Laser processing of glass

Hirvimäki, M., Piili, H., Purtonen, T. , Manninen, M., Salminen, A.

Laser processing has been done already for 30 years worldwide. Most common applications of laser processing are cutting and marking. Laser beam is able to process almost all materials. First application in laser processing of glass was to engrave a marking to the top surface of glass with the assist of laser beam. One example was engraving of eyeglasses to mark the name of eyeglass manufacturer with excimer laser.

Laser cutting of glass has as well been performed already in 1970´s. Most recent application in laser processing of glass is to “engrave” 3D shapes inside glass. The actual method is not exactly engraving but producing microcracks inside glass with assist of high energy intensity of focused laser beam. When focus spot is moved with accuracy of tens of micrometers, a 3D shape can be formed without affecting the strength of glass material itself. When illuminated, light is refracted from these microcracks and marking comes visible.

Aim and purpose of this study was to examine from literature what can be found from different laser processes of glass. These processes include laser cutting, laser marking, laser drilling and laser micromachining of glass. It was found out that there actually are only a few scientific articles about laser processing of glass. This may be due to that most applications and studies in this field are done within companies, who have not published their work.

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