Unleash Your Creativity with Acrylic Laser Engraving — A Complete Beginner’s Guide with OMTech

Laser engraving isn’t just for wood or metal; it’s also an exciting and powerful way to create stunning acrylic designs. Popular with DIYers, signage makers and artists alike, acrylic offers endless possibilities for personal and commercial projects.

We will be exploring why acrylic is such a popular choice for laser engraving, how to get started using an OMTech laser machine, and essential tips to make sure your results shine. All of this has been tailored for the Australian market. Why Choose Acrylic for Laser Engraving?

Acrylic (also known as PMMA or plexiglass) is one of the most laser-friendly materials you can work with — and for good reason:

1. Clean, Sharp Results

Acrylic engraves beautifully with a CO2 laser. The laser vaporises the surface cleanly, leaving behind a smooth, matte finish that contrasts perfectly with the glossy surrounding material.

2. Versatile and Customisable

Available in a wide range of colours, thicknesses, and finishes (clear, frosted, fluorescent, mirrored), acrylic is ideal for everything from modern wall art to business signage. It can also be cut into almost any shape — perfect for personalised keyrings, LED lamps, and awards.

3. Perfect for DIY and Small Business

Acrylic is lightweight, affordable, and easy to source across Australia. It’s an excellent material for hobbyists and small business owners who want to make high-impact products with low overheads.

For more information on the properties and applications of acrylic, visit Matmatch.

Laser Engraving vs. Traditional Engraving: Why Laser Wins

Laser engraving brings a level of precision, efficiency, and flexibility that traditional methods simply can’t match. Unlike manual engraving, which can be time-consuming and inconsistent, laser engraving is digitally controlled — delivering clean, repeatable results every time. This technology allows for:

• Higher accuracy even on intricate or delicate designs
• Faster turnaround for both single items and batch production
• Non-contact processing that minimises material damage or distortion
• Greater design flexibility, as you can easily edit digital files to customise output

Whether you’re a seasoned designer or a first-time engraver, laser engraving puts professional-grade results within reach.

How Does Laser Engraving Work?

Laser engraving uses a high-powered beam of light to remove material from the surface of an object, creating permanent markings. Here’s how a CO2 laser engraving machine works:

• Laser Generation: A CO2 laser tube produces a concentrated infrared light beam using a mixture of gases (typically carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and helium).
• Beam Focusing: The laser beam is directed by mirrors and focused through a lens, concentrating the energy onto a small point on the acrylic’s surface.
• Material Interaction: The intense heat causes the acrylic to vaporise or melt at the point of contact, effectively etching or engraving the design.
• Precision Movement: The laser head moves in precise patterns guided by digital instructions from design software like LightBurn, ensuring accuracy and repeatability.

This process is non-contact, meaning there’s no mechanical force applied to the material, reducing the risk of warping or damage — a major advantage over traditional engraving tools.

How to Engrave Acrylic with an OMTech Laser Machine

Whether you’re just starting or levelling up your engraving skills, OMTech laser machines make acrylic projects smooth and beginner-friendly. Here's how:

🔹 Step 1: Design Your Artwork

Use design software like LightBurn, CorelDRAW, or Adobe Illustrator to create or import your design. Outline-based graphics with strong contrast work best. Save your file in SVG, DXF, or AI format.

🔹 Step 2: Prepare the Acrylic

Peel off the protective film from the side you'll engrave (leave the other side on to prevent scratches). Make sure the surface is clean and free from dust.

🔹 Step 3: Set Your Machine Settings

Adjust your OMTech laser’s speed, power, and number of passes. For most cast acrylic, low power and high speed are ideal for engraving. Use test pieces first to fine-tune your settings.

🔹 Step 4: Start the Engraving Process

Secure the acrylic flat on the laser bed and focus the beam accurately. Run a preview pass in LightBurn to ensure your design is aligned. Then begin engraving — enjoy watching your design come to life!

🔹 Step 5: Clean and Finish

After engraving, wipe the surface with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove residue. For a polished edge, consider flame-polishing the sides if you’ve also cut the acrylic.

Safety Tips and Best Practices

• Use cast acrylic only for engraving — extruded acrylic does not engrave well.
• Ventilation is essential — engraving acrylic produces fumes. Make sure you have proper exhaust or air assist systems.
• Never leave the machine unattended during operation.
• Wear safety glasses when operating, especially if flame-polishing.
• Test before final engraving to avoid wasting material.

Why Choose OMTech for Acrylic Laser Engraving?

OMTech laser machines are trusted by makers across Australia for their versatility, power and speed, working area, machine dimensions, accuracy and precision, and customer support.

Ready to create brilliant acrylic art, signage or gifts? Explore OMTech Laser Machines Today!

With OMTech, your acrylic engraving journey is just beginning — and your potential is limitless.