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Use cases/Use case/Deep 3D ablation in hard metal
Use case · 3D Gaussian

Stable deep ablation in hard metal: no focus tracking required.

In deep 3D ablation, the cavity floor sinks out of focus layer by layer. And with a standard Gaussian the ablation rate and wall angle drift as it goes. An elongated focus stabilises the process. It holds a usable spot across the whole depth, so removal rate and wall angle stay constant. The process runs open-loop, with no focus tracking. Demonstrated in hard metal, together with an industry partner.

Product: 3D Gaussian Application: Deep 3D ablation Material: Hard metal Partner: Industry partner
Challenge
  • Deep 3D ablation in hard metal: layer-wise, cavity depth grows well beyond the focus
  • Strong depth dependency: as the floor sinks out of focus, the ablation rate changes
  • Focus tracking normally required to hold the rate, and the wall angle still breaks down
Result
  • 7× more stable process — ablation depth held to ±2% vs. ±15% for a standard Gaussian
  • Constant wall angle across depth, instead of a wall that breaks down
  • No focus tracking — the elongated focus (DOF 0.7 → 1.5 mm) decouples quality from focus position
  • Drop-in retrofit in <30 min — a mirror swap, no head redesign
Decoupling process quality from focus position turns a closed-loop, focus-tracked step into a simple open-loop process: more stable, and far easier to run.
Setup & conditions: deep 3D ablation of 1 mm cavities in hard metal with an industry partner; ablation-depth spread ±2% (Focal Shaper) vs. ±15% (Gaussian), DOF 1.5 mm vs. 0.7 mm.
Just Gaussian vs. with Focal Shaper: a small focus window and ±15% depth variation become a large stable region at ±2%Side-by-side comparison of deep ablation with a standard Gaussian and with the Focal Shaper: the Gaussian shows a small 0.7 mm focus window and ±15% ablation-depth variation, while the Focal Shaper holds a large 1.5 mm stable region and ±2% variation with a constant wall angle
3D Gaussian vs. standard Gaussian

The numbers on deep ablation

7× more stable

Ablation depth held to ±2% vs. ±15% for a standard Gaussian: a far more repeatable layer-wise removal.

2× the depth of focus

Usable DOF reaches 1.5 mm vs. 0.7 mm, with a constant wall angle instead of one that breaks down with depth.

No focus tracking

Quality is decoupled from focus position, so the step runs open-loop, and it retrofits as a drop-in in <30 min.

Measured with an industry partner on 1 mm deep cavities in hard metal. Values are configuration-specific and confirmed per setup.

Related

Product & further use cases

3D Gaussian

Focus-elongated Gaussian, up to 5× the depth of focus.

View product →

3D Top-Hat

Homogenized flat-top that holds through depth.

View product →

Semiconductor processing

Stable flat-top across a 4–6 mm focus range.

Read use case →

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