Engraving is a technique used to personalise and add custom branding to a wide range of gifts and trophies made from different materials. As modern engraving methods are so advanced, it is possible to perform intricate work on fragile or delicate items including those manufactured from glass, but what is involved in this process? Read on to learn more.
Engraving – an overview
In engraving, a high-temperature laser beam is used to vaporise the material of an object and physically cuts into it, leaving behind a cavity.
With glassware, this works due to the inner composition of the material. Glass is created by heating silicon. This chemical element melts at high temperatures and becomes a thick fluid. This molten material can then be manipulated in different ways so that its traps moisture and air.
When a laser beam contacts glass, the moisture and air between its additional properties of metal and silica react, but not the silicon. These elements expand, and because the glass object is rigid, microscopic fractures occur on its surface. This chipping and fracturing of the glass is what we call engraving.
Additional equipment
Lasers are typically easier to use on flat surfaces and curved glassware can pose a considerable challenge. However, additional equipment can assist in the engraving process. For instance, employing a rotary attachment is a common option used. It can be plugged into the laser machine, allowing the curved glass to rotate while the laser cuts.
Contact H. Cooper Glass Engravers, today and benefit from the skills of our experienced in-house team.
