Manufacture of cooling holes for ceramic matrix composite components

A laser system for machining an opening into a component, the laser system defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction each perpendicular to one another, the component defining a first section and a second section, the laser system comprising:

• a laser source configured to machine the opening with a conically-shaped laser beam;
• an adjustable lens configured to focus the laser beam;
• an actuation assembly for orienting the component;
• a controller communicatively coupled with the laser source, the adjustable lens, and the actuation assembly, the controller configured to:
• control the actuating assembly to orient the component in a first position, wherein when the component is oriented in the first position, the component has a first pitch angle indicative of a pitch of the component about at least one of the lateral and transverse directions with respect to a reference plane defined by the lateral and transverse directions;
• control the laser source and the adjustable lens to laser the first section of the component while the component is oriented in the first position;
• control the actuating assembly to orient the component in a second position, wherein when the component is oriented in the second position, the component has a second pitch angle indicative of a pitch of the component about at least one of the lateral and transverse directions with respect to a reference plane defined by the lateral and transverse directions;
• and
• control the laser source and the adjustable lens to laser the second section of the component while the component is oriented in the second position.

A method for laser machining an opening into a component using a conically-shaped laser beam, the opening defining a first section and a second section opposite the first section, the method comprising:

• orienting the component in a first position, wherein when the component is oriented in the first position, the component has a first pitch angle indicative of a pitch of the component about at least one of the lateral and transverse directions with respect to a reference plane defined by the lateral and transverse directions;
• lasering at least a portion of the first section of the opening while the component is oriented in the first position;
• orienting the component in a second position, wherein when the component is oriented in the second position, the component has a second pitch angle indicative of a pitch of the component about at least one of the lateral and transverse directions with respect to the reference plane defined by the lateral and transverse directions;
• and
• lasering at least a portion of the second section of the opening while the component is oriented in the second position.