This paper deals with the machining of alumina ceramics by employing high intense laser source as pre-heating tool and machined at different cutting conditions to study the feasibility of laser-assisted machining (LAM) process. To understand the thermal response of the ceramics to laser heating, extensive heating studies were carried out to select the laser and machining parameters for LAM. The preliminary studies show that the work surface temperature mainly influenced by the laser power and scan speed. Based on the temperature results obtained from the heating studies the experimental conditions for LAM were selected. The LAM results were compared with conventional machining and presented in terms of cutting force, specific cutting energy and tool wear. It was observed that the increase in surface temperature above 850 °Cresulted in reductionof cutting forcesand tool wear.