Singulation of optical waveguide materials

An apparatus for manufacturing an optical eyepiece, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one laser that is configured to:
• emit a first laser beam onto a first side of an optical waveguide material for the optical eyepiece such that the first laser beam generates a first plurality of perforations in the optical waveguide material, wherein the first plurality of perforations extend through the optical waveguide material from the first side of the optical waveguide material to a second side of the optical waveguide material;
• emit a second laser beam onto the second side of the optical waveguide material to generate a second plurality of perforations in the optical waveguide material, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, and the first plurality of perforations and the second plurality of perforations define a perforation zone;
• and
• emit a third laser beam at the perforation zone to singulate the optical waveguide material at the perforation zone.

A method for manufacturing an optical eyepiece, the method comprising:

• directing a first laser beam from at least one laser onto a first side of an optical waveguide material for the optical eyepiece, wherein the first laser beam generates a first plurality of perforations in the optical waveguide material;
• directing a second laser beam from the at least one laser onto a second side of the optical waveguide material to generate a second plurality of perforations in the optical waveguide material, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, and wherein the first plurality of perforations and the second plurality of perforations define a perforation zone;
• directing a third laser beam from the at least one laser at the perforation zone to singulate the optical waveguide material at the perforation zone;
• incising, by the first laser beam, a plurality of fiducial markers in the optical waveguide material;
• and
• using the plurality of fiducial markers to align the optical waveguide material with a laser generating the first laser beam.