Abstract: A method for laser preparation of a coated substrate to be laser cut is provided. The method includes substantially removing a target portion of a polymer coating from a coated substrate by directing an ablative laser beam to the target portion, wherein the target portion of the polymer coating has a width of between about 10 ?m and about 6.0 mm.

Abstract: A method of making a brittle substrate comprising the steps of: (i) heating at least a portion of the substrate at least to the depth d to a temperature Tp that is above 500° C., but below 1500° C., to form a heated area of the substrate; and (ii) irradiating at least a portion of the heated area of the brittle substrate with a laser beam emitted from an IR laser to form at least one hole in the brittle substrate.

Abstract: A method for processing a transparent workpiece includes forming a first contour line, comprising a first plurality of defects, in the transparent workpiece; forming a second contour line, comprising a second plurality of defects, in the transparent workpiece, wherein the second contour line defines a second contour intersecting the first contour line at an intersection point, wherein the laser pulse energy of the second pulsed laser beam is increased from a first laser pulse energy to a second laser pulse energy at a first distance from the intersection point; and wherein the laser pulse energy of the second pulsed laser beam is decreasing from the second laser pulse energy to the first laser pulse energy at a second distance from the intersection point.

Abstract: A method of laser processing a coated substrate having a coating later disposed on a transparent workpiece that includes determining an optical characteristic of the coating layer and selecting a beam path for a pulsed laser beam based on the optical characteristic. The beam path is selected a polarization-adjusting beam path and a frequency-adjusting beam path. The method also includes directing the pulsed laser beam down the selected beam path to form a modified pulsed laser beam and directing the modified pulsed laser beam into the transparent workpiece, where the modified pulsed laser beam forms a laser beam focal line that induces absorption in the transparent workpiece to produce a defect in the transparent workpiece. The laser beam focal line includes a wavelength ?, a spot size wo, and a Rayleigh range ZR that is greater than F D ? ? ? ? w o 2 ? , where FD is a dimensionless divergence factor.

Abstract: Glass articles with protective films used for processing hard disk drive substrates and methods of forming glass articles with protective films used for processing hard disk drive substrates are provided herein. In one embodiment, a glass blank includes: a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and an edge surface connecting the first surface and the second surface; wherein the first surface comprises a first coated portion and a first uncoated portion surrounding the first coated portion, wherein the first uncoated portion extends a first distance radially inward from the edge toward a center of the first surface, wherein the second surface comprises a second coated portion and a second uncoated portion surrounding the second coated portion, wherein the second uncoated portion extends a second distance radially inward from the edge toward a center of the second surface.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of forming a glass article comprises perforating a glass substrate along a contour with a laser forming a plurality of perforations, such that the contour separates a first portion of the glass substrate from a second portion of the glass substrate. After perforating, thermal forming the glass substrate into a non-planar shape with a mold, and separating the first portion of the glass substrate from the second portion of the glass substrate.

Abstract: A method for processing a transparent mother sheet includes forming one or more closed contours in the transparent mother sheet that each define a perimeter of a transparent article. Forming each of the one or more closed contours includes directing a pulsed laser beam into the transparent mother sheet to produce defect within the transparent mother sheet and translating the transparent mother sheet and the pulsed laser beam relative to each other thereby laser forming defects along the one or more closed contours. The method further includes separating a portion of the transparent mother sheet along the closed contours, thereby forming one or more transparent articles, where the transparent articles are frictionally engaged with a frame portion of the transparent mother sheet, applying material to a surface the transparent articles, and releasing the transparent articles from frictional engagement with the frame portion.

Abstract: A method for laser preparation of a coated substrate to be laser cut is provided. The method includes substantially removing a target portion of a polymer coating from a coated substrate by directing an ablative laser beam to the target portion, wherein the target portion of the polymer coating has a width of between about 10 ?m and about 6.0 mm.