Mastering Glass Engraving Depth: Tune Your Laser Settings Like a Pro

At first glance, it can be intimidating to engrave glass. However, I assure you that it is less intimidating than it seems, as it relates to the type of tooling you use and key understanding surrounding the laser together with your table-top engraving machine. You, the reader, are off to a great start if you have an OMTech laser machine! Now, whether you want to create custom glassware, engrave awards, or design gifts with thought and consideration, understanding how glass reacts to a laser in engravings is vital. 

How To Laser Engrave Glass - A 5-step Guide for Beginners

Do you want to laser engrave glass items, such as drinkware, awards, or custom DIY projects, but unsure how to get started? This 5-step fraction guide will show you everything you need to know to get started without hesitation.

Step 1: Choose your Glass and Prepare

Before you turn on your laser, consider your material. Not all glass engraves the same way and you need to choose something that is compatible with your machine; it's always best to use annealed glass or anything that is marked laser-safe. Also, do not choose anything with chips, scratches, or defects.

Once you have selected your glass, you will want to clean it. Any kind of dust or fingerprints on the glass can potentially inhibit the laser engraving as you would like it to be. I suggest using a glass cleaner and lint-free cloth. Think of cleaning the glass like a blank canvas; you want it to be pristine before you allow the laser "paint" the engraving.

Step 2: Design Your Artwork

This is the fun part—time to get creative! Use a vector design program (like LightBurn, Adobe Illustrator, or Inkscape) to design your graphic or text. Make sure the lines are crisp and clear—especially if you’re working with intricate details.

Next, size your design to fit the dimensions of your glass. Once it’s all set, save the file in a format your OMTech software supports. If you're not quite sure which format works best, your user manual or the OMTech online community is a great place to check.

Step 3: Set Up Your Laser and Fine-Tune the Settings

With your design ready and glass cleaned, it’s time to prep your machine. Place the glass on the laser bed and make sure it’s sitting completely flat. A wobbly setup can lead to uneven engraving or worse—glass breakage mid-process.

Now for the technical bit: dial in your laser settings. You’ll want to adjust power, speed, frequency, and focus based on the type and thickness of your glass. OMTech usually comes with preset profiles that are a solid starting point, but don’t be afraid to tweak them. Start conservative—you can always go deeper with a second pass.

Step 4: Test Run, Then Begin Engraving

Always do a small test run first. Pick a corner or an unused spot of the glass and let your laser run a mini version of your design. You can then see how deep and what quality it will achieve without risking the entire piece.

Once you are satisfied with the depth of the laser, go ahead to run it fully. Keep an eye on the laser machine as it engraves--look out for signs of overheating or for any cracks appearing. If something doesn't feel quite right, press pause, stop the engraving. Basically, be safe, not sorry (and waste a lovely piece of glass).

Step 5: Clean Up & Inspect Your Masterpiece

When the laser is finished engraving, allow a few seconds for the glass to cool. Then use a soft, non-abrasive cloth and a light glass cleaner to wipe away any leftover debris. This not only helps show the detail of your engraving--it gives the piece its final polish.

Now is the moment of truth to inspect your work. Is your engraving the depth you wanted? Is it clean lines? If you are printing to achieve an ultra-refined finish, you can also lightly polish the etched surface to take any last bits off the glass.

Pro Tips to Prevent Cracking & Keep Things Clean

Glass is beautiful but temperamental. To keep things from shattering—literally—keep these tips in your back pocket:

•  Don’t overheat. 

If you crank the laser power up, or move the glass too slow, that could lead to sudden temp spike creating crack stress for the glass.

•  Keep things moving. 

Fast, consistent passes are better, as they will make the heat move across the surface evenly.

•  Use the right cleaners. 

You should use a glass cleaner immediately after you engrave.  At that time, you can carry away the debris, with no chance of scratching or dulling your engraving works.

•  Stay with the laser. 

While you are doing engraving, always keep an eye on it.  If you see your engraving cracking, or the glass heating up, stop the job, and ask yourself if you need to change the speed or power.

Patience and techniques at first allow you to not only avoid breaking glass pieces, but achieve some clean professional looking pieces that really sparkle.

Etching Vs. Frosting: What is the Difference?

You’ve heard both terms thrown about, but they aren't the same. Etching removes a thin layer of glass to create deeper, defined designs—perfect for logos, text, and intricate patterns. Frosting gives you a soft, matte look that is more subtle, almost frosted window panes.

You can use OMTech lasers to achieve both effects. The depth and power setting can be adjusted to achieve the finish you want it to be. It has the flexibility of being bold and detailed or soft and elegant.

Common Questions

Q: What is the best kind of glass for laser engraving?

A: Clear, flat, annealed glass is the safest and most reliable engraving surface you can use. When looking at glass for engraving, you can also look for glass that is marked "laser-compatible" to show the manufacturer is confident it can be used in lasers.

Q: Can I control the depth of the engraving?

A: You can! With your OMTech Laser you have the option of changing the power, speed, frequency, and focus, all of which can control the engraving depth. Always test your piece to find the best settings for your project.

Q: After I engrave the glass, how should I clean it?

A: Gently wipe with a non-abrasive glass cleaner and lint-free cloth. Never use abrasive cleaners or cloths. Chemical or rough cloths can scratch and dull your finished piece.