Due to their excellent focusability, lasers are almost perfectly suited for the drilling of very fine holes. For the drilling of plastics, excimer lasers are utilised while the machining of metals and semiconductors is accomplished with DPSS laser sources or picosecond lasers.

Blind holes as well as clearance holes can be obtained. A particularly large development potential is attached to the usage of novel helical drilling heads for the generation of micro holes (diameter > 50 µm) with precisely controllable taper in up to 2 mm thick metal sheets. With the advent of the latter technology, entirely new perspectives for design and functionalization of new products are opened.

Helical drilling distinguishes itself by the fact that in addition to the toggling movement of the laser the laser beam is rotating about its axis of propagation. The latter feature helps eliminate imperfections of the beam profile and provides the capability of drilling holes at highest perfection.

For the first time 3D-Micromac AG has combined helical drilling technology with ultrashort pulses (ps laser) in the high performance range (50 W). By doing so, the drilling time could be reduced significantly. The processing results achieved proved holes drilled at normal incidence and holes inclined by an angle of up to 45° to possess excellent quality without cracks or debris, and with a minimum heat-affected zone (<1µm).

This enormous increase in throughput is already now becoming apparent that micromachining utilizing the combination of helical drilling and ultrashort pulses at high performance range is going to become an integral part of industrial laser application.

About 3D-Micromac AG

3D-Micromac AG, a leading supplier of customized laser micro machining systems, has gained an established position in the international market over the past several years. As a developer and manufacturer of complex workstations, as a service provider for materials and surface machining or as a solution provider for the development of specific production processes - we are able to find the best solution for every customer’s task.
More: http://www.3d-micromac.com

Further information and pictures:

3D-Micromac AG
Mrs. Mandy Gebhardt
Marketing & PR
Technologie-Campus 8
D-09126 Chemnitz, GERMANY

Phone: +49 (0)371 400 43-26
Fax: +49 (0)371 400 43-40
E-Mail: gebhardt@3d-micromac.com