How do I engrave a bottle by a fiber laser marking machine?

When I first tried to mark a curved wine bottle, the glass cracked in seconds—and that expensive lesson still hurts.

Bottles can be laser-engraved, but only if you match the material to the right laser: CO₂ for glass, fiber for metal. Mis­match them, and you risk shattering the bottle or wasting money.

I have since helped dozens of clients avoid that pain. Below I share the method we follow at Kirin Laser so your first mark is a success, not a disaster.

Can you laser engrave a bottle?

I still remember a brewery owner who asked, “Will any laser do the job?” The short answer: no.

Yes, you can engrave a bottle—if you use a CO₂ laser with a rotary tool for glass, or a fiber laser for metal bottles. The curved surface, glass clarity, and coating type decide the setup.

The essentials of bottle engraving¹

1. Surface curvature

2. Heat sensitivity

3. Coating thickness

The rotary attachment² keeps the focal point constant as the bottle turns. Even a tiny offset causes uneven lines. I guide new users to start at 15 % power, 200 mm/s speed, and 500 DPI, then adjust slowly.

Bottle Material	Best Laser	Typical Power (W)	Rotary Needed	Risk Level
Clear glass	CO₂	30–60	Yes	Medium
Frosted glass	CO₂	30–50	Yes	Low
Stainless steel	Fiber	20–50	Optional	Low
Aluminum	Fiber	20–30	Optional	Low
Plastic PETG	CO₂	10–20	Yes	High (melt)

A distillery in Kentucky switched to our 60 W CO₂ unit. After we dialed in power and air assist, they achieved 1,200 bottles per hour with perfect logos—and zero breakage.

For metal flasks, I recommend our 30 W fiber model. It prints deep, dark marks that survive dishwashers and hiking trips alike. Customers love the rugged look; the brand loves the lifetime advertising.

How do you engrave glass with a fiber laser?

Some prospects insist on using their existing fiber laser for glass. I always explain why that path is uphill.

Fiber lasers struggle with glass because glass is transparent to the 1064 nm wavelength. The beam passes through, so energy does not build up on the surface. Without a coating or spray, the mark is faint or the glass may crack from thermal stress. After trial and error, we found the perfect CO₂ setting. They now brand every batch with crisp, clean results.

Physics behind the mismatch

Wavelength vs. absorption

Glass absorbs infrared at 10.6 µm (CO₂), not at 1064 nm (fiber).

Pulse duration and heat flow

Nanosecond fiber pulses dump energy too fast, creating micro-fractures.

Parameter	Fiber Laser	CO₂ Laser
Wavelength	1064 nm	10.6 µm
Glass absorption	≈ 0 %	High
Heat zone width	5–10 µm	20–40 µm
Crack risk	High	Low

Work-arounds for fiber on glass

1. Marking sprays

CerMark LMM-14³ creates a black oxide bond when struck by the fiber beam.

2. UV pre-coat

A thin UV-curable lacquer⁴ absorbs 1064 nm energy and carbonizes.

3. Silicone mask

A dark silicone tape lets the beam burn the adhesive, leaving a frosted look after peeling.

With the right spray, I’ve helped cosmetics brands keep their 50 W fiber machines and still mark perfume bottles. We use 18 % power, 150 mm/s, and two passes. The black logo bonds at ~600 °C but the glass surface never exceeds 120 °C, so it stays intact.

Can you engrave with a fiber laser?

Whenever someone asks me “Can a fiber laser engrave?”, I smile—engraving is exactly what fiber does best.

Fiber lasers excel at marking metals, many plastics, and some coated materials. They carve deep, high-contrast marks with minimal maintenance and low running cost.

Why industries rely on fiber

Precision

The beam diameter is < 40 µm, so tiny text stays sharp.

Speed

Galvo heads⁵ hit 7,000 mm/s; production never stalls.

Durability

Solid-state diodes last 100,000 hours; mirrors stay clean.

Material	Fiber Result	Typical Setting (Power / Speed)
Stainless 304	Deep black	30 W / 800 mm/s
Anodized aluminum	White mark	20 W / 1,200 mm/s
Copper	Brown mark	50 W / 600 mm/s
ABS plastic (black)	White frosty	20 W / 1,400 mm/s
Carbon fiber composite	Gray etch	30 W / 900 mm/s

I once helped a bike-parts maker. Their stamped batch codes wore off in a month. We installed a 30 W fiber system⁶, configured rotary for crankshafts, and cut a 0.1 mm deep groove. Two years later, the codes are still readable after mud, salt, and crashes.

What do you spray on glass to laser engrave?

When your budget only allows one laser, a spray bridges the gap.

Laser marking sprays—like CerMark, Enduramark, and Thermark—form a thin, dark layer that absorbs fiber or CO₂ beams. After engraving, water or solvent washes the unused coating away, leaving a permanent fused mark.

Picking the right spray

Brand	Sold In	Dry Time	Engrave Power (Fiber)7	Color Result	Cost per 100 ml
CerMark LMM-14	Global	5 min	18 % @ 30 W	Black	$18
Enduramark Ultra	USA	3 min	20 % @ 30 W	Dark gray	$15
Thermark 3008	EU	4 min	22 % @ 30 W	Charcoal	$16

My standard workflow

1. Prep

Clean with isopropyl alcohol⁹. Any oil stops bonding.

2. Spray

Hold the can 20 cm away, sweep left to right once. Thin coats fuse better.

3. Dry

Room temp or a 60 °C oven for rush jobs.

4. Engrave

Lower frequency (20 kHz) prevents dust buildup.

5. Wash

Warm water and a nylon brush remove residue in seconds.

One artisan gin brand used Thermark on matte bottles. Their fiber laser etched a rich charcoal logo that survived 200 dishwasher cycles. They avoided the cost of a second CO₂ system while keeping the brand’s dark aesthetic.

Conclusion

Engraving bottles is easy—when the laser matches the material¹⁰. CO₂ handles glass with grace; fiber dominates metal and coated plastics. Marking sprays add flexibility, but each step demands care: clean surface, right power, steady rotary. At Kirin Laser, I blend physics with field stories so clients skip the painful experiments I once paid for. Choose smart, test small, and your logo will outlive every sip inside the bottle.