Ultrashort pulse laser machining of metals and alloys
Abstract
The invention consists of a method for high precision machining (cutting, drilling, sculpting) of metals and alloys. By using pulses of a duration in the range of 10 femtoseconds to 100 picoseconds, extremely precise machining can be achieved with essentially no heat or shock affected zone. Because the pulses are so short, there is negligible thermal conduction beyond the region removed resulting in negligible thermal stress or shock to the material beyond approximately 0.1-1 micron (dependent upon the particular material) from the laser machined surface. Due to the short duration, the high intensity (>10.sup.12 W/cm.sup.2) associated with the interaction converts the material directly from the solid-state into an ionized plasma. Hydrodynamic expansion of the plasma eliminates the need for any ancillary techniques to remove material and produces extremely high quality machined surfaces with negligible redeposition either within the kerf or on the surface. Since there is negligible heating beyond the depth of material removed, the composition of the remaining material is unaffected by the laser machining process. This enables high precision machining of alloys and even pure metals with no change in grain structure.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1174492
- Patent Number(s):
- 6,621,040
- Application Number:
- 08/859,020
- Assignee:
- The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA) OSTI
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Citation Formats
Perry, Michael D., and Stuart, Brent C. Ultrashort pulse laser machining of metals and alloys. United States: N. p., 2003.
Web.
Perry, Michael D., & Stuart, Brent C. Ultrashort pulse laser machining of metals and alloys. United States.
Perry, Michael D., and Stuart, Brent C. Tue .
"Ultrashort pulse laser machining of metals and alloys". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1174492.
@article{osti_1174492,
title = {Ultrashort pulse laser machining of metals and alloys},
author = {Perry, Michael D. and Stuart, Brent C.},
abstractNote = {The invention consists of a method for high precision machining (cutting, drilling, sculpting) of metals and alloys. By using pulses of a duration in the range of 10 femtoseconds to 100 picoseconds, extremely precise machining can be achieved with essentially no heat or shock affected zone. Because the pulses are so short, there is negligible thermal conduction beyond the region removed resulting in negligible thermal stress or shock to the material beyond approximately 0.1-1 micron (dependent upon the particular material) from the laser machined surface. Due to the short duration, the high intensity (>10.sup.12 W/cm.sup.2) associated with the interaction converts the material directly from the solid-state into an ionized plasma. Hydrodynamic expansion of the plasma eliminates the need for any ancillary techniques to remove material and produces extremely high quality machined surfaces with negligible redeposition either within the kerf or on the surface. Since there is negligible heating beyond the depth of material removed, the composition of the remaining material is unaffected by the laser machining process. This enables high precision machining of alloys and even pure metals with no change in grain structure.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2003},
month = {9}
}