How do Lasers Cut Diamonds? - Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd (2024)

FAQs

How do lasers cut diamonds? ›

At the point where the laser beam strikes the diamond, the temperature is extremely high. As a result, the diamond's molecular structure at this point is converted to graphite on one pass of the beam, with the graphite build-up evaporated or "burned off" on the return pass.

A wax or cement mold holds the diamond in place while the cutter carves a sharp groove along the plane. The cutter places a steel blade in the groove and forcefully strikes it, cutting the rough diamond in two.

Laser-drilled diamonds can be more fragile than non-laser drilled diamonds because the tunnel created by the laser weakens the structure of the crystal. Dirt can also become trapped in the tunnel, making it more visible.

Lasers are effective for cutting all sorts of materials but are particularly useful for cutting diamonds. Before the advent of laser cutting, diamonds were cut using diamond saws. This process is still used sometimes, but it is lengthy and any mistake could result in the stone shattering.

Historically, a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is used for sawing diamond, whether at its fundamental wavelength of 1064nm or at a multiple of that frequency. The beam delivery optics and the part being cut are moved relative to one another in order to cut parts of specific geometry.

Over 5-20 years, hand cutters gain certifications until they can become a master diamond cutter. In today's high-tech world, diamond cutting is one of the last true handcrafted arts. Of course, machines are much quicker and easier than handcrafting, making them the more popular diamond cutting method.

The difficulty in cutting a diamond comes from its molecular composition and structure. A diamond is a pure, or nearly pure, extremely hard form of carbon that has naturally crystallized in the isometric system.

Heart cut diamonds, and Marquise cut diamonds, are considered the most difficult diamond cut. “Marquise and Heart are particularly tricky cuts because symmetry is so important for each,” explains Taylor.

Sawing is the use of a diamond saw or laser to cut the diamond rough into separate pieces.

A real diamond will reflect light easily, and provide you with a disco ball or rainbow-like display. You can use a flashlight or lamp to do this and it will work best with white light rather than yellow. If the stone absorbs the light, then there's a chance that it's a fake.

What does UV light do to diamonds? ›

Some diamonds fluoresce when they are exposed to long-wave ultraviolet (UV) rays from sources like the sun. This can cause them to emit a bluish light or more rarely, a yellow or orangy light. Once the UV light source is removed, the diamond stops fluorescing.

The carbon nanotubes have the largest strength at the microscopic level. Lonsdaleite is also an allotrope of a carbon atom which is considered a 58% harder material than the diamond because of the enhancement of bone density per unit area and it has a hexagonal geometry.

We often get asked what water jets can cut and our response can be to just mention what can't be cut – diamonds and not much else. However, even diamonds can be cut if the water jet is powerful enough, as this video demonstrates.

In time, it was discovered that a diamond can only be cut by another diamond. This led to many developmental cuts, notably, the Mine Cut. Old Mine Cut diamonds date back to about 150 years ago. Individual cutters would shape rough diamonds by hand, because motorized cutting tools and lasers were not yet invented.

Old Mine Cut diamonds date back to about 150 years ago. Individual cutters would shape rough diamonds by hand, because motorized cutting tools and lasers were not yet invented. This resulted in one of a kind “imperfect” diamond cuts that were carefully proportioned to be as brilliant as possible.

Unlike fracture-filled diamonds, (Clarity Enhanced Diamond Guide) a laser drill hole is considered by GIA to be an internal inclusion (and considered permanent) which is marked on their certificates just like natural inclusions such as feathers, clouds and crystals.

Cleaving and sawing

Because diamonds are the hardest natural material on Earth, only other diamonds can cut them. Diamond-bladed edges are used on the equipment to make the cuts. In some cases, special lasers may be used to assist in this process.

A diamond loses 50% of its weight in the cutting and polishing process. In order for a rough diamond to reach its full potential it will undergo a cutting and polishing process; during which, the diamond will lose up to 50% of its original rough carat weight on average.