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A New Spin

New Kickstarted Laser Engraver Could Change Everything for Tumbler Customization

by Jonny Edge
Published Sep 8, 2025

Toolmaker LensDigital has smashed its funding target for its dedicated portable vertical laser engraver – the VertiGo.

Laser-loving makers and crafters must be excited, as N.J.-based LensDigital has unveiled an innovative new product on Kickstarter, and more than quadrupled its funding target with the “VertiGo” vertical laser engraver.

The device is a portable, rotary-dedicated laser engraver designed specifically for cylindrical objects. The new tool’s Kickstarter page is promising to make intricate engraving work easier, as well as be more accessible and more precise for a wide variety of items.

LensDigital has produced rotary engraving tools before (most notably the PiBurn) but states on its Kickstarter that “For the first time, the rotary is not an add-on – it’s the heart of the machine.” The company says it interviewed hundreds of its customers, and the VertiGo was developed to answer their key complaints, most of which revolve around the need to save time throughout the process, as well as reduce costly errors.

Unlike horizontal engravers, the VertiGo has a vertical orientation, which leverages gravity to stabilize items such as tumblers and bottles, thereby ridding users of the need for complicated clamps and fixtures. This simple change of orientation, combined with a self-centering chuck, should drastically reduce setup time for users and improve the entire workflow experience.

The laser within is a 38 W RF, capable of roughly the same impact as a 60 W glass tube laser. And the VertiGo also includes a smart autofocus feature that uses a gentle probe to set the correct focal distance without the need for manual adjustments. The VertiGo is also meant to be fully compatible with the ever-popular LightBurn software.

Pledges with the reward of a VertiGo machine start at $4,999, which the Kickstarter page says is a $2,000 discount on the final list price. LensDigital also has pledge packages above this topping out at $9,999. Deliveries are expected to begin in early 2026.

Editor's Note – This article highlights a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Kickstarter is not a shop; campaigns are under no legal obligation to deliver on crowdfunding promises, nor offer refunds on unfulfilled campaign rewards.

For more insight, read our article 8 Things to Watch for When Backing a 3D Printing Kickstarter.