Process Date: July 2003

The rubber seal (from a car door) in the photo to the left was drilled using a 25W CO2 laser. Unlike the traditional method of using a drill bit, where contact can leave rough edges as the rubber distorts, the laser provides a smooth clean cut. The hole was trepanned using a 25W laser at a speed of 65" per minute with 10psi air assist gas, resulting in a cycle time of 0.36 seconds. A 50W laser can also be used, resulting in a speed of 125" per minute with a cycle time of 0.19 seconds per hole.

A rubber seal from a car door was drilled using a 25W Synrad sealed CO2 laser.