How to Do 3-D Laser Engraving
You can make a lot of different things with lasers, which is why the Russians created a laser-engraving machine in 1990. This $250,000 machine will allow you to engrave a 3D image on the center of a piece of glass or crystal.
- Go to a local photo crystal shop to use their 3D camera and sub-surface laser-engraving machine.
- Have your photograph taken by the 3D camera. You can also have a picture of a pet or a favorite object taken and then engraved. This photograph will only take a minute since it is the same as having your picture taken with a regular camera.
- Process and clean the 3D image, which is known as a 3D acquisition.
- Convert the 3D acquisition into a point cloud.
- Upload your point cloud to the laser-engraving machine.
- Make sure that you like the image. If not, have another image taken. Remember, both the brightness and the contrast can be altered before you do any engraving.
- Put your crystal or glass block into the laser-engraving machine. This machine looks like a small safe so you will be unable to see what is taking place inside of it. However, you should know that a laser beam is penetrating your glass or crystal and creating thousands of small cracks, which are called “points.” Once finished the points will look like the image that you have chosen to be engraved upon your piece of glass or crystal.