Product Code: ICAL08_M104

Glass Drilling with Near Infrared Laser Radiation
Authors:
F. Ziems, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
L. Richter, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
R. Kling, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
A. Ostendorf, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
Presented at ICALEO 2008

Today glass parts are used in many fields of application, e.g. architecture, automotive and technical glasses or electronics. This generates the need for bores with different diameters in various glass types and thicknesses. The conventional macroscopic process is mechanical, utilizes diamond tools, requires at least one tool for each diameter and generates microcracks at the bore edge. To ensure proper quality and aesthetics extensive finishing is necessary. Currently laser technology is used for material vaporization for bores in the submilimeter range. Due to the energy needed this ablative process is not economical for the generation of macroscopic holes.
The investigated laser based process is non-ablative thus avoiding the disadvantages and limitations of the conventional ablative processes.
Based on the thermal extension of the glass the laser causes a crack induction and separation of a part of the glass volume. Advantages of this one-step-processing technology are low material damage, industrial acceptable process time and high flexibility. The basics of laser drilling and the current state of the investigations are explained in this paper. With regards to the high economical interest in the technology, experimental results will be discussed. A short overview on process relevant coherences between the parameters will complete the report.