LASER AUGMENTED DIAMOND DRILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method of machining a hard and/or brittle material, the method comprising:
- directing a laser beam through at least a portion of a light-transmitting cutting tool having at least one cutting edge whereby the laser beam exits the cutting tool adjacent the cutting edge;
bringing the cutting edge into moving contact with a surface of a hard and/or brittle material whereby the laser beam heats the surface and softens the material adjacent the surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laser beam is transmitted through a drill bit comprising diamond or other suitable light-transmitting material having sufficient hardness. The laser beam exits a tip of the drill bit, thereby heating and softening the material being drilled at and/or near the interface of the drill with the material being drilled. The process may be utilized to drill hard and brittle materials such as ceramics and semiconductors, composites and ceramic matrix composites. The process may cause high pressure phase transformation, resulting in a more ductile and plastic material near the drill point/tip. The process provides more rapid drilling, improved surface quality in drilled holes, and less tool wear.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of machining a hard and/or brittle material, the method comprising:
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directing a laser beam through at least a portion of a light-transmitting cutting tool having at least one cutting edge whereby the laser beam exits the cutting tool adjacent the cutting edge; bringing the cutting edge into moving contact with a surface of a hard and/or brittle material whereby the laser beam heats the surface and softens the material adjacent the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A laser augmented drilling system, comprising:
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a laser source; a movable cutting tool having first and second opposite ends, the second end having at least one cutting edge, and wherein the cutting tool comprises a light-transmitting material; wherein the laser source is configured to direct a laser beam from the laser source into the first end of the cutting tool whereby the laser beam is transmitted through the light-transmitting material and exits the second end of the cutting tool and heats a material being drilled by the movable cutting tool. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A drill bit comprising:
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a metal body portion having a passageway; a tip having at least one elongated light-transmitting cutting edge that is in optical communication with the passageway such that a laser beam can be directed through the passageway and through the tip to the at least one cutting edge. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of drilling a hole in a composite material, comprising:
bringing a rotating bit into contact with a composite material in a manner that produces a hole in the composite material having a surface that is substantially free of defects.
Specification