Method and apparatus for improving laser hole resolution

Apparatus for high resolution, high speed laser drilling of an advancing product, comprising:

• means for advancing the product in a predetermined product advancement path at a product advancement speed;
• a laser-generating source providing a pulsed laser beam having a laser-on time and a laser-off time;
• means for reflecting the laser beam to direct a focal point of the laser beam onto the advancing product;
• means for moving the focal point of the laser beam in a direction of the product advancement path during the laser-on time and for moving the focal point of the laser beam in a direction opposite to the direction of the product advancement path during the laser-off time.

Apparatus for high resolution, high speed laser drilling of an advancing product, comprising:

• means for advancing the product in a predetermined product advancement path at a product advancement speed;
• a laser-generating source providing a pulsed laser beam having a laser-on time and a laser-off time;
• and
• a rotatable reflecting polygon scanner for directing a focal point of the laser beam onto the advancing product, the rotating reflecting polygon scanner being operable to move the focal point of the laser beam in a direction of the product advancement path at a speed no greater than the product advancement speed during the laser-on time and to move the focal point of the laser beam in a direction opposite to the direction of the product advancement path during the laser-off time.