Custom Glass Cutting Services | Precision Industrial Glass Shaping

1. Hole Location

Maintain a minimum distance from the hole edge to the glass edge.
Minimum Edge Distance: 1.5 x Glass Thickness (T).
Recommended: 2.0 x T for higher strength and yield.

2. Hole Type
Through-holes are standard and cost-effective.
Blind holes are not recommended; they are difficult, expensive, and have a high failure rate.

Shape:
Round holes are strongly preferred (best for stress distribution).
Avoid sharp corners in slots or odd shapes. All internal corners must have a radius.

3. Hole Proximity & Density
Minimum Spacing Between Holes: 2.0 x T (edge to edge).
Closer spacing creates a weak zone and increases breakage risk.

4. Hole Size
Minimum Hole Diameter: ≥ 1.0 x T (for mechanical drilling).
Recommended: ≥ 1.5 x T for safer, more reliable production.

5. Other Critical Considerations
Tolerances: Glass machining is not high-precision. Specify realistic tolerances (e.g., ±0.5mm).
Edge Work: Always specify a slight chamfer or polish on hole edges. This removes micro-cracks, reduces stress, and improves safety.
Tempered Glass: All holes and cuts must be made before the tempering process. Tempered glass cannot be modified.

1. Geometry & Corners
Avoid sharp corners. They are stress concentrators and can lead to cracking.
All internal corners must have a radius.
Minimum Inside Radius: 1.5 x Material Thickness (T).
A larger radius significantly improves strength and manufacturability.

2. Feature Proximity
Maintain sufficient distance between cuts and the glass edge.
Minimum Edge Distance: 2.0 x T.
Minimum Distance Between Features: 2.0 x T. Prevents the creation of weak, fragile areas.

3. Tolerances
Waterjet Cutting: Typical tolerance ±0.1mm to ±0.5mm, depending on thickness and machine.
Laser Cutting: Offers high precision, typically around ±0.05mm to ±0.2mm.
Note: Tolerances are additive with material thickness.

4. Kerf & Tab Considerations (Waterjet)
Kerf Width: The waterjet stream creates a cut width (kerf). Standard kerf is ~1mm, but it varies with abrasive size and pressure.
Micro-Tabbing: For small or complex parts nested within a sheet, request micro-tabs. These small, temporary connections prevent part movement during cutting and are easily snapped off post-processing.

5. Thermal Effects (Laser Cutting)
The laser’s heat creates a Heat Affected Zone (HAZ).
The edge will have a characteristic polished, fused appearance.
Can induce minimal internal stress, which is generally not an issue for most applications.

6. Material Considerations
Tempered Glass: All cutting must be completed before the tempering process.
Thickness Limits: Each process has practical limits. Confirm your supplier’s capabilities for thick glass (e.g., >50mm).
Designer Checklist for Cutting
All inside corners have a radius ≥ 1.5T
Edge distance ≥ 2.0T
Distance between features ≥ 2.0T
Realistic tolerances are specified
For waterjet: Micro-tabs are considered for small/internal parts
All cutting is designed for the glass in its annealed (pre-tempered) state