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Glass laser cutting

As opposed to quartz, most types of glass are prone to thermal shock and are therefore generally not suitable candidates for laser cutting. The instantaneous heat of the laser's beam provides cutting action by both vaporization and the blowing away of molten glass from the cut zone.

Some materials such as boro silicates have low co-efficient of expansion and, with adequate head cycling, can tolerate the heat input from a laser. However, most other forms of glass including soda lime experience thermal shock which results in crack propagation along the cut edge. Also, based on the reflow characteristics of the particular glass, there will be varying degrees of resolidified material that will adhere to the edges and underside of the cut.

See Water jet cutting for Glass

The laser cutting of glass is limited by the poor thermal shock resistance of most compositions. This causes complex glass parts to crack apart after cutting. Glass also tends to have a lot of recast material on the cut edge because it does not have a well-defined melting point.
 

See Water jet cutting for Glass

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