Warning- Nesting Issue

[Josh Kinney -Elite Engineering]

If you use the MasterCam Nesting hopefully your aware of this issue.

 

When nesting with MasterCam there is no warning when parts get dropped from the nest. let me explain.

 

I have a 10"x10" sheet, I want to nest 5 4"x4" parts into it. Unless I check "create nessecary quantity" on my sheet then it will nest 4 and drop the fifth one without warning.

 

I just nested a project with over 200 parts, little did I know that in my effort to optimize yeild I actually missed 12 parts due to MaterCam deleting them and not warning me. If it won't nest due to geometry problems it warns you. If it can't actually nest everything you select is doesn't warn you?

 

I see this not as a bug, but as a HUGE OVERSIGHT on the part of MasterCam. To say I'm dissapointed is an understatement, I have to explain to my customer how I missed this and now need to hire a truck to drive from Washington to California with the rest of the parts.

 

Please be aware of this and always add an extra 20 sheets beyon what you need and widdle it down from there.

 

Josh.

[Guest]

So did you send it into to QC?

[Josh Kinney -Elite Engineering]

I have contacted my MasterCam dealer.

 

Do I need to do more then that?

[Guest]

I would "think" that they would forward you concerns/issue

[Josh Kinney -Elite Engineering]

My post here is just to let people know of the problem so they don't end up in a jam like I did.

 

I hope MasterCam resolves this issue promptly.

[Christopher MacCoy- CNC Software]

I am looking into this issue. Thank you for your post.

[Josh Kinney -Elite Engineering]

While I'm barking I have one more nesting issue that hasn't been resolved.

 

I sometimes encounter "drafting notes" that will not nest although the geometry they are inside of will nest. I found that if I moved the notes say 2", they will then nest. On others if I changed the text in the note they would nest while some wouldn't.

 

It appears to me there is some association issue with the notes and autocad that once the note is moved it's broken and they can be nested. This gets real frustrating when you have 20 notes that don't nest and you don't have room to move them all around inside the geometry.

 

I have a file here to demonstrate the issue.

[Chris Bell CNC Software]

Hi Josh,

 

Regarding the first issue, it is working correctly. Using a different number of sheets will never optimize the yield. Some people want a hard sheet limit, especially when working with expensive scrap pieces (plastics). If they only have 5 pieces of X x Y material leftover, they want to run as many parts as possible on those sheets...almost like a filer quantity.

 

It is always a good idea to leave the "Create Necessary Quantity" checkbox enabled and to not assume the number of sheets is correct when running a specific job. The results dialog will tell you how many sheets are necessary and you can always go back into the parameters and adjust some settings (grain direction, step angle, part to part distance etc.) to try and get a higher sheet utilization.

 

I could request a message box informing the user of how many parts were not nested based on the (lack of) requested sheets if you would like.

 

The second issue definitely sounds like a bug. Please send the part file to [email protected] with detailed instructions on how to reproduce the issue.

 

Thank you for your help!

[Josh Kinney -Elite Engineering]

"Using a different number of sheets will never optimize the yield."

 

Correct, but changing sizes and quantity will. Doing this puts you at risk of parts being dropped.

 

" Some people want a hard sheet limit, especially when working with expensive scrap pieces (plastics). If they only have 5 pieces of X x Y material leftover, they want to run as many parts as possible on those sheets...almost like a filer quantity."

 

Exactly my point, if you have a "hard sheet limit" you are at risk of parts being dropped.

 

"you can always go back into the parameters and adjust some settings (grain direction, step angle, part to part distance etc.) to try and get a higher sheet utilization."

 

This is ideal but once again there is currently no safe guard.

 

"I could request a message box informing the user of how many parts were not nested based on the (lack of) requested sheets if you would like."

 

That would be lovely ;-) please notify when this is implemented [email protected]

 

"The second issue definitely sounds like a bug. Please send the part file to [email protected] with detailed instructions on how to reproduce the issue."

 

Sent.

 

Thanks.

 

Josh

[Chris Bell CNC Software]

Josh,

 

I logged the first issue as enhancement request number cnc00036530.

 

I haven't received the other part file yet, but I'll reply again when I do. Thanks again.

[Josh Kinney -Elite Engineering]

That's what I was afraid of and tried to point out to my local reseller. To me its a serious hole that needs to be dealt with immediately, not a future enhancement.

 

Email sent.

 

Thanks.

[Colin Gilchrist]

Josh,

 

I agree that the first issue needs to be addressed, but if you leave "create necessary quantity" turned on, it will not drop your parts.

 

Do you know how to set the nesting defaults? There are two methods. You can use the defaults button on the nesting dialog box to control parameters like accuracy.

 

You can also right-click on the different pages in the dialog box (right click in the grey area), and choose the "save defaults" option. You need to do this on your "Sheets" tab.

 

There is no reason to have the "create necessary quantity" turned off.

 

That way you know you nested everything you selected. If you don't like the results, use the "redo" button to go back into your nesting session and modify your parameters.

 

As long as that button is turned on, it will never drop any of your parts...

[Josh Kinney -Elite Engineering]

Colin,

I understand but I work for Alaskan Copper & Brass and have an unlimited amount of sheet sizes to pick from. I will use sheet sizes based on part dimensions and material stock.

 

Lets say I have one part that requires a 96" wide sheet, one that requires a 60" wide and another that requires a 48" wide. Now add in another 200 parts like this and you have 3 different size sheets in what quantity??? I could say 100 sheets of each size?

 

Do you see what I'm getting at? I want to force them down to certain sizes not add ridicules quantities. It's going to use 100 sheets of the first size.

 

Same scenario but without the unlimited amount of sheets at my disposal. Say I only have 3 96" and 2 48". The software needs to tell me if I'm actually nesting all the parts.

 

Bottom line is I'm aware of the issue and work around it, how many people are assuming the software would prompt them instead of disposing of the parts without warning?