Practical Guide to Laser Etching on Glass

This book provides a practical tutorial on laser engraving for glass that is designed to prevent cracking. It covers three core skills: materials analysis, parameter optimization, and techniques.The course teaches students about the pre-treatment of the glass, the adjustment of laser power, and cooling methods, and helps them avoid the problem of cracking during engraving, thereby increasing the yield of finished products.

Understanding the characteristics of glass is the foundation for preventing its cracking.

We must first figure out what kind of glass is best for carving.Common materials like sodium-calcium glass, for example, are particularly susceptible to cracking when heated during carving.It is recommended that borosilicate or quartz glass be used, as they have much better heat resistance.If you only have ordinary glass, you can try to keep the thickness to 5 millimeters or less, and then polish the edges and engrave.

The laser parameters must be customized for each individual.

Don't go for the highest wattage.

Many people think that the higher the power, the deeper the engraving. In fact, for glass with irregularly shaped surfaces, 60-80 % of the rated power is just right.For example, with a 40-watt machine, we can use 25-30 watts to slowly engrave, which ensures good results and prevents the machine from getting too hot.

The harmony of speed and frequency.

The speed should be set between 300-500mm / s and the frequency should be set between 20-30kHz.The trick is to increase the frequency and lower the power to get a finer line and prevent cracking.

Tips for preventing cracks.

This is a warm-up exercise for the future.

Before carving, use a hot air gun to warm the glass to about 50 ° C, especially when the temperature is below 15 ° C.This is like doing stretching exercises with glass, and it can effectively reduce the impact of temperature fluctuations.

The cooling process is also important.

Prepare a small spray bottle with alcohol.Wait for the alcohol to evaporate completely before continuing, as this will cool the skin quickly without leaving water droplets.If conditions permit, a small air-cooling device is even better.

The fixed postures have to be correct.

The greatest fear in carving glass is that the glass will move.I recommend a combination of clay and vacuum suction to hold the pieces in place. This method is especially useful for curved surfaces, as it provides a secure hold without damaging fragile parts.Those who have seen a master use clay to create a support point have seen how effective it can be.

Don't be careless about post-surgery checkups.

After carving, don't be in a hurry to remove the piece. First, use a magnifying glass to carefully check for fine cracks.The key points to examine are the turning points in the pattern and the glass edge. If a crack is suspected, a low-powered laser is used to repair it.He suggests applying a layer of transparent UV glue to the edges of the products, which will extend their lifespan considerably.

Finally, I remind everyone that glass from different batches may be different in its properties, so before starting work on a piece, take some scrap glass and try carving it out first.The real secret is to try several times and find the combination of parameters most suited to the material at hand.