Exploration of Glass Drilling Technology

Striving for Excellence

Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement: Providing Optimal Solutions for Glass Drilling

Facing the diverse demands of the glass processing market, GZTECH continuously innovates and upgrades, launching the 120W high-peak-power GT-Pro+ laser to provide a one-stop solution for glass processing.

The 120W high-peak-power GT-Pro+ laser employs a self-developed optical amplification and electronic control scheme, significantly improving peak power while overcoming nonlinear issues such as spectral broadening and Raman spectral distortion, expanding the output specifications and application range of nanosecond pulse lasers.

This upgraded GT-Pro+ laser achieves near-diffraction-limited beam quality output (M² <1.1) through unique optical design and carefully selected components; the optical path has been deeply optimized, significantly enhancing the laser's anti-reflection capability; and the peak power of up to 200kW enables fiber nanosecond pulse lasers to process glass, greatly reducing equipment costs and lowering the barrier to entry for glass drilling applications that previously required green laser or ultrafast lasers.

Table 1. Comparison of Different Glass Processing Methods

GZTECH 120W GT-Pro+ Laser

Excellent Drilling Performance  Meets Diverse Customer Needs

This test used the F-120-GT-10-N2-Pro+ pulsed fiber laser, with an average power of 120W, a peak power of up to 270kW, a maximum single pulse energy of 1mJ, an adjustable pulse width of 2~20ns, and a 10mm spot size. A 2D 14mm galvanometer can be directly connected to the laser output, and the test can be completed with a motorized Z-axis. Depending on the required aperture size, different focal length field lenses can be selected for testing to achieve the best results.

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of Glass Drilling Equipment   

Test Results

I. Conventional Glass (Float Glass)

Float glass is a type of flat glass produced using the float process. It features high flatness, uniform thickness, and good optical properties, and is widely used in construction, home furnishing, and decoration. There is a high demand for drilling holes in float glass, such as in glass doors, windows, lighting fixtures, and switch panels. Conventional methods are difficult to use for large, small, or irregularly shaped holes, and carelessness can easily cause the glass to shatter. Laser drilling, however, simplifies this process.

We tested drilling different hole sizes in float glass ranging from 1-19mm in thickness. We found that the laser parameters are essentially the same for different hole sizes; only the hole size needs to be adjusted. Based on our testing, we recommend using an F100 field lens for holes up to 70mm, an F160 field lens for 70-100mm holes, and an F210 field lens for 100-150mm holes. High-power quartz field lenses must be used; otherwise, significant heat transmission will occur.

The GT-Pro+ laser can not only drill round holes, but also waist-shaped holes, irregular holes, square holes, etc. on conventional glass. However, because the power-speed control function is not yet available, it cannot achieve right-angle and acute-angle cutting.

Table 2 Reference Parameters for Drilling 8mm Conventional Glass

II. Photovoltaic Glass (Ultra-clear Patterned Glass)

Photovoltaic glass is a low-iron silicate glass, also known as ultra-clear patterned glass. Its raw materials are mainly soda ash and quartz sand, characterized by low iron content, high light transmittance, and low reflectivity. As a crucial component of solar cell modules, the backsheet photovoltaic glass requires drilling at specific locations to guide the current conductors of the photovoltaic module to the junction box.

One side of the photovoltaic glass is flat and transparent, while the other side has a pattern that obscures light. During our testing, the patterned side was placed face down, with the flat side facing up. A laser was incident from the flat side and transmitted through to the patterned side, cutting upwards layer by layer. Testing showed that at a frequency of 150kHz, 90% power, a speed of 4000mm/s, a spiral line width of 0.6mm, and a line spacing of 0.08mm, drilling a 12mm hole took only 4 seconds, with smooth hole walls and edge chipping <300μm.  

Figure 3: Photovoltaic Glass Drilling

III. High Borosilicate Glass

High borosilicate glass has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion, only about one-third that of ordinary glass. It exhibits excellent high-temperature resistance and high physical strength, making it suitable for manufacturing various items such as tableware, teacups, and utensils. However, these items often require drilling. Laser drilling, due to its non-contact processing and the absence of stress residue after drilling, is efficient and yields high-quality products, making it an ideal choice for drilling high borosilicate glass.

Drilling tests were conducted on the sidewalls and bottoms of high borosilicate glass cups of different colors. All drilling was completed quickly and efficiently, leaving clean, dust-free hole walls and minimal edge chipping compared to conventional glass.

High Borosilicate Glass

Summary

The 120W high-peak-value GT-Pro+ laser boasts high peak power and excellent beam quality, suitable for drilling various glass materials including float glass, photovoltaic glass, and high borosilicate glass. It can process glass thicknesses up to 19mm and hole diameters from 0.3 to 150mm, offering flexible pattern design, small hole taper, clean hole walls, low glass damage, high precision, and high efficiency. In the highly competitive glass processing market, Guangzhi Technology will continue to upgrade its products to provide users with more choices.