Parametric Analysis of Laser Beam Percussion Drilling for Thin Titanium Alloy Sheet Using Yb: Yag Fiber Laser

Abstract

Laser beam percussion drilling (LBPD) can create high density holes in aerospace materials with the repeated application of laser pulses at a single spot. In this study, one-parameter-at-a-time approach has been used to investigate the individual effect of peak power, pulse width and pulse frequency on geometrical accuracy and metallurgical distortion during LBPD of 0.85[Formula: see text]mm thick Ti–6Al–4V sheet using 200[Formula: see text]W Yb:YAG fiber laser. It has been found that the output parameters behave differently at the higher and lower values of a particular input process. The increase of pulse width from 1 to 1.50[Formula: see text]ms increases hole taper by 20% whereas the same corresponding change from 1.50 to 2.00[Formula: see text]ms reduces the taper by 20%. The increase of pulse frequency from 10 to 50[Formula: see text]Hz reduces hole circularity by 40% but the same proportionate change from 50 to 90[Formula: see text]Hz reduces circularity by 79%. Increase of peak power from 1.70 to 2.0[Formula: see text]kW increases hole taper by 8% but the corresponding increase from 2 to 2.30[Formula: see text]kW is 143%.