DIY Guide to Engraving Glassware with a Laser Machine

Want to engrave a pattern on a glass cup using a standard laser machine? This article shares practical techniques, covering critical steps such as equipment adjustment, parameter setting, and safe operation, to help you easily avoid problems such as cracked cups and blurry images.

Why is it so easy to make a mess of glass engraving?

Glass is a special material, being both a poor thermal conductor and hard. Direct laser engraving can easily cause uneven heating and cracking, or rough edges to the design.Don ’ t panic! With a few key points in hand, even an ordinary laser machine can do the trick. For example, don ’ t set the power too high, and prepare the surface beforehand.

Preparatory work for carving.

Choose the right material.

He prefers to use soda-lime glass (the kind used for drinking glasses and beer bottles), which has a low density and therefore allows for the engraving of more detailed designs.Crystal or tempered glass is prone to chipping at the edges, so newcomers are advised to steer clear.

Cleaning and coating.

Wipe the surface of the cup with alcohol to remove fingerprints and grease, and then spray a thin layer of matte paint (available at hardware stores).This coating helps the laser to focus, and prevents the laser light from being reflected and burning holes in the CD.

Laser machine parameter settings.

How do you adjust the power and speed?

For example, for a 40-watt CO2 laser, power should be set at 30-40 %, and speed at about 400mm / s.First, the craftsman tries out the design on a piece of broken glass. Only if the lines of the design do not turn yellow or crack is the design considered acceptable.Different models require different adjustments, but the key to safety is "low power + high speed.

Focusing the lens requires skill.

Using a metal ruler to measure the curvature of the cup's side, he manually adjusts the laser head's height to ensure the focus point remains on the cup's curved surface.Tip for the lazy: Buy a laser machine with a rotating table. It will save you a lot of work.

They are the details of life that must be checked.

Always wear goggles.

The lasers used in glass engraving can hurt the eyes, and you shouldn't take the chance that "it will only take a few seconds." Last year, one guy didn't wear protective goggles, and ended up in the emergency room with a burned cornea.

The temperature must be constantly lowered to prevent the glass from cracking.

While carving, wrap a wet towel around the bottom of the cup to cool it, or place it directly on an ice bag.If you hear a slight "click," stop immediately and check--it probably means that the machine has overheated.

The hidden pit of pattern design.

Don't attempt to fill large areas with color. Leave at least 1 mm of space between lines. Break up complex patterns into several segments.Don't wipe off the wax coating right away; wait until the cup is completely cool and then wash it in water. Otherwise, the sudden change in temperature will cause it to crack.

How do you fix it if you mess up?

To remove the burrs from the edges, use 800-grit wet sandpaper. If you want to make the pattern deeper, you can carve it a second time, but reduce the power by 5 %.If the cup cracks, just consider it practice. Next time, remember to turn the power down.Try again and again until you get the feel for it, and you too can make an Instagram-style cup!