BLANK NESTING
This function
enables the user to nest the blank in a strip. This function may be invoked by
clicking the BSE/DEVELOPMENT/BLANK NESTING. Figure
Figure
ONE-UP NESTING
This type enables user to generate the nesting result in one row.
Figure
TWO-UP NESTING
This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with two identical blanks with a common orientation.
Figure
TWO-PAIR
NESTING
This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with a pair of identical blanks with opposite orientation.
Figure
MIRROR NESTING
This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with a single mirrored blank.
Figure
MULTI BLANKS
NESTING
This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with multiple blanks of different shape.
Figure
An example of blank
nesting is shown in Figure
This function
enables the user to generate the nesting result in one row. The dialog box is
shown in Figure
Figure
l Blank Outline (Undefined)
This parameter is used to define the Blank Outline.
Click on the Blank Outline (Undefined) button in Figure
INPUT UNIT (toggle on)
Metric
This option enables the user to define the Nesting setup parameters in metric unit.
English
This option enables the user to define the Nesting setup parameters in inch unit.
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 using two methods. In first method, the user can click on the MATERIAL button to open the Material definition dialog box. The user may choose to create a NEW material model or IMPORT a material. Once the material is defined, the density is displayed in the lower window, and part thickness can be defined. Another method is by entering the THICKNESS and DENSITY directly in the corresponding data fields.
Thickness
This box enables the user to enter the thickness of blank.
Density
This box enables the user to enter the density of part material.
PARAMETERS
The user may define parameters used to control the
gaps of blank nesting such as Edge Width, Bridge Span and Addendum. Figure
Edge Width
Edge Width allows the user to define the gap between blank outline and strip edge.
Bridge Span
Bridge Span allows the user to define the gap between parts.
Select Blank
This option enables the user to choose between multiple blanks to assign different or common addendum sizes. Please note that this option is only available for nesting options with more than one blank outline.
Addendum
Addendum allows the user to expand the selected blank outline.
.
Figure
CONSTRAINTS
This function enables the user to constrain the
dimension of the strip and the angle of blank relative to the strip direction.
The tab is illustrated in Figure
Figure
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 width range is used as the width constraint. The user defines the allowable range of the blank width (Min and Max). eta/DYNAFORM Nesting calculates a series of results according to the defined range of the width.
l Fix width is used to define a width for the strip or sheet.
PITCH
The Fix Pitch can constrain the pitch in nesting.
ANGLE OPTION
l The angle range is used as the angle constraint. The user defines the allowable range of the blank rotation (Min and Max). eta/DYNAFORM Nesting calculates a series of results according to the defined range of the rotation angle.
l Fix angle used to specifically define a rotation angle for the blank.
APPLY
Click on the Apply button as illustrated in
Figure
Figure
Figure
The program offers the user a series of available
blank nesting results that meet the given constraints. The user may select the
number of decimal digits to display by selecting the number in the Decimal
digits combo box. The user may click any result from the result list window and
the corresponding constraints will be displayed in the text boxes above the
window. As shown in Figure
NOTE: The user may not change the nesting type or the unit system when the RESULT table is the current tab.
l Output Nest Report
This function enables the user to output the nesting
result as a HTML file. The interface of the Output Nesting Report is shown in
Figure
Figure
When the Output Nesting Report dialog box pops up, there is a highlighted picture frame appears in the display area. The image displayed inside this frame will be copied to the nesting report HTML file.
DATE
Display the date of the nesting report.
FILE NAME
Enable the user to assign a file name (.htm) 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
Display the current unit system in the nesting report.
PRODUCTION VOLUME / PER COIL
Enable the user to select PRODUCTION VOLUME or PER COIL for cost calculation.
PRODUCTION VOLUME (×1000)
Enable the user to define the production volume.
COIL LENGTH
Display the defined coil length, defined in Constraints.
BASE MATERIAL COST
Enable the user to define the base material cost.
EXTRA MATERIAL COST
Enable the user to define the extra material cost.
SCRAP VALUE COST
Enable the user to define the scrap value cost.
CONSUMABLES COST
Enable the user to define the consumable cost.
COMMENTS
Enable the user to write comments about this nesting in the nesting report.
Click on the Apply button to save the current nesting
report as.htm file and then open this file automatically in the default web
browser (PC with Windows operating system). A sample nesting report is shown in
Figure
Figure
This function
enables the user to generate the nesting result of two identical blanks with
common orientation. The setting of Setup and Constraint in this function is
similar to that in the One-up Nesting. Refer to Section
The Position
option is activated after the blank outline is selected. This option enables
the user to adjust the relative position between two blanks. The user may use
the automatic tools to optimize the blank orientations. Else, the user may
manually select a blank outline, the desired X- or Y-axis translations, and/or
Z-axis rotations. Click on the Position button to open the Blank Position
dialog box as shown in Figure
Figure
X-Y STEP
This function allows user to set the incremental value in X and Y direction for transformation. This increment is useful both in Auto and Manual Nesting. If the user adjusts the position of the blank through the Manual method for transformation, the blank is moved along the X/Y direction by the incremental value from each click of the translation button. If the Auto method is selected, the program calculates a series of results according to the step along the X/Y direction. The default X and Y step is 10.
ANGLE STEP
This is the angle increment value for blank rotation. If the user adjusts the position of the blank through Manual method for rotation, the blank is rotated by the incremental angle from each click of the rotation button. If the Auto method is selected, the program calculates a series of results according to the angle increment. The default angle step is 10 degree.
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 blanks manually through translation and/or rotation.
Select Blank
This option enables the user to select the desired blank to position when there are more than one blank defined for nesting. The selected blank is highlighted in the display area.
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 Y-axis direction
Rotation
Rotate the selected blank outline clockwise by the incremental angle.
Rotate the selected blank outline
counter-clockwise by the incremental angle.
Auto Position--Enables the user to obtain the positioned result automatically.
Apply--The program accepts the positioning result and exit the position dialog box.
This function
enables the user to generate the nesting result with two identical blanks with
opposing orientation. The setting of Setup and Constraint in this function is
similar to that in the Two-Up Nesting. Refer to Sections
This function
enables the user to generate the nesting result with mirroring the original
blank. The mirrored blank is symmetrical about X or Y direction. The setting of
Setup and Constraint in this function is similar with that in the Two-Pair
Nesting. Refer to Sections
This function enables the user to generate the nesting result with more than one different blank outline. During the definition of the Blank Outline, the user should click OK button or the middle button to accept each profile selection after selecting each blank outline. When all the blank outlines are selected, the user can click OK button or the middle button directly to exit the SELECT LINE dialog box.
Figure
MASTER BLANK
This option enables the user to select the master blank. This option is active only when the Multi-blanks nesting type is used.
NOTE: Since the program uses the defined X-Y step and Angle step to calculate the nesting result in Auto Nesting, the user may use the default value to calculate to void the long computing time. Then, reduces those values gradually to get more accurate result.
AUTO
This function enables the user to position the blanks automatically through the selected optimizing scheme.
ROTATE MASTER BLANK
This option allows the user to control whether the master blank is rotated during auto nesting.
ROTATE SLAVE BLANK
This option allows the user to control whether the slave blanks are rotated during auto nesting. This option is only activated for multiple blank nesting.