Laser
Drilling
The laser drilling process
is an inexpensive alternative to mechanical drilling, punching,
broaching and wire EDM. The laser process is very adaptable
for small holes with large dept to diameter ratios. Laser
drilling provides a repeatable, accurate hole that can be
customized for all types of manufacturing industries.
To create holes with laser drilling, one
of two processes is used. The first, known as “percussion
drilling,” is performed by repeatedly pulsing the focused
laser energy at a material surface, vaporizing layer by layer
until a thru hole is created. For cylindrical parts like aerospace
combustor liners a processes called DOF “drilling on
the fly” is used where percussion holes are drilled
while the part is in motion. The parts rotational position
and speed are synchronized with the lasers firing producing
a partial hole with every rotational pass. This process is
continued until the desired hole is produced, this on the
fly processes is quicker then static hole drilling by taking
a portion of the hole to hole movement out of the parts cycle
time. Standard hole sizes range from 0.005” to 0.035”
for laser percussion drilling hole drilling.
If larger holes are required over 0.035”
the holes would be conventionally cut or trepanned.
Trepanned laser drilling is a method used
to remove a cylindrical core, or circular disc from a substrate.
Unlike percussion laser drilling, the position of the beam
or substrate is moved in conjunction with a predetermined
hole size.
Laser drilling provides consistency for industries
having manufacturing specifications that require tight tolerance
for high depth-to-diameter ratios. The process can provide
dynamic, “on-the-fly “changes of hole diameter,
hole depth and edge quality. Shaped holes of almost unlimited
geometry are now possible producing unique benefits previously
unobtainable by conventional processing techniques.
Laser drilling is a very fast and accurate
process that offers many benefits and lends itself well to
automation. The process is very competitive to conventional
drilling techniques and easily outpaces these processes where
high volume drilling is required.
In these highly competitive markets, keeping
costs low while increasing quality can be a tremendous asset.
Laser drilling provides these benefits.
Precision laser drilling
services for various aerospace companies including Boeing,
General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell and Rolls
Royce. Experts laser drilling many super alloys including
Inconel 625 and 718, Waspaloy, Titanium 62 and 6242, Aluminum.
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