Laser-engraved glass

thingiverse

I create bowls and jars for fun and to keep them from getting stolen in shared spaces. This project is just as much about teaching others how to do laser-engraving on glass as it is about the design itself. Laser-engraving works the same way on glass as it does on acrylic or wood, except that you're working with a different material. It produces decent results on regular glass, but fails on borosilicate glass because tiny shards keep coming loose from the engraved area, no matter how hard I scrub, and one large bowl ended up being ruined. If you're unsure, try engraving a small test area first to see what happens. Both front- and back-engraving work well and I've included photos of each approach. I also experimented with engraving an upright jar on a narrow strip to keep the laser focused in tight spaces. The text is readable with some effort, but it's so tiny that it's hard to notice. I wouldn't recommend doing this myself.