The Sculpfun S30 Ultra is a capable diode laser that punches above its price point. This guide covers tested starting settings for the most common materials so you can skip the guesswork and start making things.
The Sculpfun S30 Ultra comes in 10W and 20W variants. It features a fixed focus design with a compressed spot size that gives it good engraving detail. The open frame design makes it easy to work with large pieces but means it must be used in a well-ventilated area or inside an enclosure.
These settings are tested on the S30 Ultra 10W. For the 20W, reduce power by approximately 20% as a starting point and adjust from there.
The S30 performs well on most wood types. The compressed spot size gives sharp engraving results. For cutting, run multiple passes at moderate power rather than one slow high-power pass — it gives cleaner edges and reduces char.
| Material | Thickness | Mode | Power (10W) | Speed (mm/min) | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basswood | 3mm | Cut | 80% | 350 | 2 |
| Basswood | 3mm | Engrave | 35% | 3500 | 1 |
| Plywood (birch) | 3mm | Cut | 88% | 280 | 2–3 |
| Plywood (birch) | 6mm | Cut | 95% | 160 | 4 |
| MDF | 3mm | Cut | 90% | 220 | 3 |
Cast acrylic cuts well on the S30. Use air assist and run at moderate speeds. The S30's compressed spot helps produce cleaner edges in acrylic than wider spot machines. Colored acrylic generally requires slightly less power than clear.
| Material | Thickness | Mode | Power (10W) | Speed (mm/min) | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cast acrylic (clear) | 2mm | Cut | 78% | 220 | 2 |
| Cast acrylic (clear) | 3mm | Cut | 88% | 160 | 3 |
| Cast acrylic | 3mm | Engrave | 28% | 4500 | 1 |
Genuine leather engraves exceptionally well on the S30 — the compressed spot produces fine detail. For cutting, multiple light passes give cleaner results than one heavy pass.
| Material | Thickness | Mode | Power (10W) | Speed (mm/min) | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine leather | 2mm | Engrave | 30% | 3500 | 1 |
| Genuine leather | 2mm | Cut | 70% | 350 | 2 |
| Faux leather (PU) | 1mm | Engrave | 22% | 3500 | 1 |
The S30's fixed focus means you need to set material height precisely. Use the included spacer block and ensure your material is flat — any warping creates defocus that reduces cutting power. For warped materials, use honeycomb bed pins to hold them flat.
The S30 responds well to air assist. Even a simple setup improves cut quality significantly, especially on wood and acrylic. At minimum, position a small fan to blow across the cut area.
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