Glass lantern

Lanterns make beautiful and modern table decorations for weddings. In the following tutorial, we will give you step-by-step instructions on how to laser engrave individual wedding decorations. This lantern can also be engraved for many other occasions such as Christmas or birthdays.

Preparation

Materials

Glass candle holder (4" high)
Candle (3" high)
Paper towel

Trotec Laser and Accessories

You can use any laser system from the Speedy series to complete this project.

Tip

We recommend using a damp paper towel when engraving glass. This technique allows you to achieve defined engravings that are white in colour. In addition, the damp paper towel dissipates heat applied to the surface of the glass object, which prevents the formation of cracks.

To prepare the candle holder, you will need a paper towel sheet, some water, and a sponge or spray bottle. Place a single, thin paper towel layer on the area you wish to engrave. Moisten the paper towel with the sponge or spray bottle. Prior to placing the candle holder on your laser's work area, make sure that the paper towel does not contain any folds or air bubbles.

More Glass Engraving Tips

diy-glass-engraving-glass-lantern.zip

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Step by step

Step 1

Step 1: Prepare the Design

Create your own design, or download our template (below) and make any desired adjustments. Send the finalized artwork to JobControl® using the print settings below.

Print Settings

Process mode	Resolution	Cut line
Standard	500dpi	none

Halftone	Others
Color	Optimized Geometries

Step 2

Step 2: Engrave the Candle Holder

Position the glass candle holder on the vacuum table. We recommend placing the candle holder on a sheet of paper to prevent scratching. To attain a high-quality engraving, the engraving surface should be flat (i.e., non-beveled). If your candle holder has a beveled shape, you may wish to lift its "lower" end by placing miniature cardboard or acrylic slats underneath (see image to the left).

Next, proceed to enter the laser engraving parameters and engrave the candle holder. In order to prevent the paper towel from drying, we suggest deactivating the vacuum table's suction force during the engraving process.

NOTE: The optimal processing parameters may vary depending on your laser system's available wattage.

Laser Parameters

Color	Process	Power (%)	Speed (%)	ppi/Hz
black	Engrave CO₂	90	100	500 ppi

Passes	Air Assist	Z-Offset	Direction	Advanced
1	Off	-	Top down	-

Step 3

Step 3: Clean the Engraved Candle Holder

When the engraving process is complete, remove the candle holder from the laser's work area. Carefully wipe the engraved surface with a damp cloth, and remove any remaining paper towel pieces.

Finally, place the candle in the candle holder.

More Ideas

Engrave individual candle holders with each wedding guest's name
Use different coloured candles to create creative tablescapes
For a consistent aesthetic, use similar designs for other wedding items, such as invitations, napkin decorations, and place cards

Speedy series
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Questions about applications or settings?
We're happy to advise you from A for Air assist to Z for z-offset.