Product Code: JLA_9_6_287

Authors:
Xiangli Chen
Angel L. Ortiz
P. Randall Staver
William T. Lotshaw
Todd J. Rockstroh
Michael H. McLaughlin

We have previously described the drilling of advanced materials such as intermetallics, superalloys, and composites using an Nd:YAG laser operating at the fundamental wavelength of 1.064 μm [1]. We have now extended these studies to the second harmonic wavelength of 532 nm of a high peak power Nd:YAG laser. The results show that drilling using the shorter wavelength further reduces undesired thermal effects such as recast layers and heat affected zones. A comparison of these results with those obtained at the fundamental wavelength is reported.