Cutting soda-lime glass with CO laser radiation · cutting. Applications As an alternative to CO 2...
1
Annual Report 2017 83 Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, www.ilt.fraunhofer.de DQS certified by DIN EN ISO 9001, Reg.-No.: DE-69572-01 Subject to alterations in specifications and other technical information. 08/2018. 3 CO laser cut in 1 mm thick soda-lime glass (top view), v = 10 mm/s, P = 95 W, p = 0.8 bar, nitrogen. Results Sections were produced from a 1 mm thick flat sample of soda-lime glass at a speed of 10 mm/s, an average CO laser power of 95 W and 0.8 bar N 2 cutting gas pressure. The cut edges are rough, but the glass sample does not show the shell-like cracks typical of CO 2 cutting. Applications As an alternative to CO 2 laser radiation, CO lasers with a wavelength of 5.5 μm can be used to process many non- metallic materials with similar processing results. Conspicuous differences are found when cutting soda-lime glass: While glass absorbs the CO 2 laser radiation only in a very thin, near- surface layer and cracks as a result of the resulting stresses, the CO radiation is coupled over the entire sample thickness because of the greater optical penetration depth so that a largely crack-free kerf arises. Thus, CO lasers could be applied for the cutting of thin glass sheets. Contact Dipl.-Phys. Gerhard Otto Telephone +49 241 8906-165 [email protected] Dr. Alexander Olowinsky Telephone +49 241 8906-491 [email protected] Task Since the eighties, CO 2 lasers emitting at 10.6 μm have been established industrially as high-performance components for material processing among laser beam sources with wavelengths in the mid-infrared range (3 to 50 μm). Above all they are used for cutting and welding aluminum and steel as well as for processing many non-metallic materials, which usually have a high absorption capacity in the infrared range. Apart from the specific gas mixture, CO lasers have a similar structure to CO 2 lasers, but emit at 5.5 μm in the mid-infrared range. Fraunhofer ILT is examining a CO-based laser process on various non-metallic materials, among others, soda-lime glass. Method The CO laser investigated here has been combined with a telescope for beam widening, a focusing lens with a focal length of 127 mm and two xy-linear axes to form a processing unit. The jet path is purged with dry air or nitrogen because the absorption of the water vapor contained in ordinary air distorts or expands the laser beam (thermal blooming). The cutting gas nozzle is fed with N 2 and has a diameter of 2 mm; the distance to the workpiece is 2 mm. CUTTING SODA-LIME GLASS WITH CO LASER RADIATION 3
Transcript of Cutting soda-lime glass with CO laser radiation · cutting. Applications As an alternative to CO 2...
82 Annual Report 2017 Annual Report 2017 83
Sub
ject
to
alt
erat
ion
s in
sp
ecifi
cati
on
s an
d o
ther
tec
hn
ical
info
rmat
ion
. 08/
2018
.
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, www.ilt.fraunhofer.de
DQS certified by DIN EN ISO 9001, Reg.-No.: DE-69572-01
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, www.ilt.fraunhofer.de
DQS certified by DIN EN ISO 9001, Reg.-No.: DE-69572-01
Sub
ject
to
alt
erat
ion
s in
sp
ecifi
cati
on
s an
d o
ther
tec
hn
ical
info
rmat
ion
. 08/
2018
.
3 CO laser cut in 1 mm thick soda-lime glass
(top view), v = 10 mm/s, P = 95 W, p = 0.8 bar,
nitrogen.
Results
Sections were produced from a 1 mm thick flat sample of
soda-lime glass at a speed of 10 mm/s, an average CO laser
power of 95 W and 0.8 bar N2 cutting gas pressure. The cut
edges are rough, but the glass sample does not show the
shell-like cracks typical of CO2 cutting.
Applications
As an alternative to CO2 laser radiation, CO lasers with a
wavelength of 5.5 μm can be used to process many non-
metallic materials with similar processing results. Conspicuous
differences are found when cutting soda-lime glass: While
glass absorbs the CO2 laser radiation only in a very thin, near-
surface layer and cracks as a result of the resulting stresses,
the CO radiation is coupled over the entire sample thickness
because of the greater optical penetration depth so that a
largely crack-free kerf arises. Thus, CO lasers could be applied
for the cutting of thin glass sheets.
Contact
Dipl.-Phys. Gerhard Otto
Telephone +49 241 8906-165
Dr. Alexander Olowinsky
Telephone +49 241 8906-491
Task
Since the eighties, CO2 lasers emitting at 10.6 μm have been
established industrially as high-performance components
for material processing among laser beam sources with
wavelengths in the mid-infrared range (3 to 50 μm). Above
all they are used for cutting and welding aluminum and steel
as well as for processing many non-metallic materials, which
usually have a high absorption capacity in the infrared range.
Apart from the specific gas mixture, CO lasers have a similar
structure to CO2 lasers, but emit at 5.5 μm in the mid-infrared
range. Fraunhofer ILT is examining a CO-based laser process
on various non-metallic materials, among others, soda-lime
glass.
Method
The CO laser investigated here has been combined with a
telescope for beam widening, a focusing lens with a focal
length of 127 mm and two xy-linear axes to form a processing
unit. The jet path is purged with dry air or nitrogen because
the absorption of the water vapor contained in ordinary air
distorts or expands the laser beam (thermal blooming). The
cutting gas nozzle is fed with N2 and has a diameter of 2 mm;
the distance to the workpiece is 2 mm.
CUTTING SODA-LIME GLASS WITH CO LASER RADIATION
3
