Laser Glass-Defaceting Technology

A new laser-blunting technology using thermal stresses to remove the sharp edges of articles made of glass and other brittle nonmetallic materials is described. A physical model is proposed for laser heating of the edges of a metallic material that is opaque to laser radiation. A relation is established between the main parameters of the process: facet size, defaceting speed, laser radiation intensity, and glass edge strength. The technological regimes are optimized; the technological process and laser equipment for cutting and defaceting glass are elaborated. The advantages of the new technology of laser blunting of glass edges over the conventional defaceting technology using a diamond-abrasive tool are shown.