Drilling Sequence Optimization Using Evolutionary Algorithms to Reduce Heat Accumulation for Femtosecond Laser Drilling with Multi-Spot Beam Profiles

We report on laser drilling borehole arrays using ultrashort pulsed lasers with a particular focus on reducing the inadvertent heat accumulation across the workpiece by optimizing the drilling sequence. For the optimization, evolutionary algorithms are used and their results are verified by thermal simulation using Comsol and experimentally evaluated using a thermal imaging camera. To enhance process efficiency in terms of boreholes drilled per second, multi-spot approaches are employed using a spatial light modulator. However, as higher temperatures occur across the workpiece when using simultaneous multi-spot drilling as compared to a single-spot process, a subtle spatial distribution and sequence of the multi-spot approach has to be selected in order to limit the resulting local heat input over the processing time. Different optimization approaches based on evolutionary algorithms aid to select those drilling sequences which allow for the combination of a high efficiency of multi-spot profiles, a low-generated process temperature and a high-component quality. In particular, using a 4 × 4 laser spot array allows for the drilling of 40,000 boreholes in less than 76 s (526 boreholes/s) with a reduced temperature increase by about 35%, as compared to a single spot process when employing an optimized drilling sequence.