Example 4: Nesting and Cutting Paths - Intergraph Smart Production - 20 - Help - Hexagon

Nesting prerequisites

• Sheet(s) to contain the nesting information

• Order positions to nest (order position includes the part geometry and additional information such as quantity of parts)

• Defined technology group and technology

Searching the sheet for nesting

Option 1: Create a new sheet

1. Click the Articles tab on the Database window.

2. Select an article from the list and click Open to Visual .

3. To add a new article to the list, do the following:

   1. Click Read Only .

   2. Scroll to the last row in the main list, and click Add to add a new row to the database.

   3. Enter the required information in the new row.

Option 2: Use a remnant

1. Click the Remnants tab on the Database window.

2. Select a new sheet or a remnant from the database, and then click Open to Visual .

Search order positions for nesting

1. Click the Orders tab on the Database window.

2. Select the order positions using the CTRL and SHIFT keys to select multiple order positions.

3. Click Open to Visual .

   The order positions open in the Nesting work area Visual.

   If you have not yet ordered the required parts, you can do so now.

4. To order parts, do the following:

   1. Click the Parts tab, and then click Order .

   2. Enter the required information, and then End Edit to confirm the order.

   3. Click Close to close the order form.

5. Select the order you just created in the Orders list, and then click Open to Visual .

Visuals

Orders and plates display on the card visual and in work area visuals. For more information, see Visual and Work Area Visual.

Prerequisites

• Select the technology group and technology using the lists in the upper-right corner of the Nesting work area (see Selecting Machine Technology).

• Each cutting machine in the machine database has default values that define the minimum distances between parts, and between parts and the sheet edges. You can check the default values using Distances. Changing the default values affects the nesting.

Nest rectangles

1. Click the Articles or Remnants tab on the card visual.

2. Double-click a sheet to move it to the origin.

3. Click the Orders tab and do the following:

   1. Click above the rectangular part on the visual.

   2. Drag the part to the sheet.

   3. Collide the part to the lower-left corner of the sheet.

      For more information about nesting methods, see Interactive Nesting.

4. Activate the nested part and click Multiply .

   The software places a copy that slightly overlaps the original part.

5. Drag the copy away from the original part, and then use the arrow keys to collide the copy above the original part.

6. Create a new copy of the copy you just created.

   The software displays the new copy above the old copy. Because the software remembers the original part location, it automatically inserts the copy in the correct location.

   You can move the copied part relative to the original part by changing the Duplicate X and Duplicate Y values in Default settings.

7. Drag the cursor over all three rectangles to activate them.

8. Click Multiply and nest the copy (the group of three rectangles) next to the original rectangles:

   1. Collide the copy to the lower edge of the sheet and then next to the original rectangles.

   2. Click Multiply while the copy is still active.

      The software displays the new copy next to the previous rectangle group.

Nest the semi-arcs

In the following example, the straight edge of the semi-arc faces downward on the visual.

1. Move the first semi-arc to the sheet, and then rotate the active semi-arc to the vertical position using Rotate , or by pressing the X and Z keyboard shortcuts.

   You can also change the rotation angle using Rotation angle in Default settings.

2. Collide the vertical semi-arc to the upper edge of the sheet.

3. Click Multiply , and then click Vertical Mirror (see Mirror).

   The software creates another vertical semi-arc.

4. Drag the new semi-arc to a free location on the sheet, and then collide it to the upper edge of the sheet next to the first semi-arc.

   The software places the arcs of the semi-arcs opposite to each other.

5. Drag the next semi-arc from the visual to the sheet, and then press SHIFT to collide it below the other semi-arcs.

6. Activate all three semi-arcs, and then collide them to the lower edge of the sheet next to the rectangles.

7. Drag the next semi-arc from the visual to the sheet, and do the following:

   1. Mirror the semi-arc using Horizontal mirror .

   2. Collide the mirrored semi-ark on top of the first two semi-arcs.

   3. Click Run Checks in the Solver.

      The software checks for overlaps. If any overlaps exist, you need to collide the active parts again.

   4. Activate all four semi-arcs, and then click Multiply .

   5. Drag the new group to a free location on the sheet. Collide the group to the lower edge of the sheet, and then collide it to the first group.

   6. Click Multiply .

   7. Click Run Checks in the Solver and resolve any overlaps by colliding the active parts again.

8. Save the nesting to the database.

Create the cutting path

If the recent nesting is no longer active in the Nesting work area, open it from the Nestings tab in the Database window.

1. If necessary, modify the cutting paths of a profile before creating the actual cutting path. The procedure below describes some of the modifications you might make to the cutting path for a profile:

   1. Move the start point locations. See Start Location for more information.

   2. Change the cut direction.

   3. Insert ridges.

   4. Insert a bridge.

      For detailed information about creating and manipulating cutting paths, see General Cutting Rules and Manipulating the Cutting Path.

2. Click Cut Profiles , and enter the cutting path specifications that are suitable for the cutting machine and the sheet. For more information, see General Cutting Rules and Setting Parameter Values for Lead Movements.

3. Click the profiles of the parts to cut in the necessary order.

   The software creates cutting paths for the profiles. Cutting paths, lead-in and lead-out movements, and start locations display in red. Rapid movements display in yellow.

   To create the cutting path automatically, do the following:

   1. Click Cut Profiles .

   2. Use Area selection to select the parts for inserting cutting paths. For more information about Area selection, see Select Tool.

   3. Click Cut All to create cutting paths for all of the profiles. For more information about creating multiple cutting paths, see Cut Profiles.

4. Click Save to save the nesting.