2D/3D laser cutting of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) by fiber laser irradiation

We report on the laser cutting of carbon fiber reinforced thermo-plastic (CFRTP) and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) with a cw IR fiber laser (average power: 2 kW). CFRTP and CFRP are a composite material which contains carbon fibers and binding plastics. A well-defined 2D laser cutting of CFRTP and CFRP flat plates which were free of debris around the groove was performed by the laser irradiation with a fast beam galvanometer scanning on a multiple-scan-pass method. The area of laser-induced damages in the samples was observed by microscopic X-ray Computed Tomography. Laser cutting with a high speed beam scanning exhibits a clean top and an excellent sidewall quality along with a negligible heat affected zone. In addition, the laser cutting of CFRP for a three-dimensional molded sample was performed with a five-axis laser cutting machine.