Rotating Laser Cleaving Fixture for Angled Glass Faces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser processing methods for large diameter glass bodies, such as optical fibers with diameters greater than 125 um, result in undulating surfaces that impair optical transmission due to energy differentials and create undesirable back reflections and beam skew, particularly during angled cleaving.
Innovation Solution
A cleaving assembly comprising a laser device, rotating device, and positioning fixture that supports the glass body at a predetermined angle relative to the central axis, allowing the laser beam to cleave the face at a desired angle while rotating, thereby eliminating surface undulations and detriments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laser processing is used for large diameter glass bodies (>125 um), then processing speed and optical quality are improved, but surface undulations occur due to energy differentials between entrance and exit beams
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 equalizes the energy distribution by ensuring that different portions of the glass surface receive comparable laser exposure, preventing the accumulation of excessive energy at any single location that would cause undulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning fixture employs an asymmetric tapered surface geometry that is specifically designed to counterbalance the symmetric energy differential problem. By introducing this asymmetric mechanical configuration, the system compensates for the symmetric energy distribution issue, allowing the laser energy to be more uniformly distributed across the glass surface during processing.
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical polishing is used, then optical fiber surfaces can be polished to precise axial dimensions, but lengthy and costly polishing steps are required to remove surface deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical polishing system with a laser-based processing system. Instead of using mechanical abrasion to remove material and achieve precise dimensions, the laser directly processes the glass surface to the desired axial dimensions, eliminating the need for lengthy mechanical polishing steps while maintaining precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional polishing techniques are used, then optical fiber surfaces are finished, but silica deposits in micro-abrasions create light scattering and absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The laser processing system replaces mechanical polishing, eliminating the creation of micro-abrasions that trap silica deposits. The laser processes the glass surface without mechanical contact, producing a clean surface finish free of the micro-abrasions that cause light scattering and absorption in conventionally polished fibers.
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 assembly produces a face on the glass body that is substantially free of light-scattering and absorbing detriments, ensuring precise and controlled cleaving without entry/exit effects, enabling high-quality optical transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a laser device for emitting a laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaving assembly and a method for cleaving a glass body having 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 body at a predetermined angle relative to the central axis. Rotation of the positioning fixture about the central axis when the glass body is exposed to the laser beam, cleaves the face of the glass body at the desired angle due to the glass body being supported transverse to the central axis.