BLANK NESTING

 

This function enables the user to nest the blank in the strip. You can visit this function by clicking the BSE->Development->Blank Nesting. Figure 7.3.8 shows the types of binder available in the BLANK NESTING menu.

 

Figure 7.3.8 Blank Nesting Types

 

ONE-UP NESTING

 

This type enables user to generate the nesting result in one row.

 

a) One-up Nesting

 

TWO-UP NESTING

 

This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with two-up nesting blanks with a common orientation.

 

b)  Two-up Nesting

 

TWO-PAIR NESTING 

 

This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with two pair nesting blanks with opposite orientation.

 

c)  Two-pair Nesting

 

MIRROR NESTING

 

This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with a single mirrored blank.

 

d)  Mirror Nesting

 

MULTI BLANKS NESTING

 

This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with more than one different blank.

 

An example of blank nesting is shown in Figure 7.3.9. A detailed description of each function is given in the following section.

 

 

e)  Multi blanks Nesting

 

Figure 7.3.9 Blank Nesting

A detailed description of each function is given in the following section.

 

 

7.3.6.1 ONE-UP NESTING

 

This function enables the user to generate the nesting result in one row. The dialog window is shown in Figure 7.3.10.

 

Figure 7.3.10 One-up Nesting

 

 

l                         Blank Outline (Undefined)

This parameter is used to define the Blank Outline. Click the Blank Outline (Undefined) button in Figure 7.3.10, and the program will display the Select Line menu to prompt the user to select lines. If the Blank Outline is selected, the button name will be set as Blank Outline.

 

INPUT UNIT(toggle on)

Metric

This option enables the user to input the Nesting setup with metric units.

English

This option enables the user to input the Nesting setup with inch units.

SETUP

In SETUP tab, the user can define the base parameters for nesting of blanks such as defining the material of the blank and input of the Edge Width, Bridge Span and Addendum size.

MATERIAL

The user can define the material of blank by two methods.  One is that the user can click the button after the MATERIAL tag and the Material definition dialog box will pop up. The user may choose to create a NEW material model or IMPORT a type of material. Once a material is defined, the density is displayed in the lower boxes, and part thickness can be set. Another method is that the user can input the THICKNESS and DENSITY directly on the corresponding boxes, since these are the requisite for mass calculations.

l                       Thickness

This box enables the user to input the thickness of blank.

l                       Density

This box enables the user to input the density of part material.

PARAMETERS

 

In this Tab, the user will find parameters used to control the gaps of blank nesting such as Edge Width, Bridge Span and profile Addendum. Figure 7.3.11 describes these parameters further.

l                       Edge Width

Edge Width allows user to define the gap between blank profile and strip edge.

l                       Bridge Span

Bridge Span allows user to define the gap between parts.

Select Blank

This option enables the user to choose between multiple blanks, and can assign different or common addendum sizes.  Note that this option is only available for nesting options with more than one blank profile.

 

l                       Addendum

Addendum allows user to expand the selected profile

.

Figure 7.3.11 Edge Width, Bridge Span and Addendum parameters

 

 

CONSTRAINTS

This function enables the user to constrain the dimension of the strip and the angle of blank as compared to the strip direction. See Figure 7.3.12.

Figure 7.3.12 Constraints

 

DIMENSION OPTION

LENGTH

Fix Length is used to define the total strip or sheet length.

WIDTH

Width is used to constrain the width of the strip or sheet.

l         The float width used as the width constraint. The user inputs the allowable range of the blank width (Min and Max).  Dynaform Nesting will calculate a series of results according to the defined float range of the width.

l         Fix width used to specifically define a width for the strip or sheet.

PITCH

The Fix Pitch can constrain the pitch in nesting.

 

ANGLE OPTION

l       The float angle used as the angle constraint. The user inputs the allowable range of the blank rotation (Min and Max).  Dynaform Nesting will calculate a series of results according to the defined float range of the rotation angle.

l       Fix angle used to specifically define a rotation angle for the blank.

 

APPLY

Click the Apply button in Figure 7.3.12, and the program will run the blank nesting and show the optimal result for material usage, as in Figure 7.3.13.

Figure 7.3.13a The result of One-up Nesting

Figure 7.3.13b Result of Blank Nesting

 

The program will give the user a series of available blank nesting results that meet the given constraints. The user can select the number of decimal digits to display by selecting the number in the Decimal digits combo box. The user can click the mouse on the result list and each selected scheme will highlight and the corresponding constraints are displaying on the text box above the window including Angle, Pitch, Width, Utilization. As shown in Figure 7.3.13b there are two schemes for the user to select from. The user may further reduce the constraint range according to the first solver results to get more detailed nesting schemes.

Note: The user can not change the nesting type or the unit system after selecting the result tab, without first recalculating.

l       Output Nest Report

This function enables the user to output the result as a *.htm file. The interface of the Output Nesting Report is shown in Figure 7.3.14.

Figure 7.3.14 The Output Nesting Report dialog box

When the Output Nesting Report dialog box pops up, there is a highlight frame that appears on the display area. Data displayed inside this frame will be copied as a JPG image to the nesting report .htm file.

DATE

Displays the date of the nesting report.

FILE NAME

Enables user to assign a file name and the file path to save the current nesting report..

BLANK OUTLINE COLOR

Enable the user to change the color of the blank outline

UNIT

Displays the current unit system in the nesting report.

PRODUCTION VOLUME / PER COIL

Enables the user to select PRODUCTION VOLUME or PER COIL

PRODUCTION VOLUME (×1000)

Enables the user to input the production volume.

COIL LENGTH

Displays the defined coil length, defined in Constraints.

BASE MATERIAL COST

Enables the user to input the base material cost.

EXTRA MATERIAL COST

Enables the user to input the extra material cost.

SCRAP VALUE COST

Enables the user to input the scrap value cost.

CONSUMABLES COST

Enables the user to input the consumable cost.

COMMENTS

Enables the user to write comments about this nesting.

Click the Apply button, and the program will save the current nesting report as the .htm file and then open this file automatically in the default web browser (PC with windows system). A sample nesting report is shown in Figure 7.3.15.

 

Figure 7.3.15 A typical nesting report

 

7.3.6.2 TWO-PAIR NESTING

 

This function enables the user to generate the nesting result with two pair nesting blanks with opposing orientation. The setting of Setup and Constraint in this function is similar with that in the One-up Nesting, please refer to section 7.3.5.1.

 

In this function the Position option is activated after selecting the profile. This option enables the user to adjust the relative position between the two blanks. The user may use the three automatic tools to optimize profile orientations, or, the user may manually select a blank profile, and the desired X- or Y-axis translations, and/or Z-axis rotations.  Click this button and the program will open the Blank Position window as Figure 7.3.16 shown.

Figure 7.3.16 Auto Position

 

AUTO

This function enables the user to position the nesting blanks automatically through the selected optimizing scheme.

l         Min. Area

The program will position the nesting blanks to minimize the surface area of the strip.

l         Min. Width

The program will position the nesting blanks to minimize the width of the strip.

l         Min. Length

The program will position the nesting blanks to minimize the length of progression.

 

MANUAL

This function enables the user to position the nesting blank manually through transforming and/or rotating.

Select Blank

This option enables the user to select the desired blank to position when there are more than one blank defined in the nesting type. The selected blank will be highlighted in the display window.

l         X Step

This is the X direction increment value for transformation. If the user adjusts the position of the blank through the Manual method for transformation, the blank will move along the X direction an incremental value for each click of the transformation button. If using the Auto method, the program will calculate a series of results according to the step along the X direction. The default X step is 10.

l         Y Step

This is the Y direction increment value for transformation. If the user adjusts the position of the blank through the Manual method for transformation, the blank will move along the Y direction an incremental value for each click of the transformation button. If using the Auto method, the program will calculate a series of results according to the step along the Y direction. The default Y step is 10.

l         Angle

This is the angle increment value for rotation. If the user adjusts the position of the blank through Manual method for rotation, the blank will rotate by the incremental angle for each click of the rotation button. If using the Auto method, the program will calculate a series of results according the angle. The default angle step is 1.0 degree.

 

l         TRANSFORMATION

 

 Move the selected blank outline incremental distance in positive X-axis direction

 Move the selected blank outline incremental distance in negative X-axis direction

 Move the selected blank outline incremental distance in positive Y-axis direction

 Move the selected blank outline incremental distance in negative X-axis direction

 

l         Rotation

 

 Rotate the selected blank outline clockwise by incremental angle

 Rotate the selected blank outline anti-clockwise by incremental angle

 

Auto Position--Enables the user to get the automatically positioned result.

Apply--The program will accept the positioning result and exit the position dialog box.

 

 

7.3.6.3 MIRROR NESTING

This function enables the user to generate the nesting result with mirror the original blank. The mirrored blank is eudipleural (bilaterally symmetric) with the original blank. The setting of Setup and Constraint in this function is similar with that in the Two-Pair Nesting. Please refer to section 7.3.6.1. and 7.3.6.2  for all relevant parameters.

 

7.3.6.4 TWO-UP NESTING

This function enables the user to generate the nesting result with two up nesting blanks with common orientation. The setting of Setup and Constraint in this function is similar with that in the Two-Pair Nesting. Please refer to section 7.3.6.1. and 7.3.6.2 for all relevant parameters.

 

7.3.6.5 MULTI BLANKS NESTING

This function enables the user to generate the nesting result with more than one different blank outline. During the defining the Blank Outline, after selecting each blank outline the user should click the OK button to accept each profile selection and then continue in the same manner. When all the blank outlines are selected, the user can click the OK button a final time to exit the line selection dialog box. The setting of Setup and Constraint in this function is similar with that in the Two-Pair Nesting. Please refer to section 7.3.5.1. and 7.3.5.2 for all relevant parameters