IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,576,460
Granted Patent B2
US 12,576,460 · App. 17/669,460 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Method for machining a workpiece

Inventors: Malte Kumkar (Weimar, DE); Myriam Kaiser (Ditzingen, DE)
Assignee: TRUMPF LASER—UND SYSTEMTECHNIK GMBH
B23K26/362B23K26/0624B23K26/382
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,576,460
App. No.
17/669,460
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for machining a workpiece, comprising the steps of introducing a plurality of adjacent modifications into the material of the workpiece by means of laser radiation, etching the material of the workpiece in a first etching operation with a first selectivity, in order to remove predominantly the material modified by the laser radiation, and, after completion of the first etching operation, etching the material of the workpiece in a second etching operation with a second selectivity, different from the first selectivity, in order to remove the webs left between the removed modified material.

Claims (17)

1 . A method for machining a workpiece, the method comprising:

introducing a plurality of adjacent modifications into a material of the workpiece by laser radiation, the plurality of adjacent modifications being distributed over a volume of the material of the workpiece,

etching the material of the workpiece in a first etching operation with a first selectivity, in order to remove predominantly the material modified by the laser radiation, and

after completion of the first etching operation, etching the material of the workpiece in a second etching operation with a second selectivity different from the first selectivity, in order to remove webs left in the volume between the removed modified material,

wherein at least some of the plurality of adjacent modifications introduced into the material of the workpiece have different lengths in a direction of propagation of the laser radiation so that, after completion of the first etching operation, a plurality of adjacent blind holes are created, and after completion of the second etching operation, the webs left between the adjacent blind holes are removed.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first etching operation and the second etching operation differ by chemical composition, a temperature and/or a concentration of etching solutions and/or by ultrasonic power introduced in an ultrasonic bath.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first selectivity and the second selectivity differ by at least a factor of 2.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first selectivity is greater than the second selectivity.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, after completion of the second etching operation, one or more further etching operations take place, each with a different selectivity.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the material of the workpiece is transparent to a wavelength of the laser radiation.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the modifications are introduced into the material of the workpiece by ultrashort laser pulses.

8 . The workpiece with a plurality of drawn-out holes, wherein each of the plurality of drawn-out holes is produced by a method as claimed in claim 1 .

9 . A method for machining a workpiece, the method comprising:

introducing a plurality of adjacent modifications into a material of the workpiece by laser radiation, the plurality of adjacent modifications being distributed over a volume of the material of the workpiece,

etching the material of the workpiece in a first etching operation with a first selectivity, in order to remove predominantly the material modified by the laser radiation, and

after completion of the first etching operation, etching the material of the workpiece in a second etching operation with a second selectivity different from the first selectivity, in order to remove webs left in the volume between the removed modified material,

wherein at least some of the plurality of adjacent modifications introduced into the material of the workpiece have different lengths in a direction of propagation of the laser radiation so that, after completion of the second etching operation, an hourglass-shaped through hole is formed in the workpiece.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2022
From: KUMKAR, MALTE; KAISER, MYRIAM
To: TRUMPF LASER- UND SYSTEMTECHNIK GMBH
Reel/Frame 058987/0096 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 121 827.6 · Aug 13, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2020072754 · Aug 13, 2020
Related Publication 20220184744A1 · Jun 16, 2022
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