An Introduction To 3d Engraving Technology

The range of patterns that can these days be created inside glass is astonishing

. While these results are all achieved using the same general principles, there is plenty of variety in technique and approach, which may be of interest to those looking to understand the process better. Here are some of the most frequently used systems and technologies in 3D engraving.

The Basics: Wavelength and Power

The process of 3D engraving relies, at heart, on using a laser to create a pattern of dots actually tiny fractures known as point clouds in a piece glass, based on an image file created by a designer. But the diversity of laser technology means there are a number of ways to do this. Of foremost importance is using a laser of the correct wavelength for the material being used. For engraving under the surface, lasers that can a) pass through the material in question (i.e. lasers for which the material is transparent), and b) and create marks within that material, are needed. For glass, lasers at wavelengths that fall within the green spectrum of visible light are most often used. These lasers can pass through glass without marking it, but when focused to their minimum diameter are capable of changing the structure of the glass at the focal point, creating point clouds. The density of these point clouds can be determined by the power of the laser, with lower power laser beams being used for higher resolution images.

Laser Technology: Lamp vs. Diode

The source of the laser used for creating these images is a highly intensified light, which is concentrated down to a single beam. For a time, the mainstay of engraving technology was the lamp pumped laser, which uses an electric lamp to generate the beam. While capable of producing a powerful beam, lamps consume a lot of energy and are not long-lived. They also produce a lot of heat, requiring laser systems to have inbuilt cooling devices. The advance of diodes as a light-emitting technology, however, has enabled diode-generated lasers, which are much more energy efficient and do not produce so much excess heat. They can also produce higher-resolution images than lamp pumped laser systems, making them preferable for detailed 3D engraving.

The Machinery of Engraving

Beyond the laser itself, there needs to be a delivery system that can apply the beam to many specific points within the glass. There are generally two types of system. One is where the lenses that transmit the laser are fixed in place, and a moveable work surface positions the glass piece; these will usually use several sets of optics in order to transmit lasers into the glass from several sides at once. In the other kind of 3D engraving system, the laser itself moves to create point clouds, which is a faster process.

by: George Berdichevsky

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