Automatic Nesting - Intergraph Smart Production - 20 - Help - Hexagon

Intergraph Smart Production Cutting

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The software uses a set of parameters to generate the nesting when you click Nesting on the Ribbon toolbar. You can adjust the parameters in the Nesting menus. You can also create the path during automatic nesting.

You select the parts and the amount of each part type to nest from the Visual menu.

Start the automatic nesting by clicking Nesting in the Actions panel (see below).

Automatic Nesting Strategies

The automatic nesting work area contains parameters that enable you to create the nesting as needed. The Basic Parameters (see below) display in the automatic nesting frame.

Basic Parameters

Current Work area

Specifies that all plates opened to the current work area are automatically nested.

Results View (Buffered)

Nests activated parts on the Visual to as many plates necessary to nest all of the parts.

Nesting Type

Specifies the type of nesting performed when the cutting machine supports multiple plates on the cutting area, and multi-torch settings are available. Multi-torch settings can be regular or mirrored. See Multi-torch Options For Nesting for more information.

Strategy

Specifies which nesting strategy is applied. Select Advanced, Multi-torch, or Edge.

To nest to the current work area:

  1. Double-click a plate or a remnant on the Card Visual to move the plate or remnant to the work area.

  2. Select the order positions to nest on the Card Visual. Use CTRL and SHIFT to select multiple order positions. To select all order positions, click Select All button.

  3. Click Nesting to display the nesting options in the State Manager.

  4. Select Current Work Area.

  5. Select a Strategy.

  6. (Optional) Select Use Optimizer and type a suitable optimizer time limit (see below).

  7. Select Create Cut Path to create the cutting path at the same time as the nesting.

  8. Adjust any other parameters as necessary.

  9. Click OK on the State Manager to start the nesting.

    The software nests all order items if you did not select order items on the Card Visual.

Nesting to Results View (Buffered)

Nesting to Result View nests the parts in the selected order positions to as many plates or remnants as necessary to nest all the parts.

Preview images of the nestings display when the nesting completes. Select the nestings to open to new work areas Open nestings display in green in the Results view.

The software updates part quantities in order positions when you open the nestings. This enables you to create multiple nestings using different parameter values, and then select the most suitable ones.

To nest to results view:

  1. Click Nesting .

  2. Select the plates and remnants for automatic nesting on Visual. Use CTRL and SHIFT to select multiple items.

    Do not move plates or remnants to the work area.

  3. Select the order positions to nest on the Visual menu. You can enter a new value in the part quantity field (see below) if you do not want to nest all of the parts in the order position.

  4. Select Results View (Buffered).

  5. Set the material priority on the Nesting Buffer tab (for example, specify whether automatic nesting should use first remnants, stock sheets, or articles).

  6. Select a Strategy. Alternatively, select Use Optimizer and specify a suitable optimizer time limit.

  7. Adjust any other parameters as necessary.

  8. Click OK on the State Manager to start the nesting.

    The software nests parts automatically using the plates and remnants selected on the Visual menu. A preview of nesting images displays.

  9. Double-click preview images to open them to new work areas. Alternatively, click Select all , and then click Confirm to open all of the nestings to new work areas.

  10. Create a cutting path and an NC-program for each nesting.

Batch Nesting (Option)

Batch nesting is a customized version of the buffer nesting. Generally, this feature contains automatic buffer nesting with customer-specific additions. This feature is not included in the base system.

To access Batch nesting options, click Batch Nesting , and then select Results View (Buffered) on the left panel (see below).

Select the strategy, and then click Action to generate the buffer nesting.

Buffer nesting strategies

Currently there are two strategies available; single sheet and multiple sheet. Single sheet nests the parts to the plate(s) moved to the nesting work area. Multiple sheet uses as many plates that are needed to nest all the parts on the visual.

Single Sheet strategy options

Single sheet strategy nests the plate moved to the nesting work area. The Basic parameters contains the option that the strategy uses. You can change the strategy if necessary.

Remnant Generator

Contains options for automatic remnant generation.

None

Does not create a remnant.

Stepped Remnant

Creates a stepped remnant (see below).

Straight Cut

Creates a remnant with one straight border. The distance between the remnant and the closest part is the collision distance.

True Shape

Creates a remnant based on the outer contours of the parts.

Clean up value

Controls how small areas between parts are included in the remnant. Usually the value should be at least equal to the collision distance between parts. Otherwise many of the scrap areas between parts will be in the remnant.

Multiple Sheet strategy options:

Multiple Sheet strategy nests the parts to as many plates as necessary. If you use multiple plates on the same nesting (parallel plate or parallel mirrored plate), you can renest parts if the plate use of the last nesting is too low.

The Basic parameters menu contains the nesting options that the strategy uses. You can change these options if necessary.

Technology menu

You can change technology options using the Technology. The default settings are the same as on the work area.

Material Priorities menu

Enables you to select which materials the buffer nesting uses first. Use the arrow buttons to change the priority of a material. Clear the check box for any material you do not want included.

Renest To Single Plate menu

The multiple sheet strategy renests parts to a single plate if the plate usage of the last nesting is too low (when the nesting type is parallel or parallel mirrored). Renesting is based on these parameters.

Min. Nested Sheet Length

Renests parts to a single plate if the plate length usage is lower than the given value.

Min Nested Sheet Height

Renests parts will be renested to single plate if the plate height usage is lower than the given value.

Generate Cut Path

Creates the cutting path automatically.

Single Sheet Example

  1. Double-click a plate to open it to the work area.

  2. Click Nesting .

  3. Select order positions to nest on the visual. Click Select All to nest all positions.

  4. Click Buffer Nesting on the left panel.

  5. Select Single Sheet as the strategy.

  6. Modify other options on the left panel if necessary.

  7. Click Run to generate the nesting.

Multiple Sheet Example

  1. Click Nesting .

  2. Select order positions to nest on the visual. Click Select All to nest all positions.

  3. Select articles, remnants, and material reservations on the visual.

  4. Click Buffer Nesting on the left panel.

  5. Select Multiple Sheet as the strategy.

  6. Select the Material Priorities. Use the arrow buttons to change the priority.

  7. Select the Nesting Type.

  8. Modify any other options as necessary.

  9. Click Run to generate the nesting.

    The software opens the Nesting to different work areas.

  10. Generate the cutting path and the NC-program for each nesting.

    SHARED Tip Click a tab to change to another work area.