Angled Glass Rod Laser Cleaving With Rotating Tapered Fixture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser processing methods for large diameter glass bodies, such as optical fibers with diameters greater than 125 μm, result in surface undulations that cause uncontrollable back reflections, aberrations, and beam skew due to energy differentials and increased cutting lengths during angled cleaving, leading to undesirable optical transmission properties.
Innovation Solution
A precise laser cleaving assembly comprising a laser device, a rotating device with a positioning fixture that supports the glass body at a predetermined angle, allowing for controlled rotation and precise cleaving of glass bodies like rods and end caps, minimizing surface undulations and ensuring desired optical properties by aligning the glass body transverse to the central axis and rotating it during laser exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If laser processing is used for large diameter glass bodies (>125 μm), then processing speed and precision are improved, but surface undulations occur causing back reflections and aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
The glass body is rotated during laser processing to dynamically change the interaction between the laser beam and the glass surface. This rotation prevents stationary heating zones and distributes thermal energy more uniformly, eliminating surface undulations while maintaining precise cleaving at angles greater than zero degrees
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameters by introducing rotation speed as a new variable and adjusting laser beam parameters (power, focal position) to work in conjunction with rotation. This combination of parameter changes allows achieving flat surfaces without undulations while maintaining high precision cleaving
2Shape
If angled cleaving is performed with increased cutting lengths, then desired angle surfaces are achieved, but entry/exit effects are exacerbated creating more surface undulations
Solution Approach 1:
Rotation of the glass body during angled cleaving dynamically distributes the entry and exit effects along the cutting path. By continuously changing the orientation, the harmful concentrated effects are dispersed, preventing severe undulations even at extended cutting lengths required for angled surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous rotation during the laser cutting process ensures that the laser beam continuously interacts with fresh portions of the glass surface. This continuous action prevents the accumulation of thermal energy that would otherwise create undulations at the entry and exit zones of the angled cut
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves a face on the glass body that is substantially free of surface undulations, reducing light-scattering and absorbing detriments, thus eliminating unintentional aberration, skew, and energy distribution, ensuring precise optical transmission and allowing for quick interchange of positioning fixtures for various angles without compromising precision.
Implementation Method 1
a laser device for emitting a laser beam
Implementation Method 2
a rotating device having a head that rotates about a central axis that is orthogonal to the laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaving assembly and a method for cleaving a glass rod and end cap having diameters of at least 125 μm and a face at a desired angle greater than 0 degrees are disclosed. The assembly comprises a laser device for emitting a laser beam, a rotating device, and a positioning fixture. The rotating device has a head that rotates about a central axis that is orthogonal to the laser beam. The positioning fixture is operatively mounted to the head and centered axially along the central axis and is also rotatably driven by the rotating device. The positioning fixture has a tapered surface that is transverse to the central axis and that supports the glass rod at a predetermined angle relative to the central axis. Rotation of the positioning fixture about the central axis when the glass rod and end cap is exposed to the laser beam, cleaves the face at the desired angle.