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Sculpfun iCube settings — power, speed & limits by model
Quick answer: the only published Sculpfun iCube settings we found are engraving figures for the iCube Ultra (12 W diode), such as 3 mm plywood at 60% / 6000 mm/min, leather at 50% / 6000 and slate at 80% / 6000. We found no published iCube material settings table for the 3 W, Pro 5 W or Pro Max 10 W, so those lines are left blank rather than guessed. These numbers are settings shared from a reviewer's run, not from our own shop; confirm with a test grid, and set LightBurn up for your board first (the usual iCube LightBurn settings trap is S-Value Max).
Sculpfun iCube settings (power % / speed mm/min)
The iCube is a family, not one machine, and published settings exist for only one member of it. The table below is for the iCube Ultra (12 W diode): it is the figures from a published hands-on review of the Ultra, copied row by row with the operation label as printed. They are settings shared from a reviewer's run, not Sculpfun's own table and not results from our shop. We found no published power and speed table for the iCube 3 W, iCube Pro 5 W or iCube Pro Max 10 W, so this page does not invent one; Sculpfun's printed manual covers set-up only and points to its website for material settings. Speeds are in mm/min, and the review does not state a pass count, so every row is one pass until your own test says otherwise. Confirm each with a test grid first.
| Material | Job | Module | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plywood 3 mm | Engrave (fill) | Diode 12 W | 60% / 6000 |
| Plywood 5 mm | Engrave | Diode 12 W | 80% / 6000 |
| Leather keyring | Engrave | Diode 12 W | 50% / 6000 |
| Aluminium business card | Engrave | Diode 12 W | 50% / 6000 |
| Scratch paper | Engrave | Diode 12 W | 20% / 7000 |
| Slate coaster | Engrave (lighter pass) | Diode 12 W | 80% / 6000 |
| Stainless steel dog tag | Engrave | Infrared 1.2 W (optional module) | 100% / 4000 |
Why there is no cut row: the same review reports 3 mm and 5 mm plywood cuts, but without a pass count, and the speeds it gives would make a 12 W module look as fast as the 20 W Sculpfun S30 Pro Max on our own pages. A weaker module cannot be faster than a stronger one, so we left those two rows out rather than guess. For cutting, start from a slow speed with several passes (for comparison, our speed and power chart has 5–10 W diodes at 100% / 180 / 3–4 passes for 3 mm plywood) and use a test grid.
Which iCube is which: the iCube (3 W), iCube Pro (5 W) and iCube Pro Max (10 W) are compact desktop diodes with a smoke filter; the Pro Max is rated about 10,000 mm/min at a 0.08 mm spot. The newer iCube Ultra is fully enclosed with auto-focus and a 12 W diode, and can take a 1.2 W infrared module. Do not copy an Ultra number onto a 3, 5 or 10 W iCube: a lower-power module needs lower speed or more passes for the same mark.
Clear acrylic: every iCube diode (about 455 nm; one report says 445 nm) passes straight through clear acrylic. Only dark, opaque acrylic takes a mark or a slow cut.
Always: focus for the exact thickness and check that LightBurn's S-Value Max matches the controller (1000 on GRBL boards that use it). Air assist is standard on the Pro Max listing but is a separate accessory on the Pro.
All of these charts in one printable book: The Laser Settings Handbook — 18 machines, 11 material charts, the 15 fixes and a settings log in 168 pages. Read the free 13-page sample.
Get an exact price for the Sculpfun iCube
Settings give you the speed; the cutting time calculator turns your file's path length into an actual job time. For a full quote with materials and machine rate included, use the calculator on the homepage. Pick the wattage of your own iCube, not the Ultra's.
Blanks for an iCube
The iCube works on small pieces, so its running cost is blanks rather than full sheets.
Slate coasters: Check price on Amazon ↗
Leather keychain blanks: Check price on Amazon ↗
Anodised aluminium business cards: Check price on Amazon ↗
Basswood sheets 3 mm: Check price on Amazon ↗
Disclosure: some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are approximate list prices at the time of writing; always check the current offer.
Bed size: what actually fits
The working area depends on the model: the iCube Ultra is given as 150 × 150 mm with the diode (150 × 135 mm with the infrared module), the iCube Pro Max as 120 × 120 mm, and the iCube Pro as 125 × 125 mm in its spec table, though one comparison lists it at 120 × 120 mm. Check the figure printed for your own unit before cutting stock to size.
| Common stock | Size | On an iCube |
|---|---|---|
| A4 sheet | 297 × 210 mm | Does not fit — cut it down first |
| A6 card / postcard | 148 × 105 mm | Fits on the Ultra (150 × 150); too wide for the 120 mm Pro Max |
| 100 × 100 mm tile or coaster | 100 × 100 mm | Fits every model |
| Business card | 90 × 55 mm | Fits every model |
| 300 × 300 mm craft ply | 300 × 300 mm | Does not fit — cut it down first |
With an area this small, nesting matters: our nesting tool takes your file and this bed size and tells you parts per sheet; the sheet yield calculator does the same from plain dimensions.
What the Sculpfun iCube cannot do
- No clear or transparent acrylic. The blue diode beam passes through it; dark, opaque acrylic only. Clear needs a CO2 laser.
- No cutting of bare metal. The diode marks anodised and coated metal. Bare steel needs a marking spray (see marking spray on diode lasers); the optional 1.2 W infrared module on the Ultra is what marks bare stainless.
- Thick-stock claims are best-case. Retail listings for the Pro Max claim 8–10 mm wood in one pass and for the Pro 10 mm soft board and 6 mm acrylic. Treat that as a ceiling reached at full power and a crawl, not a starting point; the 3 W and 5 W modules mainly suit engraving and thin stock.
- Small bed. 120–150 mm square rules out full sheets and anything long. There is no rotary support listed for the Pro Max.
- Enclosure differs by model. The Ultra is a fully enclosed Class 1 design with a door interlock. The Pro is semi-open with a detachable shield, and the smoke filter works without an enclosure. Keep eye protection and extraction in place either way.
Availability: we could not read Sculpfun's own store from our tools. A retailer lists the Pro 5 W with a notify-me button, the EU store notes the Wi-Fi version of the Pro Max is discontinued with a Bluetooth version still sold, and the Ultra is a 2026 model. Check the current listing for your variant.
Troubleshooting: symptom, cause, fix
| Symptom | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Engraving looks faint at 100% power | LightBurn S-Value Max does not match the controller setting | Open Edit > Device Settings, confirm the GRBL controller type and set S-Value Max to match the board's $30 value (1000 on most Sculpfun boards). |
| Cut does not go all the way through | Wrong focus for the thickness, or speed too high for a 3–10 W module | Refocus on the actual stock, then slow the speed before adding passes. |
| Edges charred or flaming | No air assist, or many slow passes stacking heat | Add air assist (an accessory on the Pro) and prefer fewer, faster passes. |
| Machine will not connect over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi | Stale pairing or a power-cycle needed | Unplug the power supply for 5 seconds, plug back in and pair again, or connect by USB cable (Sculpfun manual FAQ). |
| Engraving too light or too dark on the same material | Engraved object not flat, or the fixed focus is out | Place the piece flat and parallel to the body; the focal distance is fixed (Sculpfun manual FAQ). |
| Clear acrylic does nothing | Physics, not settings | A diode cannot cut clear acrylic. Use opaque stock or a CO2 machine. |
If none of that helps, work through why won't my laser cut all the way through? or how to stop burn marks on wood.
Material cost per sheet
Settings tell you the time; material tells you the rest of the price, and Sculpfun does not publish that part. Our where to buy laser materials guide lists suppliers worth comparing. Once you know the price per sheet, the cutting time calculator turns your file into a per-job cost.
FAQ
What are the best Sculpfun iCube settings?
There is no single set, because the iCube line spans 3 W, 5 W (Pro), 10 W (Pro Max) and 12 W (Ultra) modules. The only published figures we found are engraving settings for the Ultra: 3 mm plywood 60% / 6000 mm/min, 5 mm plywood 80% / 6000, leather 50% / 6000, slate 80% / 6000, aluminium card 50% / 6000, scratch paper 20% / 7000. Run a material test grid on your own stock for any other model.
Are there Sculpfun iCube Pro 5W material settings?
We could not find a published power and speed table for the iCube Pro 5W. Sculpfun's printed manual covers set-up only and sends you to its website for material parameters. Do not reuse the Ultra's 12 W numbers: at 5 W the same mark needs a lower speed or more passes. Build your own table with LightBurn's Material Test.
What are good Sculpfun iCube 10W (Pro Max) settings?
No verified 10 W table was found. The Pro Max is rated at about 10,000 mm/min with a 0.08 mm spot and a 120 x 120 mm area, and retail listings claim 8-10 mm wood in a single pass at best-case full power and slow speed. For real work, start with engraving below that speed and test cuts with several passes.
What are the Sculpfun iCube LightBurn settings?
Add the machine as a GRBL device, work in mm/min, and make LightBurn's S-Value Max match the controller's $30 value (1000 on most Sculpfun boards), otherwise engraving looks faint even at 100%. Sculpfun's manual lists LaserGRBL and its own app as supported software. Always check the framing and origin before a job.
What is the difference between iCube, Pro, Pro Max and Ultra?
iCube is 3 W, iCube Pro is 5 W, iCube Pro Max is 10 W, and the iCube Ultra is 12 W with an optional 1.2 W 1064 nm infrared module for bare metal. The Ultra is fully enclosed with auto-focus and a 150 x 150 mm area; the Pro Max is 120 x 120 mm.
Can the Sculpfun iCube cut clear acrylic?
No. It is a blue diode laser, and clear acrylic is transparent to that wavelength. Dark opaque acrylic can be marked or cut slowly; clear acrylic needs a CO2 laser.
Is the Sculpfun iCube still sold?
We could not read Sculpfun's own store from our tools. Retailers still list the Pro 5 W and Pro Max, the EU store notes the Wi-Fi version of the Pro Max is discontinued with a Bluetooth version still sold, and the Ultra is a 2026 model. Check the current listing for your variant.