Leather laser engraving and cutting is an efficient way to manufacture, stylize and customize your leather products. Leather has been used by humans for centuries. It is a durable, flexible material made from animal hides that develops a unique patina over time.
A major selling point of leather, is its natural breathability which makes it ideal for apparel and accessories. Additionally, the strength of leather makes for a long lifespan which is ideal for items that are used daily such as bags and furniture. Another aspect that makes leather a great material is its malleability; it can easily mold to the shape of the body.
Today, leather is used extensively in accessories, sporting goods, furnitures, and many other products. By using leather laser engraving techniques, crafters can add intricate personalized patterns to leather goods.
The leather industry will continue evolving by adopting new technologies, including the leather laser engraving and cutting discussed in this article. Sustainability will be a priority, with greener processes to reduce environmental impact. Currently, leather manufacturers are beginning to incorporate efficient customization techniques like laser engraving and 3D printing. Moreover, plant-based and lab-grown leathers will increase in popularity. Despite the popularity of these non-animal alternatives, leather’s natural appeal will persist, since consumers continue to value leather for its beauty, comfort and durability.
The adoption of new techniques and technologies is likely to drive accelerated progress in leatherworking. It’s evident that leather laser engraving and cutting is becoming a popular avenue explored by artisans as well as large companies.
Here are some tips on where and how to buy leather materials:
Leather Selection Tips
Laser technology, including leather laser engraving and cutting, is gaining popularity in leather goods for its ability to create intricate designs with minimal waste.
Common leather laser engraving and cutting goods include:
Leather jacket – Allowing more intricate shaping and detailing for stylish leather jackets.
Leather pants – Precise laser cuts giving a close, tailored fit.
Leather skirt – Easily create flattering shaping and custom designs and patterns in leather skirts.
Leather boots – Laser perforations add breathability to leather boots.
Leather recliner – Intricate laser cutting shapes ergonomic leather recliners.
Leather couch/sofa – Easily customize panels and designs on leather couches.
Leather chair – Creating complex laser cut leather chair designs.
Leather backpacks – Creating durable yet stylish leather backpacks.
Leather purse/wallet – Accurate leather laser engraving and cutting are employed in crafting items like purses and wallets.
Leather armour – Shaping lightweight, flexible laser engraved and cut leather armour.
Leather dog collar – Producing customized and durable leather collars.
saddle back leather – Intricately designed saddle leather.
Faux leather – Laser processing mimics the qualities of real leather, including PVC and PU leather.
Vegan leather – Offering animal-free processing of vegan leather.
Use lower power settings for thin leathers to prevent charring and make intricate cuts.
Focus the laser tightly and move quickly to minimize heat damage on cut edges.
Use air assist nozzles to blow away charred debris for cleaner cuts.
Arrange pattern pieces closely without overlapping to minimize leather waste.
Ensure the laser moves at a constant speed for consistent cutting. Use lower speeds on delicate leathers.
An exhaust system removes smoke and particles from your project.
RF CO2
30w,55w
110×110 up to 200×200mm
20w,50w,20w MOPA
Our Nova machines optimize leather processing with fast and precise cutting. The hybrid servo system and dual gas assist enable clean, accurate cuts on leather. Additionally, its rigorous production and safety features also make it ideal for reliable, high-quality leather cutting.
With the right laser machine and techniques, leather can be cut, etched, and marked to perfection. Learn more about Thunder Laser systems at www.thunderlaser.ca.
The table below provides recommended laser settings for using the Nova laser cutting machine to process leather. You can do some testing first to fit the laser-cut leather parameters for a particular use.
Material | Thickness (mm) | Processing | Speed (mm/s) | Min Power (%) | Max Power (%) | Air Pressure Value | DPI |
leather | / | Engraving | 500 | 10 | 20 | low | 300 |
1.50mm | Cutting | 135 | 10 | 90 | high | 2″ | |
3.00mm | Cutting | 100 | 10 | 90 | high | 2″ |
At Thunder Laser, our customers trust the quality of our machines as well as our customer service which stands out from other laser companies. If you want to see for yourself, check out our ratings on Trustpilot:
We became reps for Thunder Laser in Canada, because we are makers ourselves. After using many different types of laser machines over the years, we decided we like Thunder Lasers the best!
Our team is based all over Canada, but our main location and showroom is located at Fuse33 Makerspace in Calgary Alberta. This means, all our members are artists, tradespeople and hobbyists. Our members use our Thunder Laser machines for a wide range of projects. We’ve seen it all!
Let us help you decide which laser machine is best for you according to projects you want to make, space you have available and your budget. We will also help you understand the features and use cases for all of the various add-ons and upgrades available.