Home/Technical Glossary/Laser Micromachining Laser Micromachining Laser micromachining is the generic term for a process used to make tiny features in parts, measured in micrometers or millimeters. Femtosecond lasers are superior tools for this kind of processing as the pulse duration is so short that material removal is from solid to vapor – referred to as “cold ablation” – providing the highest quality machining capabilities. Pulsed lasers also effectively complete this work by depositing very small, finite amounts of energy into a material, resulting in extremely precise and reproducible material removal. Suitable deposition of energy enables the laser to ablate, cut, drill, machine or scribe a material. Two common micromachining processes are laser drilling and laser micro milling. For more information, read our blogs Ultrafast Lasers Offer Great Promise as a Manufacturing Tool and Laser Micromachining with Pulsed Fiber Lasers