Laser engraving uses a laser beam to create permanent markings on a material’s surface. Laser engraved marks are highly durable and endure harsh operational and environmental conditions without excessive wear.
Glass laser engraving machines are ideal for customizing glass objects, including everything from logos and serial numbers to photos and text on glass products like cups, bottles and trophies. However, glass is a delicate material, and its fragility can make it challenging to engrave. That’s why it’s crucial to invest in a dependable, high-quality laser engraver for glass to achieve the best results.
You can find reliable and efficient laser marking glass machines to serve your needs at Telesis Technologies, Inc. We are a one-stop shop for permanent marking solutions, offering an extensive line of high-performing laser markers and dot peen systems built to last.
Depending on your engraving applications, several laser marking glass machines are suitable for the job.
Ultraviolet (UV) laser markers irradiate glass surfaces using a high-energy beam, which marks the material through vaporization. These glass laser engraving machines use highly absorptive wavelengths to reduce heat stress, enabling them to mark materials with excellent contrast and minimal heat damage. These properties make UV laser markers ideal for laser marking glass without causing it to break or splinter.
CO2 laser marking machines electronically stimulate a carbon dioxide gas mixture to leave permanent marks on the surface of organic and nonmetallic materials like glass. These systems mark surfaces with small dots that prevent radial cracking and chipping, giving materials a more consistent appearance. CO2 lasers operate faster than other laser marking glass machines.
Green laser engraving machines are cold lasers designed to mark delicate, reflective and heat-sensitive materials like glass without causing damage. These green systems are known to generate higher speed, power and stability than other machines and are ideal for sensitive materials with low absorption rates.
Though many processes are used to mark glass, such as wet etching, sandblasting and reactive ion etching, laser engraving stands out as the best marking method. That’s because laser marking glass has many significant benefits you can’t find with other equipment, including:
Laser engraving glass is a relatively simple process that anyone with a laser marking machine can accomplish. Before beginning your project, be sure to equip yourself with the proper protective gear, such as laser goggles, a fire extinguisher, a fume exhaust system, laser shut covers and anything else outlined in your user manual.
If you’re preparing to laser mark a glass surface, follow these steps:
Laser marking curved glass like bottles, wine glasses and steins is a bit more challenging than using your machine on a flat surface. In these cases, establishing the proper depth of field — or the distance between the nearest and farthest points of sharp focus — is crucial. When the laser is within the depth of field, its markings will come out clear and in focus.
There’s no universal rule for determining depth and field for curved glass. To determine the right one for your application, you should perform a series of test runs and adjust the depth of field until you’ve established a suitable strategy for laser engraving your curved glass object.
You can laser engrave mirrors the same way you would clear glass. The only difference is that you’ll need to mark the mirror on its reverse side. To accomplish this, invert the file in your engraving software so that it will appear in the proper orientation when looking straight at the mirror.
The thickness of your mirror’s coating will impact your marking outcome. You can generate your desired results by starting with a lower output and gradually increasing it until you find one that produces your desired results.