The Ideas Behind VertiGo: Engineering a Revolution in Tumbler Engraving

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The laser engraving market is full of tools that can do a little bit of everything. But when it comes to engraving cups—especially tumblers, Yeti mugs, and Stanley drinkware—none were purpose-built for this task.

That was the problem. And VertiGo is the answer.

This is the story of how OneLaser, in close collaboration with rotary innovators PiBurn, brought a game-changing solution to life. It’s not just a new product—it’s a new product category.

And it all began with a question: How do we help makers earn more from every tumbler they engrave?

1. Instant Fulfillment = Maximum Margin

In today’s custom product economy, speed matters as much as quality.

OneLaser discovered a powerful truth through conversations with hundreds of small businesses and laser makers—those who engrave tumblers at events, farmers markets, and local shops:

The most profitable sales occur when customers present an image and immediately take away their engraved cup.

This insight became VertiGo’s design anchor. To ensure that promise is kept, three elements became essential:

✅ Portability: The machine must go anywhere

✅ Speed: Setup and engraving must be rapid

✅ Compact Design: It must fit on a market booth or retail counter

That’s how VertiGo was born—not as a feature list, but as a solution for "instant, anywhere cup engraving."

Source: Stan at LensDigital

2. Tumbler Engraving ≈ 30% of All Laser Work

Tumblers have become a significant business for both LightBurn users and Etsy pros.

Data from OneLaser’s maker community shows that engraved cups make up nearly 30% of income for many engraving shops. Tumblers are where the money is. However, traditional flatbed lasers have failed to adequately service this category.

VertiGo was built specifically to help users own this high-profit category.

With its open-top, vertical form factor, VertiGo supports a wide range of tumbler styles and sizes:

• Yeti cups
• Stanley tumblers
• Skinny tumblers
• Bottles and mugs
• Even baseball bats and rolling pins

It even engraves handled tumblers; no need to take the handle off.

This adaptability means more SKUs, more options, and more sales potential for every maker.

Source: Stan at LensDigital

3. Time Is the Hidden Cost

Laser dwell time isn’t what slows down high-volume shops.

What really kills momentum? Repeatedly adjusting the rotary. Mounting and unmounting cups. Fixing alignment. Resetting focus. This process is repeated repeatedly.

OneLaser interviewed top sellers—including full-time engravers doing over $100K/year on cups—and every one of them said the same thing:

 “The mechanical process is what drains you.”

That’s why VertiGo collapses that entire flow. It integrates:

• A high-precision PiBurn rotary
• True autofocus for height and curvature
• Smart presets that minimize manual steps

It’s the only laser engraving machine for cups that’s purpose-built to maintain rhythm in batch jobs—without burning out the operator.

Learn more: How to Start a Tumbler Laser Engraving Business

4. Simple Enough for First-Timers, Smart Enough for Pros

To truly innovate, VertiGo had to break out of the “only pros can operate this” bubble.

That’s why the team went beyond hardware and into the user experience layer:

• Guided workflows for beginners
• Automatic parameter suggestions
• Smart cup detection and rotation alignment
• Fast template loading for repeat jobs
• Batch job organization and memory recall

(Note: AI software features are coming, but wait for the official statement of launch.)

Think of it as your built-in assistant. It helps new users get up and running fast—and helps experienced makers fly through large orders with fewer clicks and fewer errors.

The result? This leads to increased confidence, reduced errors, and satisfied customers.

5. Real U.S. Engineering, Real Collaboration

Why did OneLaser choose to develop VertiGo in-house, from scratch, instead of white-labeling a generic box from overseas?

OneLaser does not function as a reseller. It’s a true laser company.

Every decision—from optics to firmware—stayed under OneLaser’s U.S. engineering team, where quality and user outcomes come first.

The collaboration with PiBurn wasn’t a licensing deal. It was a true co-engineering partnership, rooted in shared values and mutual respect.

• Stan and Len (PiBurn founders) conceived the rotary-based vertical engraver concept
• OneLaser brought the full-stack laser system and software UX to the table
• Together, they shaped VertiGo to be more than a concept—it’s a platform

This level of cooperation is rare in the maker world. But it’s exactly what enabled VertiGo to exist.

Len and Stan - PiBurn founders.

6. Behind the Scenes: From Sketch to Reality

Let’s talk about the timeline. Real innovation requires a significant amount of time.

✅ August 2024: Project green-lit

🛠️ Multiple iterations: frame design, laser path, motor tuning, safety interlocks

🧠 Over 12 meetings just to finalize one mirror mount

⚙️ Early 2025: Mature prototype emerges

✅ April 2025: Production path confirmed.

🌍 July 2025: VertiGo announced to the world at LBX

Every challenge strengthened the product. Every user insight shaped the details. The end result is not a rushed release—it’s a machine backed by real R&D and a mission to serve.

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Final Thoughts: VertiGo Is the Cup Engraving Machine the Market Needed

VertiGo was not created by chance. It came from real problems, real makers, and a real belief that engineering should serve people—not the other way around.

By solving for mobility, versatility, speed, and usability, OneLaser and PiBurn have created something the market has never seen before:

OneLaser and PiBurn have created a dedicated laser engraver for Yeti cups, Stanley tumblers, and a wide range of cylindrical objects, engineered for both profit and joy.

If you’re serious about scaling your custom drinkware business, VertiGo isn’t just a smart buy—it’s your next leap forward.