Method and device for rapid cutting of a workpiece from a brittle material
US6800831B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 5, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K26/146
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The method for rapid cutting of a workpiece made of brittle material along a predetermined cutting line of any desired shape includes generating laser beams, preferably with a CO or CO2 laser; focusing the laser beams onto the cutting line to form focused laser beams on the cutting line; guiding the focused laser beams one behind the other along the cutting line without melting the brittle material; shaping the respective laser beams so that the respective beam cross-sections forming corresponding focal spots on a surface of the workpiece have predetermined shapes and intensity distributions; moving the workpiece and the laser beams relative to each other along the cutting line so that the focused laser beams induce a thermo-mechanical stress in the brittle material and blowing a fluid cooling medium, such as cold air or an air/water mixture, onto a heated cutting line section of the workpiece for subsequent cooling so as to increase the thermo-mechanical stress in the brittle material above its breaking strength.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.