Thin Glass Film Cutting with Laser Filaments and Tensile Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cutting thin glasses are unstable and prone to uncontrolled separation, leading to reduced edge strength and quality due to the low rigidity of thin glass substrates, which can deform under handling forces, causing unintended tensile stresses and uncontrolled breakage.
Innovation Solution
A method using an ultra-short pulse laser to create filament-shaped damage along a path on the glass, with simultaneous application of tensile stress perpendicular to the damage, allowing for controlled separation by moving the laser and glass relative to each other, ensuring the crack propagates along the intended path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a pulsed laser beam is used to create damage in thin glass substrates, then the separation process can be automated and precision improved, but the glass substrate deforms under handling forces causing uncontrolled breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The method applies tensile stress to the glass substrate before laser damage creation to pre-position the substrate in a controlled state. This preliminary action prevents uncontrolled deformation during subsequent handling and separation, ensuring the crack propagates along the intended path rather than deviating due to handling-induced stresses
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the stress state parameter of the glass substrate by applying tensile stress during the laser processing. This parameter change stabilizes the substrate against handling forces and ensures controlled crack propagation along the laser-defined path, resolving the contradiction between precision and reliability
2Reliability
If classic scoring processes are used to separate thin glass, then the process is stable and reliable, but it requires multiple stages and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the damage creation and separation steps into a single integrated process. By applying tensile stress during laser damage creation, the method combines what were previously separate operations (scoring followed by breaking) into one stable and efficient step, simultaneously improving productivity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical scoring tool with a laser-based damage creation system that operates under applied tensile stress. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical contact and subsequent breaking steps, achieving both high productivity and stable separation in a single non-contact process
3Strength
If diamond scoring tools are used to create strong edges, then edge strength is improved, but the tools are sensitive and can be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical diamond scoring tool with a laser-based damage creation system that operates under applied tensile stress. This substitution eliminates tool wear and damage issues while achieving controlled crack propagation that produces strong edges, simultaneously improving tool durability and edge strength
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 enables a single-step, defined process for perforating and separating thin glass films, achieving high edge quality and control over the crack propagation, eliminating the need for a two-stage cutting and breaking process, and allowing for precise cutting of glass elements with desired dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
the glass film is irradiated with a pulsed laser beam of an ultra-short pulse laser, the light intensity of the laser beam inside the glass film being so great that the laser beam leaves behind filament-shaped damage along its path through the glass film
Implementation Method 2
the light intensity of the laser beam inside the glass film being so great that the laser beam leaves behind filament-shaped damage
Implementation Method 3
during the insertion of the filament-shaped damage, a tensile stress is exerted on at least one surface of the glass film, which acts on the glass on the filament-shaped damages and preferably in the direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, or orthogonally to the path of the adjacent filament-shaped damages
Implementation Method 4
the laser beam and the glass film are moved relative to one another, so that filament-shaped damage is inserted side by side by the pulses of the laser beam along a path running on the glass film
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention is based on the objective of enabling the reliable separation of even thin glasses in a stable process. A method is provided in which: - a glass foil (1) with a thickness of at most 300 µm is provided, and - the glass foil (1) is irradiated with a pulsed laser beam (5) of an ultrashort pulse laser (3), wherein - the light intensity of the laser beam (5) inside the glass foil (1) is such that the laser beam (5) leaves a filament-shaped defect (9) along its path through the glass foil (1), and wherein - the laser beam (5) and the glass foil (1) are moved relative to each other so that filament-shaped defects (9) are introduced side by side along a path (11) on the glass foil (1) by the pulses of the laser beam (5), and wherein - during the introduction of the filament-shaped defects (9), a tensile stress is exerted on at least one surface of the glass foil (1).which acts on the glass at the filament-shaped defects (9) and preferably in a direction transverse to the path (11) of the adjacent filament-shaped defects (9), such that - the glass film (1) separates during the insertion of the filament-shaped defects (9) along the path (11).