General Electric Company
Method and system for confined laser drilling

Abstract:

A method for drilling a hole in a component is provided. The method includes directing a confined laser beam of a confined laser drill towards a near wall of the component and sensing a first characteristic of light from the hole in the near wall of the component with a first sensor positioned outside the component. The method also includes sensing a second characteristic of light from the hole in the near wall the component with a second sensor. The second characteristic of light is different from the first characteristic of light. Additionally, the method includes determining a hole progress based on the sensed first characteristic of light and the sensed second characteristic of light.