An emergency stop is time consuming and may cause higher scrap. Collisions must be avoided at all cost.  Common cutting increases the possibility of a collision because the laser head is moving nearer to adjacent parts; if those parts have been cut free, they may bow up and collide with the head.  Utilizing a collision avoidance expert system in order to optimize the toolpath (by maintaining a head-down position during rapid traverse whenever possible, avoiding tipped-up pieces) is a reasonable quality expectation.

Manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, recently authored a feature article for Industry 2.0 magazine titled, "Nesting Solutions for Metal Fabricators."  In the article Cutler cites Michael D Lundy, P.E. and CEO of Optimation (www.optimation.com) who opines, "There are very few powerful automated nesting and NC Programming software package for fabricators using laser machines (flying or fixed optic, hybrid)." The nesting solutions for fabricators must work with part designs.  CAD drawings along with pertinent pre-programmed inputs and manufacturing attributes must be imported into nesting solutions software. Lundy adds, "Compatibility with a wide range of CAD formats is essential with any nesting software."

Providing a full-featured approach that allows the user to specify which parts can be common edge cut when a part is libraried is also required, yet difficult to find in many nesting and laser software solutions. Reading and applying key manufacturing information marks for bend lines, weld lines, grain direction, part numbers, order numbers, or anything needed with geometric marking and text etching should be on the fabricators product expectation list.

For 30 years OptimationÂ(r) has been the world leader in Part Nesting for Optimized Material and Labor utilization. Consistently providing product advancement leadership to industry, the company's new Nesting Technology, AxiomVE make previous nesting methods obsolete.   The new technology, Vision Emulationâ„¢, allows the system to "see" the shape of parts, just as human eyes would view them.  When a person looks at a part, they see the whole shape and any special features on the part.  This information is then used to determine if the part will fit in an area of the nest.  Vision Emulation eliminates excessive trial and error as well as excessive rotation.

Optimation offers benchmarking against any other method of part nesting; recent benchmarks have show improvements up to 15% in material efficiency alone.  As lean efficiencies are essential, the most advanced nesting technology guarantees the most important parts are always nested in the next available machine, providing advanced information to integrated costing, labor reporting, and material inventory systems. Because Optimation is strong financially and has the most advanced technology; the company offers direct financing from its own capital resources.

 

Optimation

www.optimation.com

Michael D Lundy P.E.

Opti1@optinest.com

877-827-2100