Laser Swatches L a s e r S w a t c h e s

Every material I put under the laser needs its own speed and power, so I cut a swatch from each one and engraved its tested settings right into it, where the label and the sample stay together.

Each swatch is also a small test of the material: it shows how clean the cut edge comes out and what an engrave looks like, it has a hole to hang it on a keychain, and it has an internal shape for measuring the kerf.

The laser burns away a thin line of material as it cuts, so every part comes out slightly smaller than drawn. Measuring the internal shape on a swatch tells me that kerf for its material, so I can correct for it in the next cut.