Method and apparatus for cutting vitreous silica crucible

A method for cutting a vitreous silica crucible, comprising:

• forming a groove on either of an outer surface or inner surface of a crucible, the groove extending around an entire circumference of the crucible;
• and
• cutting off a rim area of the crucible by moving a cutting blade toward the groove from a surface opposite to a surface where the groove is formed.

An apparatus for cutting a vitreous silica crucible, comprising a disk-shaped cutting blade disposed sideways with respect to the vitreous silica crucible, a means for rotating the cutting blade, a cutting-blade moving means which moves the cutting blade in a circumferential direction of the crucible, and a means for rotating the crucible,

• wherein the cutting blade which is rotating is brought into contact with a surface of the crucible wall and pushed forward in the wall's thickness direction to make a cut penetrating the crucible wall, and a rim area of the crucible is cut off by relatively moving the cutting blade with respect to the crucible in the circumferential direction of the crucible while the cutting blade keeps penetrating the wall.