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Corning Laser Technologies uses ultrafast lasers to enhance 3D glass processing

Corning has enhanced its NanoPerforation technology with ultrafast lasers in order to improve its 3D glass cutting capabilities. 

The enhancements will help designer’s better address the worldwide trend toward using curved glass surfaces in various industries, including consumer mobile devices and automobile interiors. 

The challenging aspects of freeform and 3D glass cutting are very difficult to achieve with traditional mechanical scribe and break (MS&B) or grinding processes. Corning’s enhanced technology therefore uses ultrafast lasers, which cut glass through localised perforation rather than material ablation. As successfully shown in multiple 2D glass applications, this results in smooth, very high-quality cuts at high processing speeds and accuracy. 

To achieve perpendicular cuts, an especially fast and highly precise CLT 5-axis beam delivery system has been developed to enhance Corning's NanoPerforation technology. It combines two high-speed rotating axes with a fast x-, y- and z-motion system. The system – the CLT 43D – joins Corning’s extensive glass-cutting platforms and is set up to accurately cut 3D­­ shaped glasses of up to 1,200mm x 700mm x 300mm in size. 

The CLT solution enables freeform, accurate cutting, which allows for optimised processing steps with reduced complexity. Thanks to the high-edge quality of the NanoPerforation process, there is little, or no post processing required. CLT NanoPerforation is not only more flexible, but it allows new, innovative part design. 

‘The CLT 43D, with its 3D glass-cutting capability, provides industrial designers an additional degree of freedom in a variety of applications,’ said Michael Mueller, CLT business director. ‘Our latest solution leverages more than 20 years of experience in precision laser machining, along with more than 150 years of material science expertise, that we can uniquely offer customers.’

Read more about:

Laser cutting, Glass, Ultrafast lasers

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