US 11,872,780 B2
Methods and tool for cutting an uncured composite material
Samuel James Knutson, Charleston, SC (US); and Raviendra Sidath Suriyaarachchi, Kirkland, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/805,060.
Prior Publication US 2023/0391026 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 70/54 (2006.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/545 (2013.01) [B25J 11/0055 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of cutting an uncured composite material, the method comprising:
positioning the uncured composite material onto a surface of a tool and over a groove in the surface, the groove having a groove filler and magnetic material within the groove;
positioning a cutter having a guide relative to the uncured composite material, the guide configured to detect the magnetic material; and
cutting the uncured composite material above the groove using the cutter as the cutter moves along a path defined by the groove, the cutter guided by the guide detecting the magnetic material in the groove.
 
19. A tool comprising:
a surface configured to support uncured composite material during cutting of the uncured composite material;
a number of grooves in the surface;
a groove filler within the number of grooves; and
magnetic material within the number of grooves.