DMG Mori LASERTEC 50 PowerDrill
Key Specifications
X Travel
Y Travel
Z Travel
Accuracy
Repeatability
b axis tilt
Overview
The DMG Mori LASERTEC 50 PowerDrill is a 5-axis laser drilling system designed for high-precision hole making in aerospace turbine components. Where conventional EDM drilling tops out at a few holes per minute, the LASERTEC 50 PowerDrill fires thousands of laser pulses per second to drill cooling holes in turbine blades, vanes, and combustion liners at rates that make EDM look like a hand drill.
The machine runs on a 5-axis platform with X/Y/Z travels of 500 x 350 x 250 mm (19.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 in), plus a B-axis tilt of +/-100 degrees and 360-degree continuous C-axis rotation. This gives the laser access to compound-angle holes on complex airfoil geometries without refixturing. Positioning accuracy is 5 micrometers with repeatability of 3 micrometers.
The fiber laser source delivers up to 2 kW of average power with peak powers reaching 20 kW in pulsed mode. Pulse durations range from microseconds to milliseconds depending on the drilling strategy -- percussion drilling for simple through-holes, trepanning for shaped holes, and on-the-fly drilling for high-throughput production. The system handles hole diameters from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm (0.012 to 0.118 in) with depth-to-diameter ratios up to 20:1.
Material capability covers the full range of aerospace superalloys: Inconel 718, Inconel 625, Hastelloy X, CMSX single-crystal alloys, and thermal barrier coated (TBC) components. The laser drills through ceramic TBC layers and metallic substrates in a single operation without delamination, which is a significant advantage over EDM.
The CELOS control with DMG Mori proprietary drilling cycles simplifies programming of hole patterns, angles, and sequences. An integrated vision system inspects hole quality in-process. Pricing for the LASERTEC 50 PowerDrill typically falls in the 00,000 to 00,000 range depending on laser source and automation options.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| X-Axis Travel | 500 mm (19.7 in) |
| Y-Axis Travel | 350 mm (13.8 in) |
| Z-Axis Travel | 250 mm (9.8 in) |
| B Axis Tilt | +/-100 degrees |
| C Axis Rotation | 360 degrees continuous |
| Laser Type | Fiber laser |
| Laser Power | 2 kW average / 20 kW peak |
| Pulse Duration | Microseconds to milliseconds |
| Hole Diameter Range | 0.3 - 3.0 mm (0.012 - 0.118 in) |
| Depth To Diameter Ratio | Up to 20:1 |
| Positioning Accuracy | 5 micrometers |
| Repeatability | 3 micrometers |
| Max Workpiece Weight | 200 kg (441 lb) |
| CNC Control | CELOS with drilling cycles |
| 540 Mm | 21.3 in. |
| 500 Mm | 19.7 in. |
| 700 Mm | 27.6 in. |
| Laser Drilling With Lasertec Powerdrill Series By Dmg Mori | LASERTEC 50 PowerDrill Combustor |
| Clearance | Max. X-axis travel540 mm21.3 in.Max. Y-axis travel500 mm19.7 in.Max. Z-axis travel700 mm27.6 in. |
Specifications sourced from us.dmgmori.com — verified 2026-03-28
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Drills cooling holes in superalloys at rates far exceeding EDM, cutting cycle times on turbine components dramatically
- 5-axis access enables compound-angle holes on complex airfoil geometries without refixturing
- Drills through thermal barrier coatings and metallic substrates in one operation without delamination
- Hole diameters from 0.3 to 3.0 mm with depth-to-diameter ratios up to 20:1 cover most turbine cooling hole specs
- Integrated vision system provides in-process hole quality inspection
- No electrode wear or consumable electrodes -- the laser source has a long service life compared to EDM tooling
- CELOS control with proprietary drilling cycles simplifies programming of complex hole patterns
Limitations
- Highly specialized for aerospace drilling -- limited general-purpose application outside turbine components
- Starting at 00K, this is a significant investment that requires consistent aerospace production volume
- Heat-affected zones from laser drilling require careful parameter development for each alloy and coating combination
- Recast layer thickness must be managed through parameter optimization and may require post-processing
- Limited to hole-making -- cannot perform the broader range of cutting and texturing that other LASERTEC models offer
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Typically 00,000 to 00,000 depending on laser source configuration, automation level, and inspection options. Aerospace OEMs often negotiate volume pricing.
02
Laser drilling is 10-100x faster than EDM for cooling holes under 1 mm diameter. EDM produces cleaner holes with no recast layer but is much slower. Most production lines use laser drilling for through-holes and EDM for shaped or critical-tolerance holes.
03
Yes, the laser drills through ceramic TBC layers and the underlying superalloy substrate in a single operation without delamination, which is a major advantage over EDM methods.
04
Typical recast layers are 10-50 micrometers depending on material and parameters. Advanced pulse shaping and trepanning strategies minimize recast. Some aerospace specs allow up to 25 micrometers of recast on non-critical cooling holes.
Videos
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Community Discussions
Community discussion — DMG Mori DMU 50 : r/Machinists - Reddit
Options and configuration advice — 5 axis machine selection : r/Machinists - Reddit
Troubleshooting and problem-solving — Opinions on ROMI lathes : r/Machinists - Reddit
Troubleshooting and problem-solving — The truth : r/Machinists - RedditI don't know who needs to hear this, but stop putting touch ...What does everyone see as the most trusted CNC ... - RedditWhat does everyone see as the most trustedCNCmachine brand ... -R…What does everyone see as the most truste
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