April 2010: act/cut 3.6 preview

act/cut version 3.6 for 2D cutting and punching started to be delivered to our clients in the beginning of 2010. The following is an overview of the software main new features, from the Pre-nester module, calculating specific sheet formats, to the new workshop documents management tool, from the new remnants management functions to the starting points automatic correction rules or the latest punching nibbling features.

A new module: Pre-nester, to determine specific sheet formats

The Pre-Nester module is aimed at the manufacturers, such as shipyards, for example, who order their metal sheets in ad hoc sizes according to the parts that they need to cut out. From the list of parts to be produced and the dimensions of the “variable” sheet sizes, the act/cut automatic nesting algorithm, specifically configured for this type of optimization, determines the best sheet formats as well as the most pertinent formats combination to attain the lowest loss rate possible.

In this mode, the sheet formats are not chosen in a list of preset dimensions but are computed according to variables: minimum and maximum length and width, increment step value in length and in width (for example, sheets with a length that is a multiple of 500 mm between 3 000 and 10 000 mm, and with a width that is a multiple of 100 mm between 1 000 mm and 3 000 mm).

The nesting results are transferred to the procurement management system to order sheets according to the computed formats. The data is kept by act/cut so that it can be used when the actual manufacturing is performed. It can then be synchronized with the materials stock managed by the software.

Pre-Nester is an optional module of act/cut 3.6.

Usable remnants management expanded potential

Several enhancements to the management of usable remnants have been developed for act/cut 3.6. It is now possible to create rectangular remnants automatically from an offcut defined by a cutting line with one or more steps. act/cut 3.6 also enables creating remnants based on a cutting line intersecting the cut parts profiles and no longer requiring to be set in an empty area (see image below). Furthermore, the cutting line management in remnants remaining from remnants has been improved and simplified.

Standardized and improved incorrect lead-ins rectification feature

act/cut considers lead-ins as variable attributes of the part rather than as geometrical elements attached to it. These attributes (type, values and position) depend on the material and thickness combination. Our unique approach, based on the intelligent definition of these attributes according to the context in the nesting instead of defining it for the part at a single entity, does not add constraints impeding the nesting performance. It happens nevertheless that the lead-in available definitions are inconsistent with the part nesting or with the part itself: a straight lead-in with a set length in an internal oblong profile with a diameter shorter than this length, for example. These lead-ins are incorrect, and must be modified before the part can be cut.

act/cut 3.6 enhances the range of the lead-ins correction features, even enabling the modification of the lead-ins position as a new correction strategy. The rules defining the automatic rectification to apply to incorrect lead-ins (length reduction, angle modification, type modification, position change) are set and prioritized according to the cutting technology.

Most of the incorrect lead-ins issues now find an appropriate solution automatically. This has a two-fold benefit: a precious timesaver for the user, and an easier batch mode configuration for the software.

Punching-Nibbling functions getting always more specialized

act/cut 3.6 is awash with new features enabling a more efficient programming of punching-nibbling machines. The tool overlaps when nibbling corners or setting micro-junctions has been optimized, setting several micro-junctions on an element with a single click has been made possible, finer rules for the automatic positioning of micro-junctions have been introduced, selecting the side of a special tool used to perform a specific nibbling becomes available, the punching tools substitution rules, no longer taking into account the part geometry, become more allowing, a new function developed to enable using two round tools to notch circular holes allows using a finishing tool different from the notching tool… Last, but not least, making the visualization of the parts profile in Drafter easier, the Drawing only mode can be chosen, ensuring that no tool is assigned to the profile, avoiding any modification of the part geometry.

New workshop document management tool

A new tool is used by the 3.6 version to manage the workshop document generation and edition. Way more powerful than the previous component (Formula One), it is a true reporting tool, simplifying the documents management and customization, as well as the software maintenance and upgrades. It also enables producing PDF documents, easier to read and with a better layout than the old spreadsheet tool.

The component integrates xml data into preset reports templates. The XML file contains as much information regarding the parts, the nesting and the cuts as possible, enabling the customization of the reports by editing the templates and not the data source. More complex modifications remain possible, through the addition a priori of information in the XML file.

Several standard reports templates shall be delivered with act/cut 3.6: nesting layout for portrait or landscape printing, with or without a parts detailed list, full launching order report (with the list of cut parts, required sheets, and generated usable remnants), single part template, machining time and production cost of a part, of a nesting or of a launching order (estimation mode), palletization layout and sequence.

> Learn about act/cut 3.6 new features in the 3D applications of the act/ range