I don’t know about you, but I’ve worked in places that had so many acronyms, it was hard to keep them straight. And even after years, when I expected to know all of them, I’d come across acronyms I didn’t even know! Learning the world of laser cutting and Glowforge meant learning lots of new definitions, abbreviations and acronyms. Here is a working list of terms that may be helpful.

• Kerf – the amount of material lost when cutting. With a laser, this is the amount of material burned by the laser to cut the material.
• FH – focus height
• Speed – the speed of the laser (1 – 500)
• Power – the amount of the laser’s power (precision power 1-100 or full power)
• LPI – lines per inch
• Cut – setting for having the laser cut the material
• Score – setting for having the laser draw a line on the material
• Engrave – setting for having the laser engrave a design into the material
• *Etch – please note that etching is different than engraving.
• GF – Glowforge (not to be confused with the abbreviation “girlfriend” or “gluten-free” haha)
• Flashback – when the laser cuts a material and reflects back off the bed of the machine and burns the underneath side of the material.

Side notes:

• Etching is different than engraving. The Glowforge engraves materials; it does not etch. However, sometimes people referring to engraving with the Glowforge as “etching.”

Are there any laser-related terms or acronyms I missed? Do you have any to add? Let me know!

More soon!

-Ally