Mechanism and method for predetermined angular cutting of a plurality of ply strips

An arrangement for cutting plural flat ply strips at a predetermined angle during composite aircraft fabrication, said arrangement comprising:

• a first housing adapted for receiving the flat ply strips and maintaining the ply strips in a side-by-side, aligned planar array;
• a second housing including plural substantially straight edge cutting assemblies arranged in a spaced manner, wherein the spacing between adjacent cutting assemblies is the same as the spacing between adjacent ply strips permitting each cutting assembly to be aligned with an associated ply strip, and wherein each cutting assembly is adapted for rotational displacement in said second housing about an axis;
• a first rotational drive coupled to each of said cutting assemblies for positioning each cutting assembly at a selected angle relative to the ply strip with which the cutting assembly is aligned;
• and
• a second linear drive coupled to each of said cutting assemblies for displacing each cutting assembly into engagement with and cutting its associated ply strip at said selected angle in a timed sequence to form plural, linearly aligned, cut, end portions in the ply strips.

An apparatus for angular cutting of a plurality of parallel, spaced ply strips, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of cutting assemblies;
• a first displacement mechanism for rotating said cutting assemblies so that each cutting assembly is oriented at a common predetermined angle;
• and
• a second displacement mechanism for linearly displacing said cutting assemblies into contact with and to sever, in a timed sequence, respective ply strips with which each cutting assembly is aligned to form plural, linearly aligned, cut end portions in the ply strips.