In the laser engraving industry, glass is a common processing material. However, many users have found that fiber laser marking machines are not ideal for glass engraving, or even unable to complete engraving. So, why can't fiber laser marking machine 100W engrave glass directly? What are some more suitable alternatives?
Why can't fiber laser marking machine 100W engrave glass directly?
Fiber laser marking machine 100W mainly uses infrared laser with a wavelength of 1064nm. The laser energy of this wavelength is mainly absorbed by highly reflective materials such as metals, but the absorption rate of transparent materials such as glass is extremely low. This means that most of the laser will pass directly through the glass instead of being effectively absorbed by the material and triggering an engraving reaction. Therefore, fiber laser marking machine 100W basically cannot form an engraving effect on ordinary glass. In addition, the thermal expansion coefficient of glass is large, and the direct use of high-energy laser beams may cause cracks or breakage on the glass surface, affecting the processing quality.
What kind of laser is used for glass engraving?
If you want to do high-quality engraving or marking on glass, the following two lasers are better choices:
1. CO₂ laser (10.6μm):
The wavelength of CO₂ laser is around 10.6μm, which can be well absorbed by glass, so it can be directly engraved or marked on the glass surface. Common CO₂ lasers can be used for:
1. LOGO engraving of glass bottles and glass cups.
2. QR code marking of automotive glass.
3. Craft glass engraving.
However, the patterns engraved by CO₂ lasers are usually frosted and the engraving depth is shallow, which is suitable for surface marking but not for deep cutting.
UV laser marking machine 20W (355nm):
The wavelength of UV laser marking machine 20W is 355nm, which has higher photon energy than CO₂ laser, so it can perform high-precision engraving on the glass surface in a "cold processing" way. The advantages of fiber laser marking machines include:
1. High-precision engraving: can be used for marking small text and complex patterns.
2. Cold processing, not easy to break: UV laser marking machine 20W will not cause glass overheating, reducing the risk of breakage.
3. UV laser marking machine 20W is suitable for a wider range of glass types, such as tempered glass, optical glass, etc.
If your main need is glass surface engraving, such as LOGO, QR code or pattern, CO₂ laser is an economical choice. If more detailed and high-contrast engraving is required, fiber laser marking machine is a better solution.
Due to the wavelength characteristics, fiber laser marking machine will affect the effect when engraving glass. While CO₂ laser is suitable for most glass surface engraving, fiber laser marking machine is suitable for high-precision marking. If you are looking for a professional glass engraving solution, welcome to contact us for more information!