MACHINING OF CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES WITH CURVED WATERJET GUIDED LASER

1 . A method of machining a feature in a workpiece, the method comprising:

orienting a waterjet guided laser device about the workpiece;

ejecting a waterjet from a nozzle of the waterjet guided laser device;

impinging the waterjet against the workpiece along a tool path causing a corresponding removal of material therefrom; and

generating a non-uniform electric field proximate the waterjet to cause a deflection of the waterjet as the waterjet is impinging against the workpiece.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the non-uniform electric field comprises selectively applying a voltage to at least one electrode, the at least one electrode positioned downstream of the nozzle.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the voltage ranges from 0 to 1400.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode pair disposed along a first axis and a second electrode pair disposed along an orthogonal second axis.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein generating the non-uniform electric field comprises selectively applying a voltage to the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein generating the non-uniform electric field further comprises varying at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of the voltage.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein generating the non-uniform electric field comprises reversing a polarity of the first electrode pair of the second electrode pair.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool path forms a curved cooling hole.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool path forms a spiral pattern.

10 . The method of claim 1 and further comprising: mounting the workpiece in a holder and keeping the workpiece stationary while impinging the waterjet against the workpiece.

11 . A system for machining a feature in a workpiece, the system comprising:

a holder for securing the workpiece;

a waterjet guided laser device translatable relative to the workpiece, the waterjet guided laser device comprising:

a nozzle for ejecting a waterjet, the waterjet comprising a laser beam; and

at least one electrode disposed downstream of the nozzle; and

a control module operatively connected to the waterjet guided laser device for selectively applying a voltage at a desired frequency to the at least one electrode to cause deflection of the waterjet corresponding to a tool path.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode pair disposed along a first axis.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one electrode further comprises a second electrode pair disposed along an orthogonal second axis.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the voltage ranges from 0 to 1400.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the voltage is one of a DC voltage and a DC-biased AC voltage.

16 . A method of machining a feature in a workpiece, the method comprising:

orienting a waterjet guided laser device about the workpiece;

ejecting a waterjet from a nozzle of the waterjet guided laser device;

impinging the waterjet against the workpiece along a tool path causing a corresponding removal of material therefrom; and

generating a non-uniform electric field proximate the waterjet to cause a deflection of the waterjet as the waterjet is impinging against the workpiece;

wherein the deflection of the waterjet follows the tool path.

17 . The method of claim 17 , wherein generating the non-uniform electric field comprises:

applying a voltage to the at least one electrode; and

controlling at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of the voltage.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the voltage ranges from 0 to 1400.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode pair disposed along a first axis and a second electrode pair disposed along an orthogonal second axis.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein generating the non-uniform electric field comprises reversing a polarity of the first electrode pair of the second electrode pair.