Window Cutting Laser in Mission Impossible

[edslittleworld]

As I get older, I really notice inconsistencies in movies.

Remember that scene with Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible (Ghost Protocol) cutting a hole in a window with a small handheld laser? Imagine how many watts that would truly take and then...the insane glare.

I'm sure more than a few people think that such a device actually exists. Theoretically, how much power would it actually take to cut a thick piece of tempered glass in seconds? 20 watts? 100 watts?

 

[doubleone44]

With visible light, it's practically impossible. However, a CO2 laser emits IR light with a wavelength of 10600 nm, which is strongly absorbed by glass. I don't know how much power you need, but iirc even 10 watts should be enough

 

[Pi R Squared]

Yes a CO2 laser is the way to go, not easy to make one portable. It won't cut the glass though, it will break it. There is a video of some guy with a CO2 laser he made portable and it showed it breaking a couple of bottles. There is also someone here that tried to melt a hole in a sheet of glass, I forgot who it is, but he said it shattered violently, I think it may have been 60W but not sure.

Alan

 

[trussmonkey25]

I tried cutting glass too with co2 Laser. It doesn't work. Carful adjustments and you can etch it. Too much heating and next thing you are looking for the dustpan and foxtail. The scene is bogus. Use the glass cutter and suction cup and a rubber mallet

 

[BobDiaz]

Hollywood is fake ????
Say it isn't so !!!




Bob Diaz

 

[crazyspaz]

UV laser is the REAL way to go. Coincidentally, also the real expensive way to go

 

[Laser Chick]

There are companies out there that have machines that etch it well but not a hand held laser. The thing that gets me is that it shows none of the operators using safety goggles in the pictures or video?!?

http://www.jenoptik.com/en-laser-glass-cutting-machine-votan-advanced

http://www.jenoptik.com/en-laser-cutting-glass

 

[trussmonkey25]

My cnc will etch glass

 

[Eudaimonium]

The thing that gets me is that it shows none of the operators using safety goggles in the pictures or video?!?http://www.jenoptik.com/en-laser-cutting-glass

Because it's a stationary laser machine, not a pocket Death Star.

I always say that this safety goggle fetish is a bit too exaggerated around the forums. It's a safety precaution, not a living necessity, treat it as such.

 

[Laser Chick]

So the bed is absorbing 100% of the beam?
There is absolutely no chance of any of the invisible beam reflecting off of the glass or washing off to the side towards the operators eyes?
The travel speed of the machine looks to be at least 12 to 18 inches per second so I am guessing the beam to be around 10 to 40 watts.
So you will work around a beam of that strength 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week for years with no safety goggles. Very interesting to say the least.