Laser Engraving Time Calculator
Estimate how long a raster laser engraving takes from the area, line spacing, head speed and pass count.
How it works
Lines = ceil(height ÷ spacing) · Travel = lines × width × passes · Time = travel ÷ speed × (1 + overhead%)
A raster engraving is painted line by line, so the number of horizontal scans is the height divided by the line spacing. Each scan crosses the full width, so the total distance the head travels is the line count times the width times the number of passes. Dividing that by the head speed gives the ideal time, but the head must decelerate, reverse and accelerate at each line end — the overscan factor adds that lost time back so the estimate is closer to the clock.
Worked example
A 100 × 60 mm image at 0.1 mm spacing is 600 lines. In one pass the head travels 600 × 100 = 60,000 mm. At 300 mm/s that is 200 s, and a 20% turnaround overhead brings it to about 240 s, or 4m 0s.
Frequently asked questions
Why does line spacing change the time so much?
Halving the line spacing doubles the number of scan lines, which doubles the head travel and the time. Fine spacing gives smoother shading but costs proportionally more time, so it is the biggest lever on an engraving job.
Does this cover vector cutting too?
No — this estimates raster (area) engraving, where the head sweeps back and forth. Vector cutting follows the outline path instead, so its time depends on the path length and the cutting speed, not the scan gap.
Why add an overscan overhead?
The head cannot reverse instantly at the end of each line; it overshoots, slows and comes back so the powered part of the sweep stays at constant speed. On tall, narrow engravings that turnaround time can add 20–40% to the total.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.