Micro laser assisted machining
First Claim
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1. A method of deforming a workpiece or removing material from the workpiece, comprising the steps of:
- applying pressure to a surface of the workpiece with a tip of a machining tool to cause a portion of the workpiece to undergo high pressure phase transformation to form a high pressure phase transformation portion having altered optical properties from the remainder of the workpiece;
irradiating the high pressure phase transformation portion of the workpiece with laser radiation which is transmitted through the machining tool and the remainder of the workpiece and reflected or absorbed by the high pressure phase transformation portion to heat the high pressure phase portion and cause it to soften; and
plastically deforming the workpiece along the softened high pressure phase transformation portion.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus (1) for machining a semiconductor or ceramic workpiece (32) causes a portion of the workpiece to undergo high pressure phase transformation to form a high pressure phase transformation portion which has altered optical properties from the remainder of the workpiece. A laser is irradiated on the high pressure transformation portion to heat the high pressure transformation portion and cause it to soften and then the workpiece is plastically deformed, at smaller loads and forces, along the softened portion in order to accomplish the machining of the workpiece with a machining tool (21).
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of deforming a workpiece or removing material from the workpiece, comprising the steps of:
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applying pressure to a surface of the workpiece with a tip of a machining tool to cause a portion of the workpiece to undergo high pressure phase transformation to form a high pressure phase transformation portion having altered optical properties from the remainder of the workpiece; irradiating the high pressure phase transformation portion of the workpiece with laser radiation which is transmitted through the machining tool and the remainder of the workpiece and reflected or absorbed by the high pressure phase transformation portion to heat the high pressure phase portion and cause it to soften; and plastically deforming the workpiece along the softened high pressure phase transformation portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for performing a high pressure phase transformation machining of a workpiece, comprising:
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a machining tool holder; a machining tool having a tip; a force generating means for bringing the tip of the machining tool into contact with a portion of the workpiece at a pressure of at least the hardness of the workpiece wherein the portion of workpiece contacted with the tip of the machining tool is converted by the pressure of the tip of the machining tool into a high pressure phase transformation portion which has altered optional properties from the remainder of the workpiece; a laser source for generating laser radiation which is transmitted through the machining tool to the high pressure phase transformation portion of the workpiece; and means for effecting relative movement between the workpiece and the machining tool. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for performing high pressure phase transformation machining of a workpiece, comprising:
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a machining tool holder; a machining tool utilizing an optically transparent material; a machine for bringing the machining tool into contact with a portion of the workpiece at a pressure of at least the hardness of the workpiece to convert the contacted portion of the workpiece into a high pressure phase transformation portion which has altered optical properties from the remainder of the workpiece and effecting relative movement between the workpiece and the machining tool; and a source for generating laser radiation which is transmitted through the optically transparent material of the machining tool to the high pressure phase transformation portion of the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification