Flexible 2D Laser Cutting of Ultra-Thin Glass Using an Ultrashort Pulsed Laser Robotic System

We report for the first time on the flexible and large-area 2D laser cutting of ultra-thin glass using an ultrashort pulsed laser robot (USPLR) system emitting at a wavelength of 1030 nm.To optimize the cutting quality of 100 µm thick AF 32 eco ultra-thin glass substrate, experiments were performed with different laser pulse durations, laser pulse energies, laser pulse repetition rates and robot speeds.For the evaluation of the cutting quality, crack formation and induced stresses near the cutting edge were analyzed using imaging polarimetry and digital microscopy.At robot speeds of up to 40 mm/s, crack formation occurs at laser pulse durations greater than 1 ps.Using a laser pulse duration of 1 ps, laser pulse energies of up to 140 µJ and a laser pulse repetition rate of 200 kHz, complete cuts are produced in a wide processing window at robot speeds of 15 mm/s to 65 mm/s without crack formation.In addition, when using a laser pulse repetition rate of 400 kHz and a laser pulse energy of 80 µJ, the processing window is extremely enlarged due to heat accumulation effects.However, at the high robot speeds of up to 80 mm/s, unevenness and notching of the cutting edges are observed as a result of vibrations of the USPLR system during laser cutting, limiting the potential processing speed.An ultrathin glass component is produced with sharp and rounded cutting edges, demonstrating the high potential of the USPLR system for the flexible and large area 2D laser cutting applications in various industrial sectors.