In recent years, laser machining is highly anticipated as a technology to replace machine
processing and electrical discharge machining. The reason is because this type of non-contact
machining involves no tool wear and can be applied to metals and a wide range of other materials
including nonconductive crustaceous materials and resins. There is a great need for the
application of short-pulse laser machining to various industrial fields, as well as types of parts
processing since a finer and higher-quality machined surface is obtained. But efficiency and
quality can hardly be reconciled, resulting in an obstacle to wide penetration. Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries, Ltd. (MHI), having proved that one method of short-pulse laser machining significantly
differs from another in machining ability, reports here examples of laser-applied micro drilling.
