Control Software Eases Laser Drilling of Shaped Holes

Prima Power Laserdyne’s ShapeSoft, a feature of the SP94P control for its multi-axis fiber laser systems, simplifies the creation of programs for producing cone, oblique cone, fan, racetrack and a variety of shaped holes in a range of turbine engine components such as blades, nozzle guide vanes, and combustors for airplane engine and industrial gas turbine applications. The software is available for download to Laserdyne system users on the company’s website.

The software enables the selection of process parameters for each of the steps involved in creating shaped holes at high speeds. Users set the parameter database record to be used, feed rate and dwell time after the shutter is open before processing begins.

System motion is modified as required to produce the shaped holes at whatever orientation of the BeamDirector or rotary/tilt tables specified in the drilling program. This enables a single shape and a single macro to be repeated as many times as needed to produce the specified shape at various locations on a contoured, 3D surface.