Laser drilling
There are two fundamentally different drilling techniques:
In this method either the focussed laser beam is moved in a circle over the workpiece by means of "trepanning optics" or the workpiece is moved under the fixed focussed laser beam under CNC control in order to produce a circular cutout.
Note: Trepanning is essentially a cutting process. Everything that applies to laser cutting and laser precision cutting also applies to trepanning.
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With this technique the focussed laser beam and the workpiece both remain fixed in one position.
Depending on the substrate to be drilled, the laser penetrates it with a single shot or "hammers" its way through the substrate in a repetitive mode of operation.
As regards geometry, the penetration properties are in this case largely a function of the set laser parameters.
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General facts applicable to both methods:
In many instances laser drilling is a very efficient way of producing penetrations that allow gas or liquid permeation.
Post-treatment using various techniques is usually essential if high standards of surface quality and geometry are specified.
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