During my college year, I worked in a float glass factory. 🏭
It was fascinating. 👍
So here's a small thread about how theses big wide glass sheets are made.
It was fascinating. 👍
So here's a small thread about how theses big wide glass sheets are made.
Glass is basically sand 🏖
Different types arrives by train🚂 and are unloaded on a conveyor belt below the track🛤
The different ingredients are precisely mixed ( silica, sodium oxide, lime, probably others) with a small part of recycling glass🍾
Different types arrives by train🚂 and are unloaded on a conveyor belt below the track🛤
The different ingredients are precisely mixed ( silica, sodium oxide, lime, probably others) with a small part of recycling glass🍾
The batch is loaded in the melting furnace🔥 where it is slowly melted.
It takes 2/3 days⏳ for the batch to go from one end to the other.
The furnace is approx. at 1500 °C and the glass come out near 1100°C.
It takes 2/3 days⏳ for the batch to go from one end to the other.
The furnace is approx. at 1500 °C and the glass come out near 1100°C.
Temperature is extremely important for quality and is monitored precisely📹
The furnace is heated by huge heater/flamethrower💨🔥 and change side every 20min.
Also, the furnace runs for 15 year without interruption 👀
The furnace is heated by huge heater/flamethrower💨🔥 and change side every 20min.
Also, the furnace runs for 15 year without interruption 👀
The glass is pulled into the float bath, which is A BATH🛁 OF MOLTED TIN 😱
Like tons of tin! and the glass float on top in one big sheets. really.
That way, the glass go out the furnace and cool slowly on a perfectly plane surface.👌
Like tons of tin! and the glass float on top in one big sheets. really.
That way, the glass go out the furnace and cool slowly on a perfectly plane surface.👌
The glass is still liquid💧 in the bath.
It is pulled by gear⚙️ wheel, which control the width of the glass sheets by changing its rotating speed
The faster the wheel⚙️, the thiner the glass in the end💯
It is pulled by gear⚙️ wheel, which control the width of the glass sheets by changing its rotating speed
The faster the wheel⚙️, the thiner the glass in the end💯
The glass come out of the bath🛁 around 600°C and go to the controlled 💨cooling lehr💨
The glass is still under a lot of stress😰 and need to be gradually cooled down to 200°C🤒
If the cooling process is not perfect, the ribbon could break😵
The glass is still under a lot of stress😰 and need to be gradually cooled down to 200°C🤒
If the cooling process is not perfect, the ribbon could break😵
Then, the glass is inspected automatically🤖 with optical sensor🎥
Bubbles, sand grain, ripples can be found. It uses for :
- Understanding and refining the process 🧠
- Defining the quality of the output, and the cutting🔪 process.
Bubbles, sand grain, ripples can be found. It uses for :
- Understanding and refining the process 🧠
- Defining the quality of the output, and the cutting🔪 process.
Bad quality glass is dumped🏗 in the recycling process🚮
Medium and good quality is finally cut from the ribbon🎬, according to the order book📕
Medium and good quality is finally cut from the ribbon🎬, according to the order book📕
Everything is loaded automatically according to the orders📕 on a glass support, which are actually part of the 🚛truck trailer
Most fascinating things:
The glass ribbon is at least 100 meters long 😨 (or maybe more i never measured)
And it runs for 15 years non-stop 🤯
Also, while frustrating, seeing the ribbon break can be oddly satisfying 🙃
Here's a sum-up of the process
The glass ribbon is at least 100 meters long 😨 (or maybe more i never measured)
And it runs for 15 years non-stop 🤯
Also, while frustrating, seeing the ribbon break can be oddly satisfying 🙃
Here's a sum-up of the process
