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 used

Glass lantern, angular, 10x10x10 cm
Candle, height ca. 8 cm, diameter ca. 6 cm
Paper towel

Laser machine used

Speedy 400 laser engraver
120 Watt
2" lens
vacuum table

Whilst we have used a Speedy 400, any Speedy laser engraving machine can be used to create this sample.

Tips

In this example we have chosen to laser engrave the glass using damp kitchen paper. This will prevent the glass from splintering during the laser engraving process

When preparing the lantern, you'll need a sheet of kitchen paper, water and either a sponge or spray bottle. Start by placing a single, thin layer of kitchen paper on the area the laser machine will engrave and moisten it using the your sponge or spray bottle. To ensure best results when laser engraving, ensure that there are no folds or air bubbles in the paper.

Tips and tricks for glass engraving with the laser

diy-glass-engraving-glass-lantern.zip

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Step by step

Step 1

Step 1: Import/create laser template

Start by creating your own design or use our free template for the design. The job should be sent to the laser using the settings below.

Print settings

Process mode	Resolution	Cut line
Standard	500dpi	none

Halftone	Others
Colour	Optimised Geometries

Step 2

Step 2: Laser engraving

The next step is to create the parameter settings. Our suggested parameters will vary depending on your laser machine and the available laser power. In order to prevent early drying of the kitchen paper, the blowing is deactivated during the laser engraving process.

Position the lantern on the vacuum table. Place a sheet of paper under the glass to prevent any possible scratches on the glass. For an optimal laser engraving result, the surface to be engraved must have an even height. If the wind light has a bevelled shape, please compensate for any differences in height.

Laser parameters:

Colour	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: Finishing

Once the laser engraving is completed, remove the glass from the laser machine. The engraved surface can now be carefully cleaned with a damp cloth.

Once cleaned, place a candle in the lantern.

Inspiration

To accentuate the laser engraving result, a dark, strong colour of the candle is recommended.

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.