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Glass: diode, CO2 and fiber laser compatibility
xTool and OMTech list glass for CO2 engraving. Boss Laser and FSL state that glass engraves but does not cut. For diode lasers, xTool lists engraving only with a coating. OMTech and xTool list fiber lasers as not suitable for glass.
- Also called
- drinkware, mirrors
- Diode laser
- Engrave or mark: No (2), cut: Not listed
- CO2 laser
- Engrave or mark: Yes (2), cut: No (2)
- Fiber laser
- Engrave or mark: No (2), cut: Not listed
- Thickest one-pass cut listed
- Not listed
- Listed as No by
- OMTech, Glowforge, Boss Laser, FSL, xTool
Compatibility by laser type
Yes (2) 2 manufacturers or stores list it as workableNo (2) 2 list it as not workableDisagree manufacturers list bothWith conditions workable only under a stated conditionNot listed no manufacturer statement
| Laser type | Engrave or mark | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Diode laser (blue, about 450 to 455 nm) | No (2) No: OMTech, Glowforge. With conditions: xTool. | Not listed |
| CO2 laser (10,600 nm) | Yes (2) Yes: xTool, OMTech. With conditions: Monport. | No (2) No: Boss Laser, FSL. |
| Fiber laser (1064 nm) | No (2) No: xTool, OMTech. | Not listed |
The material lookup adds a cut thickness for glass.
Manufacturer statements
| Laser and job | Manufacturer | Lists it as | Wording or table entry on the page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diode, engrave or mark | xTool | With conditions | Glass (with coating) | xTool: Fiber vs CO2 vs diode laser guide (blog) |
| Diode, engrave or mark | OMTech | No | Clear/Transparent (diode): Passes right through | OMTech: Diode vs CO2 vs fiber lasers guide (blog) |
| Diode, engrave or mark | Glowforge | No | Glowforge Spark ... is not compatible with glass | Glowforge: Craft Series tech specs (Aura, Spark) |
| CO2, engrave or mark | xTool | Yes | Engraving: Acrylic Wood Plywood MDF Bamboo Leather Paper Rubber Silicone Glass Stone Ceramics Plated/coated metal Fabric Cork | xTool: Fiber vs CO2 vs diode laser guide (blog) |
| CO2, engrave or mark | OMTech | Yes | It also frosts glass cleanly | OMTech: Diode vs CO2 vs fiber lasers guide (blog) |
| CO2, engrave or mark | Monport | With conditions | CO2 lasers perform well on glass engraving ... However, it's limited to opaque glass and translucent glass | Monport: CO2, fiber and diode material compatibility guide (blog) |
| CO2, cut | Boss Laser | No | Glass, stone, and ceramic engrave (frost) on a CO2 laser but don't cut cleanly, because thermal stress cracks them. | Boss Laser: Materials and safety FAQ |
| CO2, cut | FSL | No | Glass (etch, no cut) | Full Spectrum Laser (FSL): What materials are safe and not safe to engrave/vector cut |
| Fiber, engrave or mark | xTool | No | Fiber lasers are not suitable for wood, glass and clear acrylic. | xTool: Fiber vs CO2 vs diode laser guide (blog) |
| Fiber, engrave or mark | OMTech | No | Passes through or reflects off; won't mark bare transparent items | OMTech: Diode vs CO2 vs fiber lasers guide (blog) |
Not listed for: Diode cut, Fiber cut.
One-pass cut depth
No one-pass cut depth is listed for this material on the laser machines page.
Fumes
Laser cutting and engraving give off fumes. The machine's manual has the venting rules for that machine. The fume and room lookup compares a machine's exhaust airflow with fume extractor airflow.