Thin glass elements with improved edge strength are provided—from a sheet glass element that has two opposite parallel faces and an edge connecting the faces. The sheet glass element has a thickness of at most 700 μm. At least a portion of the edge is defined by an edge surface portion that is convexly curved, so that at least one of the faces merges into the edge surface portion, wherein a curved arc of the edge surface portion has a length that is at least 1/30 of the thickness of the sheet glass element. In the region of the convex curvature, the edge surface portion has indentations in the form of furrows.

Cutting a desired final shape in a glass sheet, wherein the glass sheet is about 0.3 mm or less in thickness by applying a laser beam to the glass and continuously moving the laser relative to the glass along the cutting line. The laser is of a circular shape, and cooling fluid is applied simultaneously with the application of the laser, such that the cooling fluid at least reduces the temperature of the glass in order to propagate a fracture in the glass. The method includes controlling at least one of: (i) an energy density of the laser, (ii) a velocity of the laser relative to the glass along the cutting line, (iii) a fluid flow of the cooling fluid, and (iv) a minimum radius of curvature of the cutting line, such that a B10 edge strength of a cut edge of the glass is at least about 300 MPa.

Cutting a desired final shape in a glass sheet, wherein the glass sheet is about 0.3 mm or less in thickness by applying a laser beam to the glass and continuously moving the laser relative to the glass along the cutting line. The laser is of a circular shape, and cooling fluid is applied simultaneously with the application of the laser, such that the cooling fluid at least reduces the temperature of the glass in order to propagate a fracture in the glass. The method includes controlling at least one of: (i) an energy density of the laser, (ii) a velocity of the laser relative to the glass along the cutting line, (iii) a fluid flow of the cooling fluid, and (iv) a minimum radius of curvature of the cutting line, such that a B10 edge strength of a cut edge of the glass is at least about 300 MPa.

The method includes tracing a score line on the surface of the glass, using a scoring tool, and breaking out using a local pressure system applied on the opposite face and opposite the score line, the local pressure system being moved and pressed along the score line on the opposite face.

The method includes tracing a score line on the surface of the glass, using a scoring tool, and breaking out using a local pressure system applied on the opposite face and opposite the score line, the local pressure system being moved and pressed along the score line on the opposite face.

The process relates to the manufacture of a plurality of glazings of complex shape from a rectangular sheet of float glass of large dimensions. The process includes at a first station for cutting the glass sheet, scoring at least one cutting line corresponding to at least one ready-to-shape edge of the glazings; a first breaking operation; at a second cutting station, scoring at least one cutting line corresponding to at least one other ready-to-shape edge of the glazings, and a second breaking operation.

The process relates to the manufacture of a plurality of glazings of complex shape from a rectangular sheet of float glass of large dimensions. The process includes at a first station for cutting the glass sheet, scoring at least one cutting line corresponding to at least one ready-to-shape edge of the glazings; a first breaking operation; at a second cutting station, scoring at least one cutting line corresponding to at least one other ready-to-shape edge of the glazings, and a second breaking operation.

Methods are provided for laser processing arbitrary shapes of molded 3D thin transparent brittle parts from substrates with particular interest in substrates formed from strengthened or non-strengthened Corning Gorilla® glass (all codes). The developed laser methods can be tailored for manual separation of the parts from the panel or full laser separation by thermal stressing the desired profile. Methods can be used to form 3D surfaces with small radii of curvature. The method involves the utilization of an ultra-short pulse laser that may be optionally followed by a CO.sub.2 laser for fully automated separation.

The liquid-assisted micromachining methods include methods of processing a substrate made of a transparent dielectric material. A working surface of the substrate is placed in contact with a liquid-assist medium that comprises fluorine. A focused pulsed laser beam is directed through a first substrate surface and through the opposite working surface to form a focus spot in the liquid-assist medium. The focus spot is then moved over a motion path from its initial position in the liquid-assist medium through the substrate body in the general direction from the working surface to the first surface to create a modification of the transparent dielectric material that defines in the body a core portion. The core portion is removed to form the substrate feature, which can be a through or closed fiber hole that supports one or more optical fibers. Optical components formed using the processed substrate are also disclosed.

The liquid-assisted micromachining methods include methods of processing a substrate made of a transparent dielectric material. A working surface of the substrate is placed in contact with a liquid-assist medium that comprises fluorine. A focused pulsed laser beam is directed through a first substrate surface and through the opposite working surface to form a focus spot in the liquid-assist medium. The focus spot is then moved over a motion path from its initial position in the liquid-assist medium through the substrate body in the general direction from the working surface to the first surface to create a modification of the transparent dielectric material that defines in the body a core portion. The core portion is removed to form the substrate feature, which can be a through or closed fiber hole that supports one or more optical fibers. Optical components formed using the processed substrate are also disclosed.