Getting clean results when laser engraving powder-coated drinkware
By Sara Thompson
Images courtesy of JDS Industries
Powder-coated drinkware remains one of the most popular items for personalization. It’s durable, available in a wide range of colors, and produces high-contrast results that customers love. Best of all, it engraves beautifully with a standard CO² laser.
While the process is straightforward, a few setup choices can make the difference between an average mark and a crisp, professional finish. Understanding what your laser is actually doing to the coating helps you get consistent results faster, as well as avoid common mistakes along the way.
What a CO² laser is really doing
When you engrave powder-coated drinkware with a CO² laser, you’re not engraving the metal itself. Instead, the laser removes the powder coating and exposes the metal underneath. That exposed metal creates the contrast you see in the finished mark.
Because of this, more power isn’t always better. Once the coating is gone, extra laser energy can start heating the surrounding area, creating dark edges or “haloing” around the engraving. New technology of ion coating stainless steel under the powder coat has opened hundreds of possible color combinations. However, these types of tumblers also don’t need a max amount of power, as the ion coating can be discolored or even burnt off with some settings. Clean results usually come from balanced settings rather than maximum power.
Keep rotary setup consistent
Even with good laser settings, rotary alignment plays a big role in engraving quality. If the drinkware shifts during rotation or moves slightly out of focus, you may see lighter areas, banding, or uneven contrast. Taking a few extra seconds to secure the cup properly can prevent these issues.
Start by ensuring you have the correct diameter for your cup. Some lasers require you to put in this measurement. This can determine how fast or slow your cup is rotating in your rotary. Too large can stretch and distort your artwork. Too small can squish your artwork. Next, ensure your tumbler is level. Different lasers have different mechanisms to raise or lower one end or the other. Placing a small level on your engraving space can help confirm the levelness.
The final step is making sure your cup is secure on your rollers or in your tension-based clamps. A smooth, even turning of the drinkware as it’s being marked helps maintain the focus level between the laser head and tumbler, giving you consistent results.
Expect different colors to engrave differently
Not all powder coatings respond the same to the laser. Some colors engrave faster than others, and textured coatings may require slightly different settings than smooth finishes. Even products that look identical can vary from batch to batch. If your laser can line up exactly from run to run, sometimes a second pass can help get any thicker coating that may have been left behind. This is not ideal, but it can possibly save that cup from going to the burner pile.
The heat of the laser and powder coating will always leave a residue post-lasering. Some colors more than others, but a quick wipe down with a degreaser such as LA Awesome, Blu, or Zep 507, to name a few, helps shine up that metal underneath. For tougher colors, such as blues and red, combining a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser with one of those cleaners can help.
If you notice heavy residue forming during engraving, increase the speed slightly instead of increasing power. Powder coating is a polymer material, so engraving produces smoke and particles that should be removed with proper exhaust or filtration. Good ventilation improves both shop safety and engraving quality by preventing residue from settling back onto the surface.
Build a repeatable workflow
Once you find settings that work well for a specific style of drinkware, save them. Creating a small library of tested settings makes future jobs faster and more predictable. With just a little testing and setup consistency, powder-coated drinkware becomes one of the easiest and most reliable products to engrave with a CO² laser.
Sara Thompson is the UV/laser coordinator at JDS Industries. She has been with JDS for over eight years and works with nearly every department. She assists with technical support and JDS YouTube and social media. She enjoys working hands-on to be able to build a vast knowledge of as many products and processes as possible.
