Methods for stripping and modifying surfaces with laser-induced ablation

A method of removing a coating from a surface, the method comprising:

• a. provide a laser light to a scanning head;
• b. moving the scanning head in a first direction substantially parallel to the surface at a constant speed thereby applying a first scanning pattern component to the laser light;
• c. configuring a first single-axis laser scanner within the scanning head to align the laser light along the second direction thereby applying a second scanning pattern component to the laser light;
• d. configuring a second single-axis laser scanner within the scanning head to align the laser light along a second direction thereby applying a third scanning pattern component, wherein the second scanning pattern component is equal and opposite in magnitude to the first scanning pattern component during sequential periods of time;
• and
• e. directing the laser light onto the surface according to a uniform scanning pattern, wherein the uniform scanning pattern if formed according to the first scanning pattern component, the second scanning pattern component, and the third scanning pattern component.

A method of removing a coating from a composite surface, the method comprising:

• a. providing an ultraviolet laser pulse;
• b. directing the ultraviolet laser pulse to the position on the composite surface;
• and
• c. ablating a portion of the composite surface at the position as plasma.