Method of cutting glass with a laser.

摘要

A method is disclosed for cutting glass (9) with a laser. The glass (9) is superposed a suitable support (7) and a laser beam (11A) is directed onto the glass (9). The laser beam (11A) is focused to a point disposed at or about the surtace (23) of the glass (9). The focused laser beam (11A) vaporizes a first thickness of glass (9), less than the entire thickness, and simultaneously heats the remaining thickness above the annealing temperature of the glass (9). A jet of gas (28) incident upon the laser focal point removes the heated and vaporized glass proximate the focal point (23) to create a hole through the glass. By effecting movement between the glass (9) and the laser (11A) and gas jet (29) at a predetermined rate, the glass (9) is cut. Also disclosed is an article including a unitary first sheet of glass having at least one complimental opening of predetermined configuration that does not extend to the edge of the glass and is cut by a laser. One or more complimentary glass inserts coplanar with the first glass are disposed within the opening of the first glass, defining a groove therebetween A securing means is disposed in the groove to secure the complimentary pieces of glass in fixed edge to edge relationship.