Laser-Melted Annular Glass Plate Edges Without Inner Bulging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional edge surface polishing methods for annular glass plates used in magnetic disk manufacturing are inefficient and costly, often resulting in bulges on the inner circumferential edge surfaces, which can lead to nonuniform processing and instability during subsequent grinding and polishing steps.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a laser beam to melt both the outer and inner circumferential edge surfaces of an annular glass blank, with controlled power density and processing conditions to achieve surface roughness of Ra ≤ 0.1 μm, ensuring the inner surface does not bulge relative to the main surfaces, thereby eliminating the need for additional polishing and enhancing manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional edge surface polishing methods are used, then manufacturing cost and time are reduced, but bulges are generated on the inner circumferential edge surfaces resulting in nonuniform processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical polishing methods with laser beam processing. The laser beam melts and resolidifies the glass surface to achieve polishing without mechanical contact, eliminating the time-consuming mechanical polishing step while preventing bulge formation on the inner circumferential edge surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls laser beam parameters (power density, scanning speed, beam diameter) to achieve precise melting and resolidification of the glass edge surfaces. By optimizing these parameters, the process achieves Ra ≤ 0.1 μm surface roughness without generating bulges, resolving the contradiction between precision and productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional edge surface polishing is performed to eliminate bulges, then processing uniformity is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The laser beam processing is performed as a preliminary step before main surface grinding and polishing. By achieving the desired edge surface quality (Ra ≤ 0.1 μm) in this initial step, the patent eliminates the need for subsequent corrective polishing operations, saving time and ensuring processing uniformity throughout the manufacturing sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for additional mechanical polishing operations with a single laser beam processing step. This substitution achieves both bulge elimination and surface quality improvement without requiring time-consuming additional polishing passes.
3Productivity
If high power density laser beam is used to melt edge surfaces quickly, then productivity is improved, but inner circumferential edge surfaces bulge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes laser beam parameters including using a beam diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm and controlling power density to achieve rapid processing without bulge formation. The specific parameter range for beam diameter and power density enables quick melting and resolidification while maintaining precise shape control on the inner circumferential edge surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of laser beam scanning speed and power density during processing. By adjusting these parameters in real-time based on the edge surface location (inner vs. outer circumferential), the process achieves high productivity while preventing bulge formation through optimized energy input control.
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
This approach significantly reduces polishing time, eliminates the need for additional edge surface polishing, and ensures the annular glass plate is stable during processing, maintaining high surface quality and roundness without inner circumferential edge bulges.
Implementation Method 1
processing for manufacturing an annular glass plate by irradiating each of the outer circumferential edge surface and the inner circumferential edge surface of an annular glass blank with a laser beam to melt the outer circumferential edge surface and the inner circumferential edge surface
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing an annular glass plate that has an outer circumferential edge surface, an inner circumferential edge surface, and a thickness not larger than 0.6 mm includes processing for manufacturing an annular glass plate by irradiating each of the outer circumferential edge surface and the inner circumferential edge surface of an annular glass blank with a laser beam to melt the outer circumferential edge surface and the inner circumferential edge surface and form molten surfaces such that the molten surfaces in the outer circumferential edge surface and the inner circumferential edge surface each have an arithmetic average surface roughness Ra not larger than 0.1 μm, and the surface roughness of the molten surface in the inner circumferential edge surface becomes larger than the surface roughness of the molten surface in the outer circumferential edge surface.