Achieving the best quality results and optimizing settings for different wood types hinges on understanding material properties and meticulous calibration. Always start with clean, dry, and flat wood. Critical focus adjustment is paramount; even slight variations cause blurred engravings or poor cuts.

For engraving, utilize power/speed test grids on scrap pieces of your specific wood. Start with conservative settings (lower power, higher speed) and gradually increase power or decrease speed until desired contrast/depth is achieved without excessive charring. Air assist is crucial for all wood types to reduce flare-ups, clear debris from the cut path, and minimize charring, leading to cleaner edges and sharper engravings.

Softwoods (Pine, Poplar, Basswood): These require lower power and higher speeds. They char easily, so strong air assist and fewer passes are beneficial. Fine details can be challenging due to their grain and tendency to burn.

Hardwoods (Oak, Maple, Cherry, Walnut): Hardwoods typically demand higher power and slower speeds. They generally produce cleaner cuts and more defined engravings with less charring than softwoods. You can often achieve richer contrast and deeper cuts. Walnuts can give excellent dark engravings, while maples provide good contrast against the light wood.

Plywood/MDF: Quality varies immensely due to different glues and veneer thicknesses. Test frequently. Plywood can be inconsistent, with internal voids affecting cuts. Multiple, lower-power passes often yield better results than one high-power pass, especially for cutting, reducing charring and avoiding flare-ups from glues. Always ensure proper ventilation due to potential glue fumes.

Beyond power/speed, optimize DPI (dots per inch) for engraving (higher for fine detail, lower for speed), line interval, and consider kerf compensation for precise cuts. Consistent material thickness and maintaining a level workbed are also vital for uniform results across the entire piece.