Today is Wednesday!  That means that for the next three days we will be posting new blog post about car glass.  If you’re like me you love learning and enjoy knowing about things just to know.  And learning about how a windshield is made is worth knowing.  You never know when it may come up in a conversation, right?

Okay maybe not, but it’s fun to know anyway.

To make a windshield or windscreen

They start with a plain sheet of glass.  An automative plotter moves a cutter wheel over it and the wheel scores the glass and a robotic arm brandishes a torch.

The torch moves along the score line and the thermal shock completes the cut.  This is the best way to clearly cut through glass.

Next a robot suctions up the cut piece of glass and transfers it to the next station where it pushes the glass against a series of sanding belts.

This takes off the sharp edges; it’s called seaming.  From there a conveyor belt takes the glass through soapy water to clean it up.  Then nozzles spray the glass with a mix of talcum powder and water.

This prevents the glass from sticking to another sheet of glass.

A robot sets that second piece of glass, temporarily, on top of the freshly sprayed one.  The two sheets of glass are layered for processing, but will be pulled apart later. The next thing they do is silkscreen black paint around the borders of the glass which will become the inner part of the windshield.

The automative arms carry the glass to a station where samples are inspected visually.  After that rollers transfer the glass to automatic squaring pucks which positions them and then a robot lifts the sheets of glass and carries them to the next station.

This is a very interesting process.  Good for all car owners to know.

To learn about the entire process watch the 4:36 video from the Science Channel above.

If you need to replace or repair your windshield, need tinting or have power window issues be sure to contact or or come by our auto shop company.