Home › Cutting tools › Glass Cutting Wheel Finder
How do you pick the right glass cutting wheel — or glass cutter wheel, as many practitioners say? The guide values below summarise what the finder above calculates: wheel angle by glass thickness, diameter by cutting speed, and when APIO® or Penett® is the better choice.
Glass cutting wheel angle by thickness — the guide values
The glass cutting wheel angle follows the glass thickness: the thicker the glass, the blunter the angle. These guide values apply to soda-lime glass; for borosilicate the angle is about 5° smaller (identical from the 160° range).
| Glass thickness | Angle (guide value) |
|---|---|
| up to 0.1 mm | 100–105° |
| 0.1 – 0.5 mm | 110–115° |
| 0.5 – 1 mm | 120° |
| 1 – 2 mm | 125° |
| 2 – 3 mm | 130° |
| 3 – 4 mm | 140° |
| 4 – 6 mm | 150° |
| above 6 mm | 160° |
Guide values — the optimum varies with machine and cutting table (hard/soft). MDI application engineering provides the binding configuration.
Glass cutting wheel diameter by cutting speed
| Cutting speed | Wheel diameter | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| up to 10 m/min | Ø 2.0 mm | lab systems, precision cutting |
| up to 30 m/min | Ø 3.0 mm | thin-glass lines |
| above 30 m/min | Ø 5.0 mm | standard machines, e.g. window-glass lines |
APIO® or Penett® — which glass cutting wheel for what?
| APIO® | Penett® | |
|---|---|---|
| Application range | 0.1 – 12 mm | 0.1 – 2 mm |
| Strength | Highest edge strength, few splinters | Deep median crack (up to 90% of glass thickness) — easy breaking |
More about the wheels on the cutting tools page; why the edge decides between breaking and lasting is explained on the edge strength page.
Frequently asked questions about glass cutting wheel selection
Which cutting wheel angle for 1 mm glass?
For 1 mm soda-lime glass the guide value is 120°, for borosilicate about 115°. Fine-tuning depends on machine and table — the finder above delivers the full configuration including axle and holder.
Carbide or diamond glass cutting wheel?
Both are equal in quality; the difference is lifetime: diamond (PCD) lasts about ten times longer. For series production and high speed, diamond pays off; with budget focus, carbide is the right choice.
Which cutting wheel for chemically strengthened glass?
The wheel choice depends on the pre-stress and the depth of layer — we advise directly. Have the strengthening level, DoL in µm, glass thickness and format ready.
Which wheel for ultra-thin glass below 0.1 mm?
Below 0.1 mm the process design is case-specific. For glass up to 100 µm there is, among others, the SOLID-D™ mechanical blade — more on the thin glass page.
