Abstract
Laser microdrilling is the process of material removal by ablation using focused laser pulses. With brief preamble on laser system, how a micro-orifice is created successfully on 50 µm thick copper foil using modified Nd:YAG ophthalmic laser is elucidated. The micro-orifice is required to control the flow of lubricant from the centrifugal lubricator used in spacecraft moving mechanisms. The orifices are characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the process parameters are optimized. Orifices from 1.5 µm to 2.7 µm diameter are produced. The work is further extended to drill microholes in 60 µm copper wire. It is observed that the bead formed at melt zone near the hole can be conveniently used for microjoining.