High power laser cutting of CFRP, and laser direct joining of CFRP to metal

Abstract

CFRP possesses an extremely high specific strength, and thus the development of cutting and joining technology of CFRP is expected for the increase in applications in various industrial fields. To obtain fine cut quality in CFRP, high-quality disk lasers are applied to various types and kinds of CFRP. It was understood that fine cut quality could be produced in some CFRP with a small focused laser beam at an extremely fast speed. Joints between Type 304 plate (of 3 mm thickness and 30 mm width) and CFRP sheet (of 2 mm thickness and 20 mm width) were produced with a disc laser. The joint possessed a high shear tensile load of about 4800 N, and the fracture occurred in the CFRP near the lap joint.