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Until
recently micromachining of a metal has been performed using
amplified laser system. Research is being done in micromachining
of Al alloy by using tightly focused laser pulses of 9 fs pulse
duration with the pulse energy of only 4.8 nJ from an unamplified
laser system. Research was performed on bulk aluminum alloy
(2024) using a Ti-sapphire laser with a typical pulse duration
of 9 fs, repetition rate of 75 Mhz and pulse energy of 4.8 nJ.
Machining has been demonstrated by drilling and machining patterns
on the aluminum alloy under different time durations. The other
areas which were studied were morphology of the material composition
before and after machining, oxidation levels underneath the
machined area using the scanning electron microscope, stylus
profilometer and energy dispersive spectroscopy. |
