Three-dimensional laser machining of composite materials

This paper presents a concept for performing three-dimensional laser machining on composite materials, using two intersecting laser beams to create grooves on a workpiece. A volume of material is removed when the two grooves converge. An analysis of the grooving process was conducted for carbon/teflon and glass/polyester materials. A model was developed to determine groove depth from process parameters and material properties. Close agreement was found between model predictions and experimental results for groove depths in carbon/teflon. Model predictions consistently overestimated depth values for continuous-beam glass/polyester results, and underestimated depth values for pulsed-beam glass/polyester at low power/high speed. Corrections for heat losses and hightemperature chemical interactions were added to the model to improve agreement with data. Groove width and damage width results were compared with surface quality standards for laser cutting of composites.