Writing inside a glass tube

Hi Joe,

I purchased a 2"x2-1/2" x3/4" glass block, as a gift for my wife. In
the middle of the glass is a single 3 dimensional, long stem, rose with the
words "I love you" printed underneath the stem. It is visible from all sides.
When turned 90 degrees the rose looks like a rose and the printing is just a
straight line.
I was told , by the salesperson, that it was done with two lasers.
When the beams intersected they created enough heat to melt the glass on the
inside of the block, thus making the design. They had all sorts of designs,
dolphins, dogs, cats, flowers, churches, etc. they are really quite nice. You
can probably find them in any store that sells tourist items. I don't remember
who made them and I can't find the box it came in.
Granted this would require a pretty sophisciated setup to do, but what
you are asking is being done by someone :-)

Daymon


In article ,
(Joe) wrote:
Hi All,

I have a small glass capillary tube ( about 3mm in diameter,
12 inches long flint glass). Would like to write something
inside the glass tube to begin with. Later I want to create
some art if I am successful with the writing. A sharp metal
would not even make a scratch. Is there any other way to
write, by etching or scoring etc.?

Thanks for any input.
Joe

These things are available all over the place.
If you don't want to get into lasers, then I would suggest making your own
attachment to a vibrating etcher, the kind used to put names or license
numbers on to tools. What you would have to do is get hard wire, like music
wire, bend the tip, file it sharp and then attach it to the vibrating nose
of the tool - epoxy?, shrink wrap? then use the end of the wire as a
vibrating scribe inside the tube.

--
Mike Firth
Hot Glass Bits Furnace Working Website
http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/I-UPSUMM.HTM
shows recently changed files, click on link
"D& M B" wrote in message
...
Hi Joe,

I purchased a 2"x2-1/2" x3/4" glass block, as a gift for my wife.
In
the middle of the glass is a single 3 dimensional, long stem, rose with
the
words "I love you" printed underneath the stem. It is visible from all
sides.
When turned 90 degrees the rose looks like a rose and the printing is just
a
straight line.
I was told , by the salesperson, that it was done with two lasers.
When the beams intersected they created enough heat to melt the glass on
the
inside of the block, thus making the design. They had all sorts of
designs,
dolphins, dogs, cats, flowers, churches, etc. they are really quite nice.
You
can probably find them in any store that sells tourist items. I don't
remember
who made them and I can't find the box it came in.
Granted this would require a pretty sophisciated setup to do, but
what
you are asking is being done by someone :-)

Daymon


In article ,
(Joe) wrote:
Hi All,

I have a small glass capillary tube ( about 3mm in diameter,
12 inches long flint glass). Would like to write something
inside the glass tube to begin with. Later I want to create
some art if I am successful with the writing. A sharp metal
would not even make a scratch. Is there any other way to
write, by etching or scoring etc.?

Thanks for any input.
Joe

"Joe" wrote in message
om...
Hi All,

I have a small glass capillary tube ( about 3mm in diameter,
12 inches long flint glass). Would like to write something
inside the glass tube to begin with. Later I want to create
some art if I am successful with the writing. A sharp metal
would not even make a scratch. Is there any other way to
write, by etching or scoring etc.?

Thanks for any input.
Joe

One solution would be to coat the interior of the tube with wax
as a resist. carve the writing into the wax and then use etching cream
You'd need a steady hand though. Much steadier than I have.

"Ian Stirling" wrote in message
...
Joe wrote:
Hi All,

I have a small glass capillary tube ( about 3mm in diameter,
12 inches long flint glass). Would like to write something
inside the glass tube to begin with. Later I want to create
some art if I am successful with the writing. A sharp metal
would not even make a scratch. Is there any other way to
write, by etching or scoring etc.?

Clean tube.
Run some positive photoresist solution through the tube, and allow to dry
to
a good coat.

Fill tube with some black pigmented solution that will not affect the
resist.
Now, expose the resist using the appropriate amount of UV (may be quite
large)
using a mask on the outside of the tube.)
To get better focus, you'll have to do some work on the optics.

Now, develop the resist, and flow etchant through the tube.
Viola.




Sounds pretty easy to me.

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"Ian Stirling" wrote in message
...
Joe wrote:
Hi All,

I have a small glass capillary tube ( about 3mm in diameter,
12 inches long flint glass). Would like to write something
inside the glass tube to begin with. Later I want to create
some art if I am successful with the writing. A sharp metal
would not even make a scratch. Is there any other way to
write, by etching or scoring etc.?

Clean tube.
Run some positive photoresist solution through the tube, and allow to
dry
to
a good coat.

Fill tube with some black pigmented solution that will not affect the
resist.
Now, expose the resist using the appropriate amount of UV (may be quite
large)
using a mask on the outside of the tube.)
To get better focus, you'll have to do some work on the optics.

Now, develop the resist, and flow etchant through the tube.
Viola.




Sounds pretty easy to me.


Does this mean you'll be posting photos of your first efforts in this area?
;)

Moonraker wrote:

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"Ian Stirling" wrote in message
...
Joe wrote:
Hi All,

I have a small glass capillary tube ( about 3mm in diameter,
12 inches long flint glass). Would like to write something
snip
Fill tube with some black pigmented solution that will not affect the
resist.
snip

Alternative, possibly easier solution, at least not involving much
optics.
Obtain some silicone tubing, of diameter that will easily slip into the
tube.
Laser print your writing onto some "pressNpeel" transfer paper.
Cut into a strip that will fit inside the tube rolled up.
Insert into tube, insert silicone tubing along with it, inflate tubing to
press firmly against walls.
When confident it's in the right position, heat up to around 150C or so
to fuse the toner to the glass.
Remove tube.
Wash out pressNpeel paper using water and a pipe-cleaner.
You now have a toner image on the wall of the tube.
This may suit, or you can use it as an etch resist (I think it will stand
up to glass etching solution, but am not sure)

Sounds pretty easy to me.


Does this mean you'll be posting photos of your first efforts in this area?
;)

--
http://inquisitor.i.am/ | | Ian Stirling.
---------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------------
To do is to be
To be is to do
Do be do be do do

"Ian Stirling" wrote in message
...
Moonraker wrote:

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"Ian Stirling" wrote in message
...
Joe wrote:
Hi All,

I have a small glass capillary tube ( about 3mm in diameter,
12 inches long flint glass). Would like to write something
snip
Fill tube with some black pigmented solution that will not affect the
resist.
snip

Alternative, possibly easier solution, at least not involving much
optics.
Obtain some silicone tubing, of diameter that will easily slip into the
tube.
Laser print your writing onto some "pressNpeel" transfer paper.
Cut into a strip that will fit inside the tube rolled up.
Insert into tube, insert silicone tubing along with it, inflate tubing to
press firmly against walls.
When confident it's in the right position, heat up to around 150C or so
to fuse the toner to the glass.
Remove tube.
Wash out pressNpeel paper using water and a pipe-cleaner.
You now have a toner image on the wall of the tube.
This may suit, or you can use it as an etch resist (I think it will stand
up to glass etching solution, but am not sure)



Did I miss something or is 3 mm larger than I think it is?

"Javahut" wrote in message
...
Did I miss something or is 3 mm larger than I think it is?

3mm is just under 1/8" inch (25.4 mm to inch)
writing would have to be about that tall (1/3 of circumference) to be
readable, subject to distortion by curved glass, perhaps as small as 1/16"

--
Mike Firth
Hot Glass Bits Furnace Working Website
http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/I-UPSUMM.HTM
shows recently changed files, click on link