Patent ID: 8119949
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a plurality of shaped holes in a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of: rotating the workpiece about at least two axes and relative to a laser beam, and positioning the workpiece to a first position where the laser beam is at a first predetermined angle relative to a surface of the workpiece; pulsing the laser beam at the workpiece surface to form a row of a plurality of trepan cuts, each defining a metering hole; continuously repositioning and rotating said workpiece about at least two of five axes and relative to the laser beam, positioning the workpiece to a next position and adjusting a laser beam to a next predetermined angle relative to the workpiece surface and adjacent a previous row of the plurality of trepan cuts, adjusting an intensity of the laser beam so that the laser beam does not interfere with a sidewall of the metering hole, and pulsing said laser beam to create a plurality of rows of trepan cuts wherein each cut in the previous row of trepan cuts is connected to a cut in a subsequent row of trepan cuts, wherein said plurality of rows of trepan cuts are formed in a side-to-side sweeping formation and define a diffusion-shaped outlet of each of the plurality of shaped holes; rotating the workpiece about at least two of 5-axes and relative to the laser beam, and positioning the workpiece back to the first position where the laser beam is at the first predetermined angle relative to the workpiece surface and in alignment with the metering hole; and pulsing the laser beam at the workpiece surface to remove debris from within the metering hole.