In this manuscript, a laser ablation-assisted step milling (LAAM(S)) process was proposed, building upon the foundation of laser-ablation assisted overall milling (LAAM(O)). The model of the oxidation mechanism of SiCf/SiC composites was developed to explain the evolution of material properties with laser assistance. The results of the oxidation revealed that the material undergoes melting and evaporation, forming an ablation layer, and the thickness of the ablation layer is positively correlated with laser power. In comparison to CM and LAAM(O), LAAM(S) demonstrates notable reductions in milling forces and temperatures, with corresponding decreases in tool wear of 55 μm and 30 μm respectively. These improvements are attributed to the porous and loosely adherent ablation layer, facilitating easier removal,demonstrating the effectiveness of the developed machining method. Unlike CM and LAAM(O), LAAM(S) prevents tool edge chipping and reduces surface damages such as fiber fracture and matrix fragmentation. The machining efficiency was quantitatively evaluated. The processing time reduced by 13.65 % in LAAM(S) compared to LAAM(O) when the milling distance reached 500 mm. This indicates that LAAM(S) offers superior efficiency in long-distance processing. Therefore, LAAM(S) proves to be a feasible and effective method for improving the machinability and efficiency of SiCf/SiC composites.