2. Select each nesting strategy that should be attempted during optimization.
3. Click OK to accept the selection.
Use straight crop utilization on last nest
During optimization (or any kind of automatic nesting), the last nest is usually different from all previously generated nests. By the time the last nest is generated, the part list has been almost completely depleted and the remaining parts cannot fill an entire nest. When optimization calculates the best nest it uses the nest's utilization as a major determining factor. The last nest - which is usually only partially filled - will have a poor utilization.
If Use straight crop utilization on last nest is selected, the utilization of the last nest will not be calculated with respect to the full plate size. Instead, an imaginary straight crop line will be used and the utilization will be calculate with respect to the used portion of the nest - up to the crop line. Calculating the utilization in this way will allow optimization to select the "tightest" nest from the available candidates for the last nest.
Must nest all priority 1 parts on first nest
If this setting is selected, all parts with a priority of 1 will be nested on the first nest. If all of the priority-1 parts don't fit on the first nest, a message will appear indicating there is no optimize solution.
Must nest all parts
If this setting is selected, all optimization results will be discarded unless all parts can be nested.
Use filler parts when calculating utilization
Select this setting if you wish filler parts to be included in utilization calculations. Otherwise, these parts are ignored when computing a nest's utilization.
Include production costs
Select this setting if production costs (such as the cost of consumables) should be included when determining the best trial.
Material Costs
Include material costs
Select this setting if the cost of the material used (for the nested parts) should be included when determining the best trial.
The following settings provide a way to assign importance to trials nested on remnants vs. those nested on full plates. The smaller the percentage multiplier, the smaller the effective material cost will be.
These settings are only active if Include material costs is selected:
Full Plates: Use a cost factor of <value>%
When the cost of a particular full plate is calculated, it is multiplied by this cost factor.
To edit the cost factor:
1. Click on the current value - its a hyperlink.
2. Enter a cost factor in the box.
3. Click OK.
Cost factors for remnants
Remnants can have three different cost factors. These cost factors can be used to adjust the material cost in favor of using remnants. Furthermore, older remnants can be made to appear "cheaper" to use than younger remnants.
The first value defines the base cost factor for remnants:
Remnants: Use a cost factor of <cost factor>%.
All remnants will use this first cost factor unless they qualify for one of the other two cost factors. These other cost factors are used for remnants of at lease a certain age:
If older than <age period> days, use a cost factor of <age factor>%.
To edit any of these values:
1. Click on the current value - its a hyperlink.
2. Enter a new value in the box.
3. Click OK.
Cut Sequence
Cut Sequence Settings
Type
This defines the method used to create a nest's cut sequence. Within the rules for each type, the cut sequence will always start closest to the cut sequence init point. It will then gradually move away from the init point.
Choices: Vertical, Horizontal, By Number of Torches, By Torch Spacing, By Sequence, By Heat Dissipation, One-Way Vertical, Head Dissipation By Number of Torches
Vertical
First, the nest is divided into vertical bands (see Cut Sequence Settings: Range). The vertical cut sequence type will create a meandering pattern as it cuts up one vertical band and down the next.
Horizontal
First, the nest is divided into horizontal bands (see Cut Sequence Settings: Range). The horizontal cut sequence type will create a meandering pattern as it cuts across one horizontal band and back the next.
By Number of Torches
This is a variation of the Vertical cut sequence type. Parts are added to the cut sequence in groups - based on their number of torches. First, all parts with the highest number of torches are added to the cut sequence - based on the Vertical cut sequence type. Then, all parts with the next highest number of torches are added. This process continues until all parts with one torch are added to the cut sequence.
By Torch Spacing
This is a variation of the Vertical cut sequence type. Parts are added to the cut sequence in groups - based on their torch spacing. First, all parts with the largest torch spacing are added to the cut sequence - based on the Vertical cut sequence type. Then, all parts with the next largest torch spacing are added. This process continues until all parts with one torch are added to the cut sequence.
By Sequence
Parts are added to the cut sequence in the same order as they were nested.
By Heat Dissipation
Creating a cut sequence by heat dissipation will distribute the heat input across the nest to avoid overheating. This usually results in a randomized cut sequence. Selecting this type will activate the Heat Dissipation settings.
One-Way Vertical
This is a variation of the Vertical cut sequence type. Instead of alternating the direction by cutting up one vertical band and down the next, One-Way Vertical will only cut upwards through each vertical band.
Heat Dissipation By Number of Torches
This is a variation of the By Heat Dissipation cut sequence type. When multiple torches are used on a nest, normal heat dissipation can cause an unacceptable number of torch changes (number and/or spacing). Heat Dissipation By Number of Torches will perform the normal heat
dissipation on all parts on the nest that use a particular number of torches and spacing. When all those parts are cut, heat dissipation will be used on the next set of parts sharing the same torch information, and so on...
Selecting this type will activate the Heat Dissipation settings.
Init point
The cut sequence init point defines the plate corner where the cut sequence will start. Usually, this will be the same as Init point - found on the "Nesting" settings page.
Choices: Lower Left, Upper Left, Lower Right, Upper Right
Sort point
All cut sequence types will create a cut sequence that starts cutting parts closest to the init point and finishes with parts farthest from the init point. To think of this another way, parts are sorted by distance from the cut sequence init point. For sorting purposes, the distance is measured from the init point to a point on the part - the sort point. The sort point can be either the start (pierce) point or the geometric center of the part.
Choices: Start Point, Center Point
Zones
When creating the cut sequence, the nest is divided into bands of equal size. The number of bands is defined by Zones. The direction of the bands depends on the cut sequence Type. Most cut sequence types will cut all parts within a zone band before moving on to the next one.
Range: 1 to 99
Recommended Value: 20
Heat Dissipation
Creating a cut sequence based on heat dissipation is very different from the other cut sequence types.
Before the first part is added to the cut sequence, a grid is generated on the nest. This grid is used to determine which part should be cut next. Each cell in the grid has a heat value. As parts are cut, the corresponding cell's heat value will increase. To create a cut sequence, ProNest will randomly cut from the coolest cells in the grid (those with the lowest heat value).
X grid spacing
Specifies the heat dissipation grid size along the length of the plate (ProNest's x-axis).
Units: Distance
Range: 0.0 to 10,000.0 in.
Recommended Value: 20.0 in.
Y grid spacing
Specifies the heat dissipation grid size along the width of the plate (ProNest's y-axis).
Units: Distance
Range: 0.0 to 10,000.0 in.
Recommended Value: 20.0 in.
Minimum distance
Whenever possible, the next part added to the cut sequence will be at least this distance away from the current part.
Units: Distance
Range: 0.0 to 10,000.0 in.
Recommended Value: 0.0 in.
Note: Heat Dissipation settings are usually inactive. To activate them, you must set Type to one of the heat dissipation choices.