Some cutting machines cannot reach all areas of a plate without special processing. These cutting machines must divide the plate into smaller units in which to work inside. When one work zone has been processed, the machine moves to a different work zone and processes that until all areas of the nest have been processed.
Automatic nesting respects work zone boundaries during automatic nesting. Allowing work zones to overlap will usually yield a better nest than having non-overlapping work zones.
Work Zone Settings
Use work zones
Select this setting to activate work zones.
Layout
This setting defines the type of work zones that this machine supports.
Choices:Horizontal repositions, Vertical repositions, Reposition in both directions
Horizontal repositions (along x-axis)
Select this setting to use work zones that subdivide the length of the plate into multiple work zones.
Vertical repositions (along y-axis) [Not available]
Select this setting to use work zones that subdivide the width of the plate into multiple work zones.
Reposition in both directions [Not available]
Select this setting to use work zones that subdivide both the length and width of the plate into work zones.
Work zone length
Length (along the x-axis) of each work zone. This represents the size of the working area available to the controller at any given time.
Units: Distance
Range:0.1 to 10000.0 in.
Work zone width
Width (along the y-axis) of each work zone.
Units: Distance
Range:0.1 to 10000.0 in.
Note: This setting is intended to work with the Vertical reposition layout - which is not available.
Horizontal reposition distance
Represents the horizontal distance a machine needs to shift to move from one work zone to the next.
Units: Distance
Range:0.1 to 10000.0 in.
Examples:
• If this setting has the same value as Work zone length, then the work zones will not overlap.
• If this setting has a value less than Work zone length, the work zones will overlap.
• If this setting has a value greater than Work zone length, unreachable gaps will be created between consecutive work zones.
Represents the horizontal distance a machine needs to shift to move from one work zone to the next.
Units: Distance
Range:0.1 to 10000.0 in.
Examples:
• If this setting has the same value as Work zone length, then the work zones will not overlap.
• If this setting has a value less than Work zone length, the work zones will overlap.
• If this setting has a value greater than Work zone length, unreachable gaps will be created between consecutive work zones.
Vertical reposition distance
Represents the vertical distance a machine needs to shift to move from one work zone to the next.
Units: Distance
Range:0.1 to 10000.0 in.
Examples:
• If this setting has the same value as Work zone width, then the work zones will not overlap.
• If this setting has a value less than Work zone width, the work zones will overlap.
• If this setting has a value greater than Work zone width, unreachable gaps will be created between consecutive work zones.
Note: This setting is intended to work with the Vertical reposition layout - which is not available.
Maximum repositions
This setting limits the number of work zones for any given nest.
Range:0 to 10000
Tip: Set Maximum repositions to 0 to allow an unlimited number of repositions.
Allow forward and backward repositions
Select this setting if your cutting machine can reposition both forward and backwards along the same axis. Clear this setting if your machine can only reposition in one direction.
Effect of "Allow forward and backward repositions" on the active cut sequence rule:
When this setting is selected, the active cut sequence rule will be completed such that:
1. All tasks in Step 1 will be completed as the machine repositions from the first work zone to the last (repositioning in the "positive" direction).
2. Any tasks in Step 2 would then be completed as the machine repositions from the last work zone to the first (repositioning in the "negative" direction).
3. Any tasks in Step 3 would then be completed in the "positive" direction - like Step 1.
4. etc..
When this setting is cleared, each step in the active cut sequence rule will be completed such that:
1. All tasks in Step 1 will be completed as the machine repositions from the first work zone to the last (repositioning in the "positive" direction).
2. When all tasks in Step 1 is complete, the machine will reposition to the first work zone.
3. Any tasks in Step 2 would then be completed in the "positive" direction.
4. etc...
For more information about cut sequence steps and tasks, see "Cut Sequence Rules."
Nesting
General Settings
Nest resolution
This setting controls many aspects of nesting (positioning parts, conflict checking, ...) because it specifies how accurate you want ProNest to be. There is a trade-off between accuracy and speed. Smaller nest resolutions can result in tighter nests and better conflict checking but will cause most operations to run slower.
Units: Distance Range:0.01 to 1.0 in.
Recommended Value:0.1 in.
Init point
This setting represents the desired point of origin or home position. The location specified can be interpreted as coordinate (0, 0) and will be displayed in the nesting area with a plus symbol.
Choices:Lower Left, Upper Left, Upper Right, Lower Right
Ignore part lead-in/lead-out
If this is selected, ProNest will ignore leads when determining part separation. This allows ProNest to create a tighter nest but will most likely require movement of the leads to new locations where they avoid neighboring profiles.
Reverse cut direction on mirror
When a part is mirrored on the nest (either manually or by automatic nesting) one of two things can happen to the cut direction:
1. The cut direction can remain the same. This means that clockwise cuts will remain clockwise.
Clear this check box to maintain the same cut direction during mirror operations.
2. The cut direction will reverse. This means that clockwise cuts will change to counter-clockwise cuts. Kerf is adjusted accordingly. Select this check box to reverse the cut direction during mirror operations.
Interactive (Manual) Nesting
Parts can be manually nested in two different ways:
1. Parts can be dragged from the Part List toolbar onto the nest.
2. Using AutoDrop, parts in the Part List toolbar can be added to the nest in the same relative spot.
This type of manual nesting is most useful when used together with AutoBump.
To AutoDrop a part onto the nest:
• Double-click a part in the Part List toolbar
• Select a part in the Part List toolbar and press ENTER.
AutoDrop zone
Defines the area of the nest where AutoDrop will place parts.
Choices:Upper Left, Upper Right, Center, Lower Left, Lower Right
AutoBump is a manual nesting feature that is performed when a part is manually added to a nest. It happens after a part is dragged onto the nest from the Part List toolbar or after an AutoDrop. The AutoBump settings define up to two bump directions that are applied in order. The result is exactly the same as nesting a part manually and then using the bump handles to 'simulate' an AutoBump.
Use AutoBump
Select this check box to use AutoBump during manual nesting.
AutoBump direction #1
This is the first direction a part is bumped during AutoBump.
Choices:Up, Down, Left, Right, (None)
AutoBump direction #2
This is the second direction a part is bumped during AutoBump.
Choices:Up, Down, Left, Right, (None)
Example:
To manually nest parts along the bottom of the nest:
• In the AutoDrop zone box select Upper Right.
• Select the Use AutoBump check box.
• In the AutoBump direction #1 box, select Down.
• In the AutoBump direction #2 box, select Left.
The effect of these setting is that parts added manually to a nest will be bumped towards the lower-left corner. When a part is dragged onto the nest, the AutoBump settings will bump the part down and then left from the location where the part was dropped. After an AutoDrop (like when a part in the Part List toolbar is double-clicked) the part will first be placed in the AutoDrop zone. Then, the part will be bumped down and left.
Nudge distance
This setting defines the distance a part moves when it is nudged.
Units: Distance
Range:0.0 to 10,000.0 in.
Recommended Value:0.1 in.
To nudge a selected part:
• Hold the SHIFT key and click one of the bump handles ( ).
OR
• Hold the SHIFT key and press one of the arrow keys.
Increment angle
This setting defines the amount of rotation applied to a part selection when either the Increment Angle or Decrement Angle buttons are clicked.
Units: Degrees Range:0 to 360°
Recommended Value:180°
To rotate a part selection by the "Increment angle":
• Click Increment Angle . This will rotate the part counter-clockwise.
• Click Decrement Angle . This will rotate the part clockwise.
• Click the upper-left rotate handle . This will rotate the part counter-clockwise.
AutoNest
Pattern Array Settings
Default pattern array strategy
When ProNest is started, Pattern Array will use this strategy until a different strategy is selected. All strategies use several techniques to calculate an optimal pattern of the selected part or group (including spacing and orientation). Once the optimal pattern is calculated, ProNest arrays the parts using that pattern.
Choices: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced
The difference between these three choices is speed and utilization. The Basic strategy will be much faster than the Advanced strategy, but it will not attempt nearly as many part orientations. In many cases, the Advanced strategy will find a tighter pattern than the Basic strategy.
Advanced: Each of these strategies is defined by a group of settings. To edit these strategies, open the Pattern Array Strategies dialog by clicking on the Edit Strategies button in the "Pattern Array Settings"
section.
AutoNest Settings
Straight edge ratio
This is used in estimating the area needed on the last plate of a nest, which tries to create a straight edge of parts for cropping. The higher the estimated utilization, the higher the number. (i.e., Rectangles nest easily and neatly, therefore the straight edge factor would be higher than a nest of odd shaped parts.
Units: Percentage (%) Range: 50 to 100%
Recommended Value: 100%
Begin nesting on
When ProNest is first started, this value will be used when AutoNest is run. The AutoNest Setup dialog will use this value as its default for 'Begin nesting on'.
Choices: First Nest, Current Nest, New Nest
When AutoNest is run, ProNest can start in three places:
First Nest means that ProNest will try to fill on all existing nests (starting with Nest 1) before it creates new nests.
Current Nest means that ProNest will try to fill on all existing nest (starting with the current/visible) nest before it creates new nests.
New Nest means that ProNest will not fill on any existing nests before it starts to create new nests.
Strategy
When ProNest is first started, this value will be used when AutoNest is run. The AutoNest Setup dialog will use this value as its default for 'Strategy'.
Choices: The choices presented depend on your authorized options
Strategies available:
Rectangular
Rectangular nesting is a nesting strategy where ProNest places an imaginary rectangular border around each part. The parts are then nested in such a way that no part overlaps into the
rectangular border of another part.
To create a nest, ProNest simply nests the parts one at a time, in the order they appear in the Part List toolbar.
Note: This choice is available only if you have the Rectangular Nesting option.
Rectangular Optimization
Rectangular optimization uses the same rules as Block nesting for placing parts. The strategy, however, is more complicated and time consuming.
To create a nest, this strategy tries to determine which parts fit together best. Parts that fit together into efficient units (kits) are remembered and used several times. During this strategy, ProNest also looks ahead a few steps for each nested part - to determine if each placement is truly optimal.
Note: This choice is available only if you have the Optimized Rectangular Nesting option.
Strategy 1-10
Strategy 1-10 are all very similar. They are different from Block nesting in that they use the part's true shape when determining where to place it - instead of using the part's rectangular region. This means that parts can be nested closer together, interlocked with other parts, or be placed inside other parts.
Each of these strategies employs different rules when nesting parts. Some will try fewer part orientations and others will attempt some of the arraying algorithms (pattern array, CLC array). As a strategy tries more possibilities the time needed to create a nest increases.
Note: This choice is available only if you have the True Shape Nesting option.
Advanced: Each of these strategies (except Rectangular) is defined by a group of settings. To edit these strategies, open the AutoNest Strategies dialog by clicking on the Edit Strategies button in the "AutoNest Settings" section.
Cut each nest the maximum number of times
If this is checked, ProNest will generate a nest and then calculate how many times that nest can be cut with the parts that remain.
Moving Leads (AutoNest and Pattern Array)
Strategy
While parts are nested during automatic nesting or during pattern array, leads will be moved on each nested part to the location specified by this setting.
Choices: Upper Left, Upper Right, Lower Right, Lower Left, Top, Right, Bottom, Left
Note: This setting only applies to parts that have their Allow leads to move property selected.
Automatically move leads
If this is selected, ProNest will move each part’s leads to the relative location specified by the Moving Leads Strategy setting.
Note: This setting only applies to parts that have their Allow leads to move property selected.
Move interior leads
If this is checked, ProNest will move interior leads according to the same rules it uses for exterior leads.
Otherwise, interior leads are left alone.