Magno™Edge Deletion System

Laser Based Edge Deletion of Thin-Film Solar Modules

LPKF Magno™ removes coating on thin-film solar modules

The laser system LPKF Magno™ removes coating on thin-film solar modules. The use of up to 4 independent laser heads in one machine reduces the time for the coating removal – at the edges and in the center of large glass substrates. The non-contact process benefits from a square focus spot achieving an optimal area utilization. For these reasons LPKF Magno™ removes a thin-film coating at highest speed and without mechanical stress on the substrate attaining removal rates of up to 50 cm2 per second.

Laser edge deletion is fully automized: An optical recognition system determines the position of the substrate or pattern and adjusts the laser edge deletion accordingly. The laser process removes all common CIS, aSi, aSi/µSi and CdTe thin-films. The result is a clean glass surface without residues.

In particular laser edge deletion is environmentally sound compared to conventional sand blasting or grinding: The laser processing is carried out through the glass, one suction nozzle per laser head reliably removes the ablation products at the film-side, followed by an effective particle filtration. 

LPKF Magno™ edge deletion systems superbly integrate in PV production lines and ensure a technological and economical advantage in back end processing of thin-film modules.

Substrate surface after coat removal

Topography at the decoated edge