High-quality percussion drilling with ultrashort laser pulses

The influence of the laser fluence on the quality of percussion-drilled holes was investigated both experimentally and by an analytical model. The study reveals that the edge quality of the drilled microholes depends on the laser fluence reaching the rear exit of the hole and changes with the number of pulses applied after breakthrough. The minimum fluence that must reach the hole's exit in order to obtain high-quality microholes in stainless steel was experimentally found to be 2.8 times the ablation threshold.

Automated summary

The study discovered that the quality of percussion-drilled holes is influenced by the laser fluence, with a minimum fluence of 2.8 times the ablation threshold required for high-quality microholes in stainless steel. The edge quality of the drilled microholes depends on the laser fluence reaching the rear exit of the hole and changes with the number of pulses applied after breakthrough.