Comparative Assessment of Continuous and Pulsed Fiber-Laser Cutting of CFRP Laminates

An experimental comparison of continuous-wave and pulsed fiber-laser cutting of a 1 mm carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate is presented. A total of 96 cutting conditions were produced by varying laser power, scanning speed, and the number of passes in both operating modes. Cut performance was quantified by the kerf width together with the thermally affected regions measured on the upper and lower surfaces (HAZ and HAZ_S). Statistical evaluation showed that beam power primarily controls kerf formation, whereas scanning speed has the strongest effect on the extent of thermal damage. Additional passes can facilitate material separation, but some multi-pass pulsed conditions caused local burning because of accumulated heat. The continuous-wave regime generally generated a smaller kerf, while pulsed operation limited the thermally affected region more effectively. The findings describe the process trade-off between dimensional accuracy, penetration capability, and thermal integrity and can be used when selecting parameters for fiber-laser machining of CFRP.