focus in the centre: hold it down with magnets or clamps before running a fine engraving.
Common thicknesses are 3, 5, 8 and 10 mm: coasters, cutting boards, rulers, boxes, cutlery. Shop-bought cutting boards are often 10 to 18 mm — beyond 10 mm, treat laser cutting as unreasonable and engrave only.
Pitfall number one is food oil: a new cutting board is almost always oiled. The oil smokes, stains around the artwork and gives uneven contrast. Degrease with household alcohol and let it dry before engraving.
Pitfall number two is glue: depending on the panel, the joints between strips show up light in the engraving, like regular stripes. Orient the artwork so those lines do not cross a face or fine text.
Finally, beware of so-called carbonised bamboo (dark caramel): it is heat-treated, more brittle, and its engraving contrast is far weaker than natural bamboo.