Abstract: An apparatus for drilling cooling holes through a wall of a hollow component is disclosed. First, a laser drill is used for drilling at least one rough blind hole within a component wall, for example a turbine airfoil, so as to retain a residual bottom plate portion. Next, an electro discharge machine (EDM), for example a rotating EDM or plunge EDM, is used for finishing at least one rough blind hole so as to create at least one finished hole and breaking through the bottom plate portion.

Abstract: A drill according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a shank from which the drill is driven; a body connected to the shank, the body having a surface; a flute in the body; a cutting edge at a drill point; and a peripheral relief surface which extends outwardly from the surface of the body to an outer circumference of the drill, wherein the peripheral relief surface, for a cross section of the drill perpendicular to a drill axis, intersects the outer circumference at a peripheral point at an edge of the flute. The drill has an improved capacity to withstand a loss of coolant during drilling without severe overheating of the drill or workpiece and with little damage to the drill and workpiece.