Laser cutting for separating waveguides for AR devices

As the production of waveguide-based AR devices becomes increasingly industrialized, the design and robustness of waveguides are coming into sharper focus. Ultrashort pulsed lasers are promising for achieving scalable free-form cutting with high precision and strength. However, optimizing the laser process parameters and material compositions of high-index glasses poses a challenge for achieving optimal glass strength. To address this, SCHOTT AG and 3D-Micromac AG have developed a separation process prioritizing high and predictable bending strength. It has been integrated into a modular machine concept that can be scaled from lab to mass production use. This presentation introduces the first fully-automated machine solution for cost-effective free-form cutting of high-index glass used for AR waveguides. The presentation shows how different process, handling, and quality inspection modules provide high flexibility and scalability in this laser micromachining solution.