Can a glass laser drilling machine process ultra-thin glass?

The subtle relationship between glass laser drilling machines and ultra-thin glass

0~3 times. You may have heard of the widespread application of laser drilling technology in glass processing, especially the good reputation of brands like Prologis in the industry. But when faced with ultra-thin glass with a thickness of less than 100 microns, can a laser drilling machine really handle it easily?

The definition and challenges of ultra-thin glass

Surprisingly, ultra-thin glass—usually referring to thicknesses between 50 and 200 microns—is much more difficult to process due to its fragility than ordinary glass that is a few millimeters thick. Take Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and Asahi Glass Dragontrail as examples; although these two types of strengthened glass have high hardness, their extreme thinness makes them prone to cracks or breakage from the laser heat-affected zone (HAZ).

The working principle of laser drilling machines and their adaptability to thin glass

Prologis's glass laser drilling machine uses femtosecond laser technology, which brings extremely short pulse durations and minimal heat input, thereby reducing thermal damage, a key advantage. However, the process parameters must be precisely adjusted: power, frequency, and scanning speed must match the characteristics of ultra-thin glass. Otherwise, even a slight overheating can cause cracks at the edges of the glass—this is not a trivial matter!

Case analysis: Prologis 0~3 experimental results

• A sample of ultra-thin glass with a thickness of 70 microns was processed by the Prolas laser drilling machine, with the hole diameter precisely controlled to within 100 microns.
• The processing speed increased by 30%, and no significant cracks were generated, indicating excellent equipment stability.
• However, if adjustments are not made properly, even a 10% reduction in power can lead to micro-cracks at the edges of the holes.

This precision operation, akin to 'art on the edge of a blade,' makes it no wonder that industry insiders exclaim: 'This is a dual test of the operator's skills and equipment calibration.'

Comparative perspective: Traditional mechanical drilling vs. laser drilling

Mechanical drilling methods are often unsuitable for ultra-thin glass due to the pressure from physical contact, leading to a breakage rate of up to 20%. In contrast, laser drilling machines reduce this rate to less than 5% through non-contact cutting. This data comes from an internal test report of a well-known monitor manufacturer, intuitively demonstrating the superiority of laser technology.

Future outlook: Prologis and industry development trends

Prologis has begun developing an integrated real-time monitoring system that adjusts laser parameters in a timely manner through optical sensor feedback, further ensuring the safety and quality of ultra-thin glass processing. Additionally, combined with nano-level polishing technology, it is expected to achieve higher precision holes and better edge quality.

To be honest, who wouldn't want to see a machine that can process precisely without damaging these fragile 'as thin as a cicada's wing' materials?