Laser settings · Thunder Laser
Thunder Laser settings
Starting power and speed for the Thunder Laser Nova range, scaled to your tube’s wattage, with setup notes for LightBurn and RDWorks. Free, no account needed.
Find my Thunder Laser settings
Machines covered
| Model | Tube options |
|---|---|
| Nova 24 | 40 W, 60 W CO₂ |
| Nova 35 | 80 W, 100 W, 130 W CO₂ |
| Nova 51 | 100 W, 130 W CO₂ |
| Nova 63 | 100 W, 130 W CO₂ |
Scaled to your tube
The Nova range spans tubes from 40 W to 130 W, and the right speed for a cut changes a lot across that range. The settings page scales its values to the tube you pick: a higher-wattage tube cuts the same material faster, while engraving power comes down so you don’t overburn. The values are starting points from tested CO₂ settings; tubes vary from machine to machine, so confirm them with a test card on scrap.
Big tubes, light engraving. On a 100 W or 130 W tube, engraving needs only a small share of the power. Start low and work up, especially on photos and thin veneers.
LightBurn or RDWorks
Novas run Ruida controllers, so they work with LightBurn and with RDWorks. In LightBurn, import the SVG with File → Import; red lines (cut), blue lines (score) and black fills (engrave) arrive on separate layers. Set max power from the settings page and min power a few percent below. In RDWorks, import the DXF export instead; it is drawn in millimetres. Either way, engrave first, then score, then cut. The LightBurn guide covers layers and imports in more detail.
Keeping a large CO₂ machine cutting well
- Cooling water: keep it under about 25 °C (77 °F). Warm water weakens the beam and shortens tube life.
- Mirror alignment: if cuts are deeper on one side of a big bed, align mirrors 1, 2 and 3 with tape shots at all four corners.
- Tube current: glass tubes last longest below about 70 to 80% of their rated current; add a pass rather than more power.
- Kerf: often 0.1 to 0.2 mm on CO₂. Measure yours before cutting joints.
What large-format owners make
A big bed makes full-sheet jobs practical: nested parts from Import & Nest, large layered maps, signs and furniture-scale boxes. For materials, start with the wood and acrylic guides.
Thunder Laser and Nova are trademarks of their owner. LightBurn, RDWorks and Ruida are trademarks of their owners. Laser Generator Studio is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Thunder Laser.