

Laser Drilling with Galvo Scanners

What Is Laser Drilling？

Laser drilling is a precision manufacturing process that uses a highly focused beam of light to remove material and form holes in a wide range of substrates. Unlike mechanical drilling, it is a non-contact method, meaning there is no physical tool wear or mechanical stress on the part.

When combined with a galvo scanner, laser drilling becomes significantly faster, more flexible, and more efficient — enabling manufacturers to perform micro drilling and macro-scale hole processing with exceptional accuracy and repeatability.

How Laser Galvo Scanner Enhance Laser Drilling？

A galvo scanner uses high-speed mirrors driven by galvanometer motors to direct the laser beam across the workpiece. Instead of moving the entire part or the laser head, the galvo system redirects the beam within milliseconds, allowing for rapid beam positioning and precise drilling control.

High-Speed Beam Steering: Enables fast, precise drilling at high repetition rates.

Superior Accuracy: Maintains uniform hole spacing and shape across large working fields.

Flexible Processing: Supports pattern drilling, array drilling, and variable hole geometries.

Non-Contact and Wear-Free: Eliminates tool wear common in mechanical drilling.

Working Principle of Galvo Laser Drilling

Beam Focusing – The laser beam is focused through a galvo scan lens onto the material surface.

Energy Absorption – The localized laser energy melts or vaporizes the material.

Material Ejection – The molten or vaporized material is expelled, forming a hole.

Galvo Movement – The galvo mirrors reposition the beam to the next drilling point, repeating the process rapidly.

This setup ensures stable, repeatable drilling performance even in large-area or multi-hole applications.

Types of Laser Drilling Techniques

Technique	Description	Typical Application
Single-Pulse Drilling	A single laser pulse removes material to form a hole.	Micro-hole drilling in thin foils or films
Percussion Drilling	Multiple pulses at one location deepen the hole.	Multi-layer or thick materials
Trepan Drilling	The beam moves in a circular path for larger holes.	Nozzles, filters, precision mechanical parts
Helical Drilling	Beam and workpiece rotate simultaneously for deep, high-aspect-ratio holes.	Turbine components, aerospace alloys

Applications of Galvo-Based Laser Drilling

Laser drilling systems with galvo scanners are widely used in industries requiring high-speed precision and complex hole arrays.

Industry	Typical Use
Aerospace	Cooling holes in turbine blades and combustor liners
Electronics & Semiconductors	Micro-vias and interconnect holes in PCBs and wafers
Medical Devices	Micro-needles, catheter holes, precision filters
Battery & Energy	Vent holes in electrodes and casings
Automotive & Engineering	Injector nozzles, sensor components, and filter meshes

Compared to Traditional CNC Drilling

Feature / Aspect	Galvo Laser Drilling System	CNC Drilling
Processing Speed	Extremely fast beam steering — typically hundreds of holes per second	Limited by mechanical motion — usually a few holes per second
Precision & Repeatability	Sub-micron beam positioning accuracy; consistent hole quality	Dependent on tool wear and mechanical backlash
Contact Method	Non-contact, no tool wear or deformation	Physical contact causes tool wear and maintenance
Hole Size Range	From micrometers to millimeters	Generally limited by drill bit size and tool design
Material Compatibility	Works on metals, ceramics, glass, polymers, and composites	Mainly suitable for metals and plastics
Automation & Control	Easily integrated with software, vision, and galvo control cards for automated drilling patterns	Requires mechanical repositioning and manual setup
Thermal Effect / Damage	Minimal heat-affected zone due to short pulse duration	Possible burrs, cracks, or heat stress on edges

Compared to traditional CNC drilling, galvo-based laser drilling systems offer higher precision, speed, and flexibility, especially for micro-hole and large-array processing applications.

Conclusion

Laser drilling with galvo scanners represents the future of precision hole processing — combining the power of laser energy with high-speed digital beam control. As industries move toward automation and miniaturization, galvo-based laser drilling systems continue to provide unmatched flexibility, speed, and process reliability.

In addition to processing standard straight holes and conical holes, the 5-axis laser micromachining system independently developed by Scanner Optics can also create inverted conical holes, greatly expanding the scope of laser drilling applications. By using different wavelengths and ultra-fast lasers, the system minimizes the heat-affected zone, produces smooth surfaces, and supports a wide variety of materials. This flexibility makes it suitable for drilling across numerous industrial sectors, enabling truly universal laser drilling solutions.

Applications