Laser Etching and Engraving Glass for Beginners~

Laser Etching and Engraving Glass for Beginners~

Laser etching and engraving glass create a permanent mark on the glass with a frosty appearance. During laser etching glass alters the surface at a maximum depth of 0.001”, which requires comparatively lower laser power than engraving. Normally, we will recommend a glass CO2 laser engraving/etching machine with a laser power of 30W will be an ideal choice.

We are Redsail Laser Technologies, providing high-quality laser machine, which performs laser cutting, engraving, etching, and others. We focus on the innovation and technology of our machines, to provide a tremendous user experience for our customers. Laser etching and engraving are the two most popular methods used to produce personalized glassware.

Etching Glass

When performing laser etching, the laser machine only removes the topmost surface layer of the glass, which has a maximum depth of only about 0.001”. Before performing laser etching, you should prepare yourself by masking, polishing the glass, and reduce 20% of grayscale of the image to improve the quality of the laser etching effect, this is to produce a high-contrast mark on the material.

Furthermore, using low-resolution images will result in a better end appearance of laser etching on glass, as the higher resolution will produce a deeper depth, and crowded fractures, affecting the clarity of the mark.

Engraving glass

Laser engraving vaporizes the material and produces a cavity on the surface of the glass. Generally, laser engravings on glass have a maximum depth of around 0.02" to 0.125". Sub-Surface Laser Engraving (SSLE) is a popular technique used to engrave 2D and 3D images inside a block of glass.

In this technique, an additional parameter called Z-factor or height is considered to focus the laser beam inside a glass. Glass having high optical clarity is used for producing SSLE. This helps the laser beams to effectively pass through the glass and focus on the right spots.

Although laser etching or engraving glass can throw up some challenges, there are various techniques you can learn to improve the quality of your engraving. You can find out more with us, Redsail is professional in manufacturing machines, as well as operating these machines.

In conclusion, choosing a laser engraver will be a wonderful choice to increase your productivity in glass art pieces. Contact us now, Redsail provides you with incredible laser machines and services. So do not hesitate to drop us a message.