Re: Glass cutting

Hi Tony,

I know how to cut glass, what I don't know is how to "tell" my
driver to move wheel glass cutter after a line. I think I need a
stepper motor to do that (I am very new in this area - CNC). If my
guess is right - how I can "tell" to do that?

TIA

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Smith" <ajsmith@...>
wrote:

>
> > Hi to all,
> >
> > I have a cnc router (x=3000mm, y=2500 mm, z=250 mm, Porter
> > cable 3.5HP, max 24000 rpm, gecko drive, mach3). So, I want
> > to cut glass with this machine. What do I need? How can I
> > instruct my dirver to do that (see the links - scroll down a
> > little bit to see video)
> >
> > http://www.tlcinternational.com/tlc_phoenix-600_glass_cutter.html
>
>
> You need to bolt a water jet to it. Or maybe a laser.
>
> Almost all glass is 'cut' by the 'score & snap' method. In short,

you make

> a scratch (called scoring) in the glass, and then bend it. The

glass

> (usually!) cracks along the score line. The edges are then ground

smooth.

>
> That's what the machine in the link does (apart from smoothing the

edges).

> I'm not quite sure how it does it (video wouldn't play) but it'll

be

> something along those lines.
>
> Look up how stained glass is done. Google 'Toyo wheel glass

cutter', that's

> similar to what that machine is using. Also look up 'vinyl

cutters',

> particuarly how the knife rotates.
>
> I'm wondering why they just didn't use a diamond cutter. Don't

need to

> rotate that. (Ahh, RTFA again, they're considering it!)
>
> Easiest solution is to mount a diamond cutter to do the scoring,

and break

> the glass by hand. Not sure how much pressure a diamond cutter

needs to

> produce a score, but a wheel cutter needs couple of kilograms or

so.

> You'll need to experiment a bit.
>
> Tony
>