Composite material cutting system and method utilizing a weight distribution map

A system for cutting pieces of composite material from a supply of composite material, the system comprising:

• a source of electromagnetic signals configured to impinge upon the supply of composite material;
• a detector configured to capture the electromagnetic signals following propagation through the supply of composite material during which at least some of the electromagnetic signals are absorbed by the composite material in a manner proportional to the density of the composite material;
• and
• a computing system configured to generate a weight distribution map of the supply of composite material based upon the electromagnetic signals captured following propagation through the supply of composite material such that a weight of each of a plurality of pieces of composite material cut from the supply of composite material and combined into a composite part is determinable.

A system for cutting pieces of composite material from a supply of composite material, the system comprising:

• a conveyor configured to advance the supply of composite material;
• a source of x-ray signals configured to impinge upon the supply of composite material as the supply is advanced by the conveyor;
• a detector configured to capture the x-ray signals following propagation through the supply of composite material during which at least some of the x-ray signals are absorbed by the composite material in a manner proportional to the density of the composite material;
• a computing system configured to generate a weight distribution map of the supply of composite material based upon the x-ray signals captured by the detector;
• and
• a cutter configured to cut pieces of composite material from the supply of composite material for subsequent combination into a composite part having a weight that satisfies a predefined weight requirement.