Abstract: An apparatus for creating a hole in solid sheet material (1) by laser beam irradiation is described comprising a source of laser radiation; a focusing apparatus (11) for impinging a beam of laser radiation from the source onto a surface of solid sheet material (1) in which holes are to be formed in use; and a holding device (7) for holding said solid sheet material (1); wherein the holding device (7) is structured to hold the sheet material (1) in use in an arcuate configuration. A method of creating a hole in solid sheet material making use of such an arcuate configuration is also described.

Abstract: A method of drilling holes through a solid material in such manner as to give holes in a first area a first profile and distribution and holes in a second area a second profile and distribution comprising the steps of: —defining a first area in which holes have a first profile and distribution; —defining a second area in which holes have a second profile and distribution at least one of which is different from that in the first area; —defining a transition zone in which holes have a profile and/or distribution as the case may be which undergo a continuous and gradual transition from that in the first area to that in the second area; —drilling holes in all of the first area, the transition zone and the second area via a continuous process.