The composition of carbon fiber composites, especially the high thermal conductivity of carbon fibers, makes it difficult for conventional techniques to process them. Mechanical milling and drilling can cause thermal damage, debris, delamination and tool wear. The good news is that these injuries can be avoided by using laser processing correctly.

UK JK Laser and Liverpool John Moore University research shows that the laser can effectively cut, milling carbon fiber composite materials, without compromising the integrity of the material.
In the test, a 200W fiber laser (JK200FL) and a scanning head were used for punching and milling. JK200FL is also used for cutting and drilling tests, the use of conventional process scanning head.
Compared to mechanical cutting and milling, the small spot of the JK200FL produces a cleaner edge, resulting in minimal thermal damage. For a 1 mm or larger composite of auger, the quality of the cutting is high, with only minor burns and only on the top of the fiber.
The benefits of using the laser are also: This is a non-contact material removal process, which means that the tool wear is significantly reduced.