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In this guide
The Gweike MCore combines a 400W fiber laser and an 80W CO₂ laser in one desktop platform. The correct MCore settings depend first on the material, the selected process and the laser head used for the job.
This page is the main index for Gweike MCore cutting and engraving parameters. Select a material below to open the detailed guide containing the available speed, power, pressure, focus, gas and testing information.
All parameter values should be treated as starting references. Final results can vary with material grade, thickness, surface finish, supplier batch, focus accuracy, assist gas, airflow and machine condition.
Start with the material—not a universal preset
MCore settings should be selected through a simple process: identify the workpiece, choose cutting or engraving, select the correct laser source and then open the matching material guide.
Quick MCore Settings Reference
Use this table to choose the correct MCore laser head and open the relevant parameter guide.
| Material | Laser Head | Process | Detailed Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel | Fiber 400W | Cutting | Carbon Steel Parameters |
| Stainless steel | Fiber 400W | Cutting | Stainless Steel Parameters |
| Aluminum | Fiber 400W | Cutting | Aluminum & Brass Settings |
| Brass | Fiber 400W | Cutting | Aluminum & Brass Settings |
| Acrylic | CO₂ 80W | Cutting | Acrylic Speed Chart |
| Wood / MDF | CO₂ 80W | Cutting | Wood & MDF Parameters |
| Leather | CO₂ 80W | Cutting | Leather Settings |
| Fabric / Felt | CO₂ 80W | Cutting | Fabric & Felt Parameters |
| Supported metals | Fiber 400W | Engraving | Fiber vs CO₂ Engraving |
| Supported non-metals | CO₂ 80W | Engraving | Fiber vs CO₂ Engraving |
This hub does not duplicate every child-page parameter table. Open the detailed guide for the tested material, thickness or engraving depth.
Choose the Correct Gweike MCore Laser Head
The MCore uses two laser sources because metals and non-metals respond differently to laser wavelengths. The heads are complementary rather than interchangeable.
400W Fiber Laser
Use the fiber head for the supported metal materials covered by the current MCore parameter guides.
- Carbon steel
- Stainless steel
- Aluminum
- Brass
80W CO₂ Laser
Use the CO₂ head for approved organic and non-metal materials covered by the current MCore guides.
- Acrylic
- Wood and MDF
- Leather
- Fabric and felt
Do not copy one universal setting across different metal alloys, material thicknesses or surface finishes. Painted, polished, brushed, oxidized and coated materials can behave differently from untreated sheets.
Non-metal materials also require separate presets. Acrylic can melt when too much heat is applied; wood and MDF may char; leather can darken and produce odor; fabric can move under airflow or respond differently according to fiber composition.
Cutting and Engraving Settings Are Not Interchangeable
Cutting is intended to penetrate the material and separate the part from the sheet. Engraving removes or changes part of the surface to create text, logos, patterns or controlled depth.
The two processes may require different:
- Power settings
- Speeds
- Focus positions
- Pressure values
- Pass counts
- Quality priorities
When the goal is surface marking or controlled-depth material removal, use the dedicated Gweike MCore Fiber vs CO₂ Engraving Settings Guide.
MCore Metal Cutting Parameter Guides
The metal guides are organized by material because carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum and brass should not share one universal fiber-laser preset.
Carbon Steel Cutting Parameters
Review the available carbon steel references by thickness and assist-gas setup, with guidance on speed, pressure, focus, edge oxidation and bottom slag.
View carbon steel parametersStainless Steel Cutting Parameters
Use the stainless steel guide for material-specific speed, gas, pressure, focus and nozzle references, plus burr and bottom-dross troubleshooting.
View stainless steel parametersAluminum and Brass Cutting Settings
Aluminum and brass require their own tested references. Use the guide for available thickness, power, speed, pressure, focus and burr-control information.
View aluminum and brass settingsDo Not Transfer Settings Between Metals
Thermal conductivity, oxidation behavior, alloy composition, surface coating and sheet condition can all change the cutting result. Use the exact material guide and test the production batch.
MCore Non-Metal Cutting Parameter Guides
The 80W CO₂ guides are separated by material because acrylic, wood, MDF, leather and textiles respond differently to heat, airflow and smoke extraction.
Acrylic Cutting Speed Chart
Find available High Speed and Best Speed references by thickness, with notes on melting, edge clarity, acrylic type and material testing.
View acrylic speed chartWood and MDF Cutting Parameters
Review starting references for wood and MDF, including smoke control, charring, density differences and incomplete-cut troubleshooting.
View wood and MDF parametersLeather Cutting Settings
Use the leather guide for the available cutting reference, lens and airflow notes, dark-edge control, odor management and material-safety checks.
View leather settingsFabric and Felt Cutting Parameters
Review the available cloth reference and learn why felt, cotton, polyester and blended textiles require separate scrap testing and stable workholding.
View fabric and felt parametersMCore Fiber and CO₂ Engraving Settings
MCore engraving is also divided by laser source. Use the 400W fiber head for the listed metal engraving references and the 80W CO₂ head for the supported non-metal engraving references.
One guide for metal and non-metal engraving
The complete engraving guide includes the available depth, Power Setting, pressure, nozzle-height, focus and speed references for the materials listed in the source tables.
It also explains the material-specific depth limits and why the listed values should not be interpreted as guaranteed single-pass results.
View Fiber vs CO₂ Engraving Settings| Engraving Category | Laser Head | Materials Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Metal engraving | Fiber 400W | Stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum and brass |
| Non-metal engraving | CO₂ 80W | Acrylic, MDF, wood, leather, cloth, paper and approved rubber board |
What Each MCore Parameter Controls
Understanding the function of each parameter is as important as copying its starting value.
Power
Power controls laser energy delivered to the material. Excessive power can increase melting, charring, dross or surface damage.
Speed
Speed controls beam dwell time. A speed that is too high may prevent penetration, while a speed that is too low can increase heat damage.
Focus
Focus changes where the beam is concentrated relative to the surface and can affect penetration, kerf, dross, detail and engraving depth.
Assist Gas and Pressure
Assist gas removes molten material, smoke and debris. Gas type and pressure are especially important in metal cutting.
Nozzle Height
Nozzle height affects gas delivery and process stability. Use the material-specific value where one is provided.
Pass Count
Do not assume a listed depth is a one-pass result unless the source explicitly states this. Record pass count during testing.
Power
Higher power does not automatically produce a better result. Depending on the material, excessive power may create a wider kerf, bottom dross, acrylic melting, wood charring, leather darkening, fabric damage or rough engraving.
Speed
Lower speed generally increases dwell time and heat input. Higher speed reduces dwell time. When a detailed guide provides High Speed and Best Speed references, treat both as starting points and compare penetration, edge quality, engraving depth and processing time.
Focus
Use the focus value provided for the exact material and process. Do not transfer a metal-cutting focus value to acrylic, leather or engraving unless the appropriate source table provides the same setting.
Assist Gas and Pressure
For metal cutting, gas selection can influence speed, oxidation, edge color, dross and cost. For non-metal processing, controlled airflow can help clear smoke and reduce flare-ups, but excessive airflow may move lightweight fabric.
Nozzle Height
An incorrect nozzle height can contribute to unstable gas flow, incomplete penetration, excessive dross or inconsistent edges. Use the value listed in the material-specific guide.
Number of Passes
More passes may increase material removal, but can also cause heat accumulation, roughness, charring, melting, loss of detail or deformation. Save pass count as part of every verified preset.
How to Select a Starting Setting
Identify the exact material
Record the material name, grade or type, thickness, surface finish, coating, supplier and batch.
Confirm the process
Choose cutting or engraving before opening a parameter table. Do not mix settings from the two processes.
Select the laser head
Use Fiber 400W for the supported metals and CO₂ 80W for the approved non-metal materials.
Open the correct guide
Use the guide that matches both the material and the process. Do not combine unrelated rows from several tables.
Choose the listed thickness or depth
Select only a thickness or engraving depth contained in the verified source guide.
Start within the listed range
When a range is provided, begin conservatively and test the actual production material.
Test on scrap from the same batch
A nominally identical sheet from another supplier or batch may produce a different result.
Change one variable at a time
Adjust power, speed, focus, pressure or pass count individually so the effect can be evaluated.
Save the verified preset
Record the final settings only after inspecting the finished cut or engraving.
How to Test a New Material
A parameter table is a starting point, not a replacement for a material test. Use a small test file containing straight lines, curves, a circle, a square, internal corners, fine text and a narrow gap.
For cutting, inspect:
- Full penetration
- Kerf width
- Edge quality
- Dross or burrs
- Melting or charring
- Smoke staining
- Material movement
For engraving, inspect:
- Depth
- Contrast
- Fine-detail clarity
- Surface roughness
- Residue
- Heat damage
- Material deformation
Record the following information for every verified preset:
Common MCore Parameter Problems
| Problem | First Checks | Relevant Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Metal does not cut through | Laser head, thickness, power, speed, focus, gas, pressure and nozzle height | Open the matching metal guide |
| Bottom dross or large burrs | Focus, pressure, speed, nozzle height, gas delivery and surface condition | Open the matching metal guide |
| Acrylic melts | Speed, heat input, focus, airflow, acrylic type and pass count | Acrylic guide |
| Wood or MDF becomes too dark | Speed, power, extraction, airflow, resin, moisture and board density | Wood & MDF guide |
| Leather edge becomes too dark | Speed, airflow, material type, coating, adhesive and smoke extraction | Leather guide |
| Fabric moves during processing | Airflow, workholding, flatness, wrinkles, cut order and material weight | Fabric & felt guide |
| Engraving is too shallow | Laser head, Power Setting, speed, focus, pressure, material surface and pass count | Engraving guide |
When troubleshooting, change one variable at a time. Simultaneously increasing power, reducing speed, changing focus and increasing pressure makes it difficult to determine which adjustment improved or worsened the result.
Materials You Should Not Laser Process
Do not process:
- PVC sheets
- Unknown vinyl
- Vinyl-coated fabric
- Unidentified plastic sheets
- Unknown synthetic leather
- Materials with unknown chlorine content
- Any material whose composition cannot be confirmed
The presence of a possible parameter does not make a material safe. For more information, read why you should not laser cut PVC and safer alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What settings should I use for Gweike MCore?
Identify the exact material, thickness and process first. Then choose the Fiber 400W or CO₂ 80W head and open the matching material guide. Do not use one universal preset for every material.
Should I use the fiber or CO₂ laser head?
Use the 400W fiber head for the supported metals covered by the MCore parameter guides. Use the 80W CO₂ head for approved non-metal materials such as acrylic, wood, MDF, leather, fabric and felt.
Where can I find MCore carbon steel settings?
Use the Gweike MCore Carbon Steel Cutting Parameters guide.
Where can I find MCore stainless steel settings?
Use the Gweike MCore Stainless Steel Cutting Parameters guide.
Where can I find MCore aluminum and brass settings?
Use the Gweike MCore Aluminum and Brass Cutting Settings guide.
Where can I find MCore acrylic cutting speeds?
Are cutting and engraving settings the same?
No. Cutting and engraving have different process goals and may use different power, speed, focus, pressure and pass-count settings.
Can one preset work for every material thickness?
No. Material thickness, grade, coating, surface finish and supplier batch can change the result. Test the actual production material.
Should I use High Speed or Best Speed?
Use the labels as starting references from the relevant material table. Test both when available and compare penetration, edge quality, engraving depth and processing time.
How should I test a new material?
Use scrap from the same batch, begin within the listed range, change one variable at a time and record the final verified settings.
Can Gweike MCore process PVC or vinyl?
Do not process PVC or unknown vinyl. These materials may release hazardous and corrosive fumes.
Complete Gweike MCore Parameter Guide Index
Metal Cutting
Non-Metal Cutting
Engraving & Safety
One system for metal and non-metal processing
Gweike MCore combines a 400W fiber laser for supported metals with an 80W CO₂ laser for acrylic, wood, MDF, leather, fabric and other approved non-metal materials.
View Gweike MCore