A Novel Controls Approach to 5-axis Laser Micromachining
Five-axis scan heads offer fast and flexible solutions for generating precise holes, contoured slots and other geometries with fully defined cross sections. With a suitable system, it is possible to control the entire micro-machining process – the laser, scan head and workpiece positioning – to produce macro-sized components to sub-micrometer dimensional tolerances.

This paper outlines the working principles of one such 5-axis laser precession scan head, Aerotech’s AGV5D, combined in a system with precision linear motion axes and controls. It explains the system’s working principles, including the powerful G-code based programming approach that enables standard CAM software and built-in motion functions to perform complex hole drilling and milling operations at a micrometer scale.