Drill from both sides?
Drill from both sides?
(OP)
Is it possible to accurately laser drill both sides of a plate? For example I have some 200 micron thick steel, I drill from the top side right through the steel, the entry hole is 40 microns diameter and the exit hole is 20 microns diameter. I then drill from the bottom side to create a hole that is 50 microns in diameter -- but only to a depth of 50 microns. So now I have a hole that is 40 microns on the top side and 50 microns on the bottom side, but with a thinner section in between.
What sort of laser would I use to drill both sides? Does the laser apparatus have a particular name?
Thanks,
Ant.
What sort of laser would I use to drill both sides? Does the laser apparatus have a particular name?
Thanks,
Ant.





RE: Drill from both sides?
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Drill from both sides?
RE: Drill from both sides?
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Drill from both sides?
If that is the point, don't you want to tailor the beam so it has a pretty flat distribution, rather than gaussian?
That, and tailor the optics so it has the right diameter with a fairly focus distance/long beam waist.
I guess you're using a YAG laser?
Jay Maechtlen
http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm
RE: Drill from both sides?
Yes I'll be using a Nd.YAG and would prefer the taper minimised. What is the principal behind reducing the taper? For example does the focal length change? I don't understand the difference between gaussian and flat distribution.
Thanks, Ant.
RE: Drill from both sides?
Jay is talking about the optical power distribution across the beam. A single mode beam focuses to a Gaussian distribution. A beam with sufficient modes will approach a square wave or a flat topped beam, which will cut straighter walls.
Timelord