Patent ID: 6054673
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: B23K,H05K

Abstract:
A method of drilling a hole through a hollow airfoil comprising the steps of:directing a pulsed laser beam at a first surface of the hollow airfoil, a pulse of the pulsed laser beam having an energy of less than or equal to 0.1 joule, an average power of between 10 and 5,000 watts, and a full width half maximum pulse width of less than or equal to 500 nanoseconds;detecting with a detector whether the hole being drilled has extended through to said first surface of the hollow airfoil; andinterrupting the drilling after the hole has extended through said first surface to the interior of the airfoil such that the amount of radiation incident upon a second surface of said airfoil opposite the surface being drilled is reduced.