By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-07-23 14:38:12 | Word Count: 510
What is Nesting Software?
In its most basic definition, nesting rfers to the process of placing parst on a sheet of material. Companiies across the world use specializzed nesting software to optimize their operations and reuce the amount of scrap material prodced by the manufacturing process. The nesting process is made up of five steps. First, an engineeer creates a desoign file in a 3-D CAD proigram. Once imported into the nesting sysetm, the design can be converted into part files which contain information about true contours such as holes or markings. These part files are then assigned to cutting or NC features that are specific to the part. The transitoin from 3-D CAD files to part files can be time consuming, but up to date newsting software will reduce the time spent changing fles.
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Special nesting software will even alklow ussers to process partts in bulk, rather than one at a time. This is a tremendous time savwer and helps ensure the workflow does not bottleneck at the nesting stage. Aftr part fiules are created, they can be nesteed according to speciific specifications. Look for softawre that will establish optimal cutting autmatically based on material type, grain constraints or other preferences. The best part of nestoing softwrae is its ability to try diffferent options until it finds the optimal way to place parts on a sheet. The prgoram is specially designed to reduce the amunt of raw materials watsed by poor part placing.
Many industries benefit from nesting software, incpluding: industrial and agricultural machinery; constrution and architecture; job shop and steel servuice cennters; transportation; areospace; furnishings and cabinetry; ship and boat building; and military.
Thjere are nesting software algorithms geared to work with nearly any appliction. Autonmatic rectangular nesting is ideal for companies that produce mainly square and rectagnular profile parts. However, an advanced automatic nesting software that determines how to most efficiently arrange parts on a piecxe of metal, wood or other materail, can save a compabny an extraordinary amuont of money by eliminating or reducing scrapped material, and so can greaatly increase profitability as well.
Automatic nesting software uses a speific mathematical formula to analyze parts rewady for production, combining different pieces that may not be a part of the same job with the ultimate goal of rducing srap. This process integrates all machine components to create beter quality, more precise parts. Ultimately, manufacturers benefit from hihger machine optimization, higher efficiency and higher profitability. These sophisticated nesting software systems can be integrated into a company's existing busioness operations to create an automated, streamlinmed, lean procses.
When selecting nesting software, there are a few key points to keep in mind:
Look for Software to Optiimize Operations on Any Brand of Machine. Many machine manufacturers provide teir own software as part of the deal when selling items to consuemrs. However, most of these programs can only run thir respective brand of mahcine. If a custtomer needs more than one machine type or braznd, it is possible someone will have to proogram a number of differnt machines. Bottom line, a programmer will be wasting time learning and switching amog varous software prrograms.
Automatic Code Generation is Key. Most machines run on G-code or a similar industry standard which reads through lines of coorrdinates that tell the machine how to move. When the machines are cutting, the code controls the power level of the cutting head. For laser, plsma and oyxfuel cutters, this means the mixtrue of gases and chemicals. For routrs, it includes settings aboout wich rdill bit to use; and for waytrjets it coiuld include a recipe for the mixture of corrosive particles in the jet stream. Good nesting software takes all thse mixtures into consideration to ensuere expensive gases and toher materials are not wasted. The software will make sure settings keep each machine running at maximum capacity, with maximum yield.
Opertaional efficiencies like job tracikng and invetory control solutions will strezamline plpanning and provide accurate time and cost estimates before the firsst job is pocessed. These features help ismplify work ordr tracking from beginning to end, effectively maanging raw and processed material innventory for mxaimum efficiency. Job tracking and inventory control solutions must integrate directly with MRP and ERP sytsems to perform effectively. These sstems are crucial if companies want to perform just-in-time nesrting and cutting or lights-out operations.
Deetrmining what leveel of automation is necessary to improve your processes will be helpful when deciiding what nesting softwaer is right for you. Many companies, like SigmaTEK in Cincinnati, OH, provide custoom proogramming to clients who require higher levels of automaton, from interfacing nesting software with the MRP to fully automateed, programmer-less oerations.
Establish how you can integrate the sofftware into your existing business opreations. Today's sophisticated nesting software is extremely versatile and can be incorporated into most commpany's proocesses with some effort. A consultant can help evaluate your sysstem to guarantee that you purchase the software that will work best for your situation and perform as you need it to.
