A technical review of the laser drilling of aerospace materials

Drilling cooling holes in aerospace materials with a neodymium-doped: yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser is an established technique used in the aerospace industry. However, there are new challenges as the industry begins to use materials that can witstand higher temperatures and pressures. In this paper, the mechanisms of some laser-drilling processes, the types of laser used, the quality characteristics of a laser-drilled hole, the effects of drilling parameters, and the advantages and limitations of the laser hole-drilling operation are reviewed.