What is Sub-surface Laser Engraving or a 'Bubblegram'? Technology Explained

[@thom1218]

@4:03 - Sorry, wish you would have researched this more since it's quite interesting. The lasers in these machines HAVE to be pulsed, using a method called Q-switching to obtain high peak-power pulses that can couple their energy into otherwise transparent material. These pulses, incidentally, are in the megawatt range and over a very short time span, usually a number of nano seconds. These lasers use several IR diode lasers to "pump" a Nd:YAG laser crystal, which is frequency doubled from 1024nm to 532nm (green) in order to be able to pass into the glass target object. Interestingly, this laser technique is used in tattoo removal machines to penetrate skin and oblate sub dermal ink . CO2 lasers can do a continuous etch on glass because glass is opaque to the near IR long wavelength of CO2 lasers, and therefore they can only etch the surface. Also, because glass is opaque to CO2, more energy is transferred directly to the glass, rather than passing through it, which allows the CO2 laser to remain in CW operation (continuous wave, i.e. not Q-switched). So, the operators of these bubblegram machines do not have the option to do a "continuous blast". However, using fewer dots/bubblegram will shorten processing time and wear on the laser components. So in that sense you're right about fewer dots being more economical.

[@MakersMuse]

Thanks! Really glad you commented as this is the kind of information I was trying to find but just couldn't, there was nothing much out there. I can't edit the video, youtube killed annotations, but will pin your awesome details so people can get that extra bit of info.

[@danl.4743]

Maker's Muse KZbin killed annotation?

[@MakersMuse]

Yes, as a creator we can no longer 'annotate' videos like add notes or corrections. It's frustrating.

[@cabletie69]

Maker's Muse well that certainly saves you from having to make the effort. Perhaps this channel should be named thom1218?

[@mikepenske9943]

+cabletie69 - Are you trolling? I don't see what's wrong with pinning the comment for those who are interested...

[@davisdiercks]

I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR EXPLAINING THIS. My grandparents had one of these with a pair of hands in prayer and a cross, both in the middle of the glass cube and 3D (it was even on a fancy multicolored rotating pedestal) and it always baffled me how it was made. Now after who knows how many years I know how!! I feel so enlightened!!!

[@MakersMuse]

Welcome! I was exactly the same, I had no idea and no one I talked to did either lol

[@davisdiercks]

Yup, I shared this with my grandpa to let him know. He's a woodworker and I'm sure he'll find it interesting 😊

[@betholschowka8865]

We had one that was of Jesus on the cross. It was given to us along with a rotating, color-changing base. The effect led us to call it, rather blasphemously, "disco Jesus".

[@RyunForsman]

Back in 1998 I worked for a company in Wisconsin that had one of these YAG laser machines, and I had the job of operating it. It was absolutely fascinating to watch that machine work! I can also attest to the fact that optically pure crystal is super crazy Fragile. The slightest touch to each other or a semi hard surface and they would ship. Keeping inventory was fun for sure.

[@MakersMuse]

I can imagine! Mine already has a few small scuffs :(

[@hacksmith]

Whoa that's really cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@MakersMuse]

Thanks man!

[@PotatoesAssistant]

Hi buddy

[@ianthompson6043]

What!! You're everywhere lol

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

some of us get around

[@mrsomeoneguy8832]

Hi in 2020 congrats on 9.3 mil subs

[@georl1]

Just had one made of my mom and dad in a heart shaped glass. It cost over $250 to make but is gorgeous and will last a lifetime. Thanks for the info on how they're made.

[@user-zd5it4yr9b]

where did you get it made?

[@3DPrintingNerd]

So, you're saying I should engrave glass in my Muse?

[@MakersMuse]

Yes!!! You need less power than you might think, so do some small tests first - and a solid image will work better than greyscale. Dithering is the best way to get gradients :)

[@ElectraFlarefire]

Angus: Have you tried focusing a normal CO2 laser below the surface? Maybe with dithering or such? I know getting a full '3d' look would be tricky without the software and machine, but being able to do 2-3 layers could be fun to try on some 10mm thick glass.

[@nottingham82]

You need very little power ;) I can do it with a 2.5 watt diode laser.

[@Mitch3D]

I'm actually very curious why we can't just use a CO2 or diode laser to sub-surface laser engrave dithered point clouds if you are controlling the Z-height of the lens to focus it.

[@legomasterdan1]

glass is opaque to a CO2 laser.

[@tsunaminaut]

Thanks!

[@PAPO1990]

I always figured it was lasers, but my assumption was multiple beams converging on a point, I had always underestimated what a difference focus makes

[@MakersMuse]

Apparently that is an alternate technology used for specific plastics but I couldn't find ANY info on it so decided to omit it instead of spreading false information. If you dig anything up let me know!

[@PAPO1990]

really? ha, here was me thinking I'd guessed entirely wrong :P But yeah, never saw or knew anything, just a guess I'd made many years ago, and until now had seen nothing about how it's actually done.

[@MrModTwelveFoot]

Yup, I'd always assumed it was two converging beams. This is just as cool though.

[@spikekent]

I'm always pondering how stuff is made/created, never quite satisfied with just seeing it. Thanks for another superb explanation Angus.

[@MakersMuse]

It was fun to research and get to the bottom of it.

[@technicpiledriver7732]

Im allways happy to watch your videos

[@savitriagnesiamurti8683]

thanks for sharing this. My son wanted to know how our travel souvenir was made. We ended up watching this video together. 🙏🏻

[@Linguinestick6]

Used to watch your videos a lot when I first got into 3D printing around 2015, then didn't see your videos for a while. I wanted to know how the 3D images were in objects and found this video leading me back to your channel after a couple years.

[@justinnagy9206]

Thank you so much for explaining this in depth! Well done sir! 👌

[@LaserRanger15]

I've been in the industrial laser biz for many years. The sub-surface marking it pretty fun to watch, for sure and a nice effect. Once upon a time it was really special and you paid big bucks but now they sell the crystals at gas stations for $5.00. Good video.

[@pakxo.]

I did try to search on this thechnology but couldn't found any high quality video but now I do Thank you

[@Cryocide]

Thank you! This video is just complex enough to help us understand how it’s done, still simple enough for the average person to understand it, and even suggests that there’s a more complex process involved for those who want (or don’t want) to dig deeper.

[@elfenmagix8173]

Being in NYC, I see a lot of these being sold in the streets with various items etched inside. But lo' & behold! there are some that are made acrylic (most of these are), but the image inside was etched onto a thin sheet of acrylic and then put into a mold where liquid acrylic is poured in and allowed to harden. This creates a "cube" (or any other shape) with the image inside. Most of the times it is hard to detect but if you turn it to the side, the image flattens and almost disappears, signifying that it is a 2D image and not a 3D image in the "cube." Some times, there are flaws where you can see the acrylic paper seams about suspended in acrylic before it hardened.

[@richardnelson581]

Years ago I did a job for Polaroid ,were we laser cut acrylic polarizers for an Arab sheik jet . When you rotated the polarizer it was a variable light filter ,we focused the laser and scribed the polarizer to say Polaroid . It lite up the word when it went opaque .

[@MoesFingers]

Uh sir your production quality is on point.

[@Coco.Qwerty]

Thank you! I had been wondering about it for a while!! 😊

[@JustinDrentlaw]

Awesome video Angus! Very informative. Loved it.

[@chrisharris7390]

I used to do this for a living in Las Vegas, the best lasers were the German "Vitro" lasers, not the ones from China. The laser uses a multi-faceted head to engrave hundreds of thousands of "points" inside the glass, to do that the image is converted or created as a cloud of dots. The laser is actually multiple beams that focus at a specific point to create a fracture, meaning that you can even stick your hand in the beam but the laser does not burn until you are at the exact XYZ of the beam that you have told it to burn at. One day a customer came in as part of a convention and fell in love with it -- turns out he was a big timer with Walmart and before you know it the back room where I worked was filled to the ceiling with boxes of glass for me to make displays -- displays for every Wal-Mart in the country. From what I understand they are still pressing "print" on the display files I created to this very day, even though I haven't been at that company for nearly a decade. So if you walk into a big box store and see one of these it might actually be one of my files from 2006 :) Oh and they do last forever, if you can avoid an accident that breaks the glass there is absolutely no fading whatsoever. I still have quite a few decade-plus works that look as good as the day they were made.

[@StevenGamesWHC]

So what type of glasses/crystal can this be done with? For example can you do this to sapphire sheet/block?

[@CortezEspartaco2]

I've always wondered about this. I never would have guessed that the images are composed of tiny fractures. My guess was that the image was somehow constructed out of a flexible fiberglass fabric and then had molten glass poured over it into a rectangular mold, but couldn't figure out how they would avoid air bubbles. Also, I for one think that "bubblegram" is a fantastic name.

[@frankpeck1448]

Thank you, for demystifying a curiosity of mine, for years!

[@davidmcdonald3314]

That's pretty cool Angus - and you've shone light into some aspects of the process I'd never heard of or given any thought to. Kudos

[@Engineerboy100]

Nice explanation thanks for taking the time to share, great job on the video too!

[@1937Brett]

Where do you get the materials? And what devise is best to start?

[@harunm292]

thx for video i have question i just start to 3d internal engraving bussines but it is hard to make 3d its lookin ok but taking a lot time do u know same software convert 2d to 3d lss or mbf format thx again

[@Tyriama]

I have one of these from many years ago. Always been a cool piece that my mother keeps in addition to our pictures. Neat little things.

[@SiD14091992]

What's the name of the software at @4:35 ? Guess the same technic can be applied for 3d modeling of human faces to some extent and can be 3D printed in a full color 3D printer

[@skillsswapper1657]

Hi, which manufacturer would you recommend for this 3d crystal laser engraving machine?

[@emiliofernandezlavado279]

Amazingly interesting and useful! Thank you!

[@d.w.v.3553]

Does anyone know where I can purchase slabs of glass for the laser engraving? Manufacturers or distributors?

[@josephwisniewski3673]

Good video. I already knew how this works, and you explained it very well without getting too deep.

[@timberry7832]

I enjoyed your video and I want to learn more. Keep going. Best wishes

[@munnurajwansi5543]

Hello Sir/Ma'am How can I bought your products??

[@lancejones9320]

Thank you for making this. I had one made in Germany in 2006. It didn't cost that much and I still cherish it. Always have been curious about how they did it.

[@optimumimage360videobooth4]

Lance Jones , what company made it ?

[@lancejones9320]

I wish I could remember. I'm in the military. They had a both in the post exchange in Grafenwöhr or Vilseck. I am a year away from retiring. I've always had a dream to do that for a retirement job.

[@maciej12345678]

3:39 if you scan material for points of refraction then aplay mask of shift focus you can engrave on any surface and in into object

[@czyxx71]

We have a Boss 1630 and an Epilog. Can they be converted/adjusted to do this?

[@imohanwer]

Does Laser emitting Lance itself shifts focal point or it goes back and forth to do so

[@reginaldburton4018]

Is there a way that I could use some sort of 3d printer to make a hollow 3d object inside the glass???

[@mechadense]

Is there some service that allows for very small orders for a reasonable price (like Shapeways or iMaterialize for 3D printing)?

[@TheMan4407]

Thank you! I was getting so sick of these "how laser engraving works" videos on youtube. You actually explained how it worked!

[@sidddey]

Hey Man.. need help... I am trying to engrave a QR code in Acrylic with Laser.... Th problem is its not scanning....means it ends up unscannable.... can you enlighten... will it work or never work! Would really appreciate your response in this!

[@skylerockspecial]

Should I be able to mount a laser to my prusa? Because we’re not burning things there wouldn’t be any smoke either. Any idea on where to buy a clear cristal block?

[@SuperUltrachan]

Angus about 3d scanning what do you think about the Matter and Form desktop 3d scanner?

[@matthewbryan2353]

Love the video, I saw this the US around 25 years ago and loved it. I then started a business with no idea what I was getting into but loved the learning experience and traveled the world sleeping in airports to find the equipment to do this. I now have a laser machine in my garage that I’m wanting to get running again and try find some better low cost modern 3D face scanning technology as this was a real drawback in until 15 years ago when I gave it away. That said I love this kind of technology and have moved onto CNC router and have just ordered a 5 axis water jet cutter.

[@LeeJames-cg3ig]

hi,May I ask how your project is running now, I think we can open a section of the

[@hiba]

Any idea if this can be done on clear resin blocks?

[@GeeksThroughoutTime]

Hey Angus...do you have any suggestions for pearlescent/iridescent PLA filaments?

[@norbertobonilla5218]

Thanks Angus nice video if any software program that you recomend to use on this 3d laser machine i jutst got me a cryslove b2 machine and willing to get my hands on the machine and star doing glass cube thanks in advance keep doing great videos

[@christopherfrawley2560]

So if I have a lazer engraver what program would I use to make a bubblegram? I have a snapmaker 2.0 and I would love to experiment with it.

[@sto2779]

Will this work on clear acrylic?

[@l0I0I0I0]

Can you create a vacuumed space, hole in the glass, or are all cuts filled with something? What is that something?

[@Dave45784]

Do you have a link to where I can buy one of these machines please?

[@jamiegaudet6008]

u ever find any?

[@Dave45784]

@jamiegaudet6008 I did but I have found the machines to be super expensive and only 1 Chinese supplier :-(

[@jayeshchaudhari7922]

You have worked on laser engraving can you tell me how to convert a image to engraving format

[@just_eirik]

What about the ones that are spheres? Do they require much more math and processing time? Or do they make them into spheres after they have done the laser work?

[@jeremeymiller3406]

Would like to see an update with how they implement the HD quality and how they are able to do multiple do do multiple images now giving it a live action effect pretty cool I always was curious about this myself think this is a going to be a good anniversary gift idea

[@RonFloyd]

Thanks Angus - I've always been curious about those. Thumbs WAY up!

[@thriveadv]

can we use any laser engraving machine or for 3d engraving need special machine ?

[@RSpudieD]

A very well produced video that's awesome and informative!

[@aeaeaeaeoaeaeaeaeae]

I always thought that there were multiple lazers, and that they would intersect in one spot to make that spot essentially have the power of 2 or 3 lazers on it. Would've never thought this is how they do it, great video!

[@BryceSchroeder]

I used to think this too! I wonder if we just both thought of that when we saw the objects, or if that was a misexplanation that was in the wild at some point, or if there are actually machines that do it that way.

[@sublimationman]

It's interesting. Some 20+ years ago I saw one of these in operation in Las Vegas. The guy realized I was into the tech side and he explained it all pretty much like you did. He also mentioned there was another technology at the time that used 2 lasers at 90degree from each other and where they collided it put a bubble. He said that he had done a lot of research before buying though and the other system was more money and much harder to calibrate (both lasers at a needle point size must hit each other exactly) and that they would get out of alignment very easy which would either end up with no image or one that looks fuzzy. That other company is probably long gone now.

[@BelviGER]

I have one of those that is like 15 years old. They 3d scanned my dad and me and then custom made it while we looked on. It blew my mind of several layers. It was the first ever 3d scan I saw, the bubblegram itself was amazing technology and then they used a lego plate as a bed to put the glas on because apparently lego plates have ridiculous tolerances

[@1937Brett]

Is it crystal or glass?

[@allinonemedia5419]

Can we sort out any mistake inside after its made? Please help me out. I need solution

[@mikemike7001]

Pretty neat. Would also love to see some videos on affordable "hobbyist grade" laser engravers.

[@MakersMuse]

There's a few low cost kits, but I've been cautious on using them because they have zero safety considerations. Touch a hotend you'll get a burn, shine a laser in your eye you're blind for life... Don't really want to promote that kind of thing to be honest.

[@mikemike7001]

A nozzle burn I can take. Blindness definitely not. I've read a little about the Muse - the laser device not the Aussie ;) - but that's not what you and I might call "affordable". I was hoping someone made a less-expensive unit with all the proper safety interlocks. Maybe someday.

[@tomgray971]

Like Trinus or Mooz?

[@telespallabob7136]

Just for the record: Fablab genova made an 80W CO2 open source laser cutter implementing all safety interlocks like commercial machines usually have. The total cost was around 2000€ for a 1250x780mm work area. They did a great job. You can see the machine in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/lauUaJyjjrGpfa8

[@Tonicwine999]

Fascinating! Always wondered about how they did this. The idea I had in my head was completely wrong. Thanks :)

[@Musicagine]

I couldnt understand .. can we make the same thing with co2 cutter laser

[@pokeitwithastick7869]

Please; Where did you have your cube made? (website/company name?) and; how much was it ? Thank You.

[@pokeitwithastick7869]

Never mind! I found places,no sense giving a company free advertisisng on your page,right? ;)

[@cujoedaman]

I wonder, could this be used in some way to make printed circuits or memory inside the cube? Not specifically these particular lasers, but something along this line. I can't think of what it would be used for today, but I'm thinking like the data cubes they used in the original Star Trek or the crystals in Superman '78.

[@fatoumatadiarra8993]

Thank you for your video🙏 I was wondering the same question and I confirm this is the only video that I found with real explanation.thank you for your informations.

[@robertmatetich2898]

Where can I get one done in Arizona?

[@BrotherEmmet]

FINALLY! Thanks Angus for explaining!

[@fannytorres1781]

Thank you so much for explaining it!!

[@brezovprut4431]

I ve seen recently sub-surface-like resin 3d prints? How do they achieve it, and what is it called like?

[@BGPhilbin]

+Makers Muse - Thanks for the video. I've had one of these items since my 1999 trip to Russia, where the technology was pioneered. It was remarkably inexpensive for the time (turns out using US cash in Russia at the time got you a bit more for your money). They were very proud of the precision with which they were able to make these little pieces of art and the quality of crystal they were able to obtain for it. Exports to the US that I found were extremely expensive and of lower quality (though I have no idea why that was the case, other than possibly saving money on the lasers, possibly). It was almost a decade before I started to see any version of these show up in the US and it's always been a conversation piece. Nice to see that my explanation of their creation was pretty accurate - thanks, again!

[@UnicornShooter]

I work in a machine shop where I run the laser engraver to engrave text on aluminum parts. We have clear plastic fixtures to hold parts. Once I had the laser focal point inside the plate and marked without a part and got a bubbling effect inside the plastic like in theses objects by mistake.(having a focal point a little above or below the surface can leave a cleaner marking the part)

[@mr.es1857]

What is difference pulse frequency on uv laser machines?

[@DavidLee3d]

hey bro can you tell me what filament to use for my cr 10 abs can't be used suggest me a better option other than abs and also tell me how to get a strong objects using pla

[@MakersMuse]

Use a strength modified PLA like Polymaker Polymax, or eSUN PLA+

[@DavidLee3d]

what about WOL3D & Flashforge pla

[@DavidLee3d]

Techie 1.75mm PLA Filament 1KG Roll for 3D Printers is not strong what should i do

[@MakersMuse]

I don't use any of those brands, if it says its just PLA then it's just PLA. It'll do for most applications.

[@DavidLee3d]

is esun is good

[@fuadmaayeh8813]

Thank you for posting this video

[@davidwelling6822]

would it be possible to buy a cheap regular CO2 laser engraver and add a Z-axis yourself?

[@ubiquitousreverser]

Is there anyway to do this without layering, say cut out an image in a crystal?

[@john-paulhopman318]

I was thinking an x and y axis laser whose combined heat leave a mark where they cross. Thanks for the clarification.

[@vanessavk3336]

Great video ! the internal engraving .

[@bhaskarrijal]

always wondered! thanks for this one

[@angle735]

Anyone know where I can buy one of these? I want to buy one for someone

[@norbertobonilla5218]

great video if any software to make this 3d images i just got me cryslove B2 machine but need the software thanks in advance

[@magellanicraincloud]

I've always been curious as to the specifics. Thanks Angus.

[@yesjared950]

Can you do this on a 1mm thick glass or even 0.8mm

[@necipsisko5267]

Hello, I live in Germany and I want to buy a 3D crystal laser engraving machine. I would appreciate it if you could help me with this. Where can I buy the machine?

[@Visionooor]

I remember when I was in Germany I saw a shop that would make these, u can ask them where they bought theirs

[@nickij12]

I've been wondering about this for years! I've seen the really see videos that barely give an explanation where I'd still be thinking "but how?" So thank you for giving a good explanation

[@Xenovia86]

How to buy the machine

[@FreedomsLife1776]

Quite remarkable; thanks for making this. My office just got a congratulatory cylinder sub-surface etched and I was very curious how it was made!!!

[@CUBETechie]

Can it be used as data storage?

[@MrStatonJr]

Can this be done on a C02 laser?

[@hofmannjohann]

Does is the 3d Ingraving Laser, applyable to any 3D printer ?

[@Foebane72]

I've seen a few of these in the past, and I figured it was lasers, but it's still beautiful to look at them with these 3D etchings inside solid glass/crystal/plastic.

[@jmarsh3347]

Good video, i was curious how this was done, thanks. Does the block have to be annealed or tempered in any way, to relieve internal stresses?

[@danthor45]

You just solved the biggest mysteri in my life. Thanks