Laser drill

A laser drill was an excavation tool used in terraforming and mining. Large versions incorporated an operating console and a laser, usually positioned behind.

During a terraforming operation on Velara III in 2364, the laser drill killed the hydraulics engineer, Arthur Malencon, and almost destroyed Lieutenant Commander Data when he was investigating Arthur's murder. It was found that the drill was being controlled by the microbrains. 

Neelix brought a portable laser drill with him on a mission to mine gallicite on the Sakari planet in 2373.