Due to the complex interrelationships of the many production and material parameters in glass production and processing, there are risks associated with any changes in manufacturing. However, rising material and energy costs coupled with high quality demands and increasingly sophisticated end products are presenting the industry with new challenges, the solution to which will lie in the sustainable and continuous optimization of manufacturing processes.
The optimal process design of glass cutting makes an important contribution to this in glass processing. This is critical for minimizing reject rates, avoiding unnecessary reworking and at the same time meeting the high quality demands placed on the end product. Empirical studies also show that the quality of the glass edge produced during cutting has a major influence on the strength of the final product.
The geometry of the cutting wheel, the surface structure of the cutting edge and any additional microstructuring have a decisive influence on the edge quality of the glass.
The goal must be to produce a fissure which is optimal for breaking the glass while minimizing damage to the glass surface.
In this article, the influence different surface finishes and microstructures of cutting wheels have on the glass cutting process are presented and explained in detail.
