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Laser ablation is a vital material removal technique, but current methods lack a data-driven approach to assess quality. This study proposes a novel method, employing information entropy, a concept from data science, to evaluate laser ablation quality. By analyzing the randomness associated with the ablation process through the distribution of a probability value (reb), we quantify the uncertainty (entropy) of the ablation. Our research reveals that higher energy levels lead to lower entropy, signifying a more controlled and predictable ablation process. Furthermore, using an interval time closer to the baseline value improves the ablation consistency. Additionally, the analysis suggests that the energy level has a stronger correlation with entropy than the baseline interval time (bit). The entropy decreased by 6.32 from 12.94 at 0.258 mJ to 6.62 at 0.378 mJ, while the change due to the bit was only 2.12 (from 10.84 at bit/2 to 8.72 at bit). This indicates that energy is a more dominant factor for predicting ablation quality. Overall, this work demonstrates the feasibility of information entropy analysis for evaluating laser ablation, paving the way for optimizing laser parameters and achieving a more precise material removal process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to coatings, microstructures can increase abrasion-resisting quality of sheet bulk metal forming tools by influencing friction conditions. The use of ultrashort pulsed lasers offers a possibility for manufacturing flexible microstructures with very high precision. Thus the processing with picosecond laser allows the generation of structures with dimensions down to the range of single microns. Because of the characteristic ablation process temperature sensitive materials can be structured without any heat transfer into the material. Applying appropriate processing parameters avoids complex post-finishing processes because of the achieved good structure qualities without any melt and any material throw-up. For implemention of a fast structuring process with high ablation rates it is shown, that only fluences near the ablation threshold allow a processing result of high quality and with the maximum ablation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]