Method of cutting glass using a laser

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing code for cutting glass, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to:

• place a glass sheet having a front surface, a reverse surface and a thickness onto a sacrificial substrate;
• direct a beam from a laser at the front surface and through the glass sheet;
• pulse the beam at a frequency of between 10 kHz and 30 kHz, and at the sacrificial substrate;
• move the beam across the glass sheet at a rate of between 30 millimeters per second and 90 millimeters per second;
• ablate the sacrificial substrate with the beam;
• generate a superheated vapor in response to the ablating of the sacrificial substrate;
• and
• ablate the reverse surface of the glass sheet with the superheated vapor, whereby the glass sheet is cut.

A system for cutting glass, comprising:

• a sacrificial substrate;
• a laser, wherein a glass sheet is interposed between the sacrificial substrate and the laser;
• a pulsing system, wherein the pulsing system generates a beam at a frequency of from between 10 kHz and 30 kHz;
• and
• a laser control apparatus, wherein the laser control apparatus is adapted to:
• direct a beam from the laser through a glass sheet onto a sacrificial substrate, the glass sheet having a front surface, a reverse surface and a thickness;
• move the beam across the glass sheet at a rate of between 30 millimeters per second and 90 millimeters per second;
• ablate the sacrificial substrate with the beam;
• generate a superheated vapor in response to the ablating of the sacrificial substrate;
• and
• ablate the reverse surface of the glass sheet with the superheated vapor, whereby the glass sheet is cut.

An apparatus for cutting glass, comprising:

• means for placing a glass sheet having a front surface, a reverse surface and a thickness onto a sacrificial substrate;
• means for directing a beam from a laser at the front surface and through the glass sheet;
• means for pulsing the beam at a frequency of between 10 kHz and 30 kHz, and at the sacrificial substrate;
• means for moving the beam across the glass sheet at a rate of between 30 millimeters per second and 90 millimeters per second;
• means for ablating the sacrificial substrate with the beam;
• means for generating a superheated vapor in response to the ablating of the sacrificial substrate;
• and
• means for ablating the reverse surface of the glass sheet with the superheated vapor, whereby the glass sheet is cut.