Experimental research on micro hole drilling of polycrystalline Nd:YAG

Polycrystalline Nd:YAG materials have wide applications in solid-state lasers. In this study, micro hole drilling experiments were performed on polycrystalline Nd:YAG using a polycrystalline diamond micro drill. The hole diameter, edge chipping, and hole wall surface quality were examined in detail. The results showed that the hole diameter was slightly larger than tool diameter. A diameter error of less than 5.5% was achieved. The edge chipping at the entry hole was formed by the encircled petal shape exfoliations, which were produced by the indentation and rotation movement in the drilling entry stage. Edge chipping at the exit hole was generated by an entire piece of exfoliation, which was produced by a circle of microcracks around the tool tip propagating to the bottom surface in the drilling exit stage. The edge chipping width at the entry hole was smaller than that at the exit hole. Based on different material removal modes, the hole surface morphology was classified into three types: ductile removal, coexisting ductile and brittle removal, and brittle removal. The hole surface quality mainly depended on the proportion of the brittle fracture to ductile removal surface.