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 7.3.11 shows the types of nesting options available in the BLANK NESTING menu.

Figure 7.3.11 Blank Nesting Types

ONE-UP NESTING

 

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

Figure 7.3.12 One-up Nesting

 

TWO-UP NESTING

 

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

Figure 7.3.13 Two-up Nesting

TWO-PAIR NESTING 

 

This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with a pair of identical blanks with opposite orientation.

Figure 7.3.14 Two-pair Nesting

MIRROR NESTING

 

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

Figure 7.3.15 Mirror Nesting

MULTI BLANKS NESTING

 

This type enables the user to generate the nesting result with multiple blanks of different shape.

Figure 7.3.16 Multi blanks Nesting

An example of blank nesting is shown in Figure 7.3.12.to Figure 7.3.16. 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 box is shown in Figure 7.3.17.

Figure 7.3.17 One-up Nesting dialog box

l                       Blank Outline (Undefined)

This parameter is used to define the Blank Outline. Click on the Blank Outline (Undefined) button in Figure 7.3.17, the program displays the SELECT LINE dialog box and prompt the user to select lines. After the Blank Outline is selected, the button name is changed to Blank Outline.

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 7.3.18 shows these parameters related to the blank outline.

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.

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Figure 7.3.18 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 relative to the strip direction. The tab is illustrated in Figure 7.3.19.

Figure 7.3.19 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 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 7.3.19, to run the blank nesting and to show the optimal result for material usage, as illustrated in Figure 7.3.20.

Figure 7.3.20 The Result of One-up Nesting

Figure 7.3.21 Result of Blank Nesting

 

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 7.3.21, there are five results for the user to select from. The user may further reduce the constraint range according to the first results to get more detailed nesting schemes.

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 7.3.22.

Figure 7.3.22 The Output Nesting Report dialog box

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 7.3.23.

 

Figure 7.3.23 A typical nesting report

 

7.3.6.2 TWO-UP NESTING

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 7.3.6.1 for description of commonly used parameters.

 

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 7.3.24.

Figure 7.3.24 Auto Position dialog box

 

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.

 

7.3.6.3 TWO-PAIR NESTING

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 7.3.6.1 and 7.3.6.2 for all relevant parameters.

 

 

7.3.6. 4 MIRROR NESTING

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 7.3.6.1. and 7.3.6.2 for description about 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 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 7.3.25 Blank Position dialog box

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.