Glass

When cutting quartz glass, the advantages of the laser over traditional cutting processes lie in the absence of wear on the beam, which works contact-free. Furthermore, the laser technique creates a significantly improved quality of cut compared with other processes. It causes no microscopic cracks, and thus permits the narrowest of webs. The typical cutting speed varies between 0.2 and 1.5 meters per minute, depending on the thickness of the material, when CO₂ lasers are used. Other types of laser cannot be used, because glass does not absorb the beam.