What is the correct method for cutting a piece of glass tubing?
There are several ways to correctly cut a section of glass tube (the following cutting methods can be completed with the help of a glass tube cutting machine):
1. Hot melt cutting method
The so-called hot melt cutting is actually a method of using the principle of thermal expansion and contraction of glass to cause the glass to produce stress and break.
When cutting, first use a small flame to evenly and intensively heat the part of the glass tube that needs to be cut, and then wait until the temperature reaches the set appropriate value. Remove the glass tube from the flame and send it to the cooling area (cold water cooling or other cooling methods). At this time, the stress generated by the glass is very fragile, and it will automatically break neatly after a slight external force pulls or cuts the cooling area.
2. Resistance wire cutting method
This method also uses the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, but the heating method is different.
First, determine and mark the position of the glass tube to be cut, and then use the resistance wire to wrap around the glass tube according to the mark. After adjusting the power supply voltage of the resistor, turn on the power and heat the resistance wire until it turns red. Finally, add water to cool the cut, and the glass tube will be neatly broken along the position line of the resistance wire to complete the cutting.
3. File cutting method
This cutting method is the oldest method, which is completed by applying pressure to the scratch of the glass to break it.
First, you need to fix the glass tube and determine and mark the position to be cut, and then use sharp tools such as files, glass cutters and grinding wheels to evenly scratch the cut. The scratch depth is about 1/3 or 1/4 of the circumference of the glass tube, and the scratched indentation should be perpendicular to the glass tube. Finally, apply pressure on the back of the indentation of the glass tube to break the glass tube.
4. Laser cutting method
This is the principle of cutting glass tubes by heating the glass with high energy and cooling it.
First, determine the cutting position and irradiate the surface with laser to heat it, then use gas or water to cool it when it reaches a certain temperature, and finally the glass tube breaks under tension.
The main safety matters when cutting glass tubes:
1. Operators must wear protective equipment, such as gloves and glasses, to prevent high temperature burns or glass residues from splashing.
2. Control the temperature to avoid explosion of large glass tubes
3. Properly handle the fracture. The edge of the cut glass is very sharp and needs to be polished before it can be cut by hand.