This application relates to a method and system for cutting a brittle body. In one aspect the method includes preparing a brittle body having a rotary shaft. The method may also include forming a scribing line by irradiating laser on the brittle body along a preset route by using a laser irradiation unit. The method may further include cutting the brittle body by bringing a vibration unit that vibrates at a preset frequency in contact with a first region of the brittle body, which is spaced apart from the scribing line.

A method for producing a solid body layer having a domed or curved shape at least in sections includes: irradiating a surface of the solid body by laser beams emitted from a laser application device to produce a modified region within the solid body that includes modifications having an extension in a longitudinal direction of the solid body, the longitudinal extension extending orthogonally to the irradiated solid body surface, wherein the modifications are configured to guide a crack for detaching the solid body layer upon application of an external force; and enlarging the extension of the modified region in the longitudinal direction to increase stress produced by the modified region in unmodified material of the solid body, wherein enlarging the extension of the modified region in the longitudinal direction increases the probability of spontaneous splitting of the solid body layer from the solid body without application of the external force.

A method for machining and releasing closed forms from a transparent, brittle substrate includes using a burst of ultrafast laser pulses to drill patterns of orifices in the substrate. Orifices are formed by photoacoustic compression and they extend completely or partially in the transparent substrate. A scribed line of spaced apart orifices in the transparent substrate comprise a closed form pattern in the substrate. A heat source is applied in a region about said scribed line of spaced apart orifices until the closed form pattern releases from the transparent substrate.

Methods for cutting strengthened glass are disclosed. The methods can include using a laser. The strengthened glass can include chemically strengthened, heat strengthened, and heat tempered glass. Strengthened glass with edges showing indicia of a laser cutting process are also disclosed. The strengthened glass can include an electrochromic film.

Methods of separating a glass web that is moving at a glass web velocity. The method includes exposing a separation path on the glass web to at least one laser beam spot that moves with a laser beam spot velocity vector that is equal to a glass web velocity vector in a conveyance direction. The method also includes creating a defect on the separation path while the separation path is under thermal stress from the laser beam spot, whereupon the glass web spontaneously separates along the separation path in response to the defect. In further examples, a glass web separation apparatus includes a first reflector that rotates such that a laser beam spot repeatedly passes along a separation path and a second reflector that rotates such that the laser beam spot moves in a conveyance direction of the glass web.

A machining apparatus for a curved plate includes a holder that holds a main surface of a curved plate having curved surfaces on both main surfaces; a machining device that machines an outer circumference of the curved plate held by the holder; a movable frame that retains the machining device; a driver that moves the movable frame to move a machining point of the curved plate held by the holder; a controller that controls the driver; and a guide that guides the movable frame along the outer circumference of the curved plate held by the holder.

A machining apparatus for a curved plate includes a holder that holds a main surface of a curved plate having curved surfaces on both main surfaces; a machining device that machines an outer circumference of the curved plate held by the holder; a movable frame that retains the machining device; a driver that moves the movable frame to move a machining point of the curved plate held by the holder; a controller that controls the driver; and a guide that guides the movable frame along the outer circumference of the curved plate held by the holder.

A method for manufacturing a glass substrate including an opening includes forming lines of inner and outer circumferential portions irradiated with a laser beam along substantially concentric circles in a surface of a glass blank, separating a portion on an inner side of the line of the outer circumferential portion of the glass blank and a portion on an outer side of the line of the outer circumferential portion from each other by heating the portion on the outer side of the line of the outer circumferential portion with radiant heat and separating a portion on an inner side of the line of the inner circumferential portion of the glass blank and a portion on an outer side of the line of the inner circumferential portion from each other by heating the portion on the outer side of the line of the inner circumferential portion with radiant heat.

A method for cutting, separating and removing interior contoured shapes in thin substrates, particularly glass substrates. The method involves the utilization of an ultra-short pulse laser to form defect lines in the substrate that may be followed by use of a second laser beam to promote isolation of the part defined by the interior contour.

A laser irradiation step in the present method includes irradiating a first surface (MG1) of a mother glass sheet (MG) with laser light (L) to heat a surface layer (SL) and an inner portion (IL) of the first surface (MG1), to thereby cause, through a thermal shock caused by the heating, a crack (CR) to propagate to a second surface (MG2) of the mother glass sheet (MG) along a thickness direction of the mother glass sheet (MG) while propagating along a preset cleaving line (CL).