Nesting

The process of efficiently positioning plate parts in a standard dimension sheet called nest. Distance between parts and nest edge is 20mm. Nesting must be done in such way to reduce material waste.

Nesting rules

Before starting

• Check project: ShipConstructor » Check 3D Unit DWG and Structure DWGs
• Delete all files from the Nestprts folder

Rules

• Plate name is ‘PLXX’, thickness in 2 digits example: ‘PL06’
• Add callibration plate – in every nest except MDF
• Plate margin 20mm
• Nest gap 20mm
• Nest form- and bending parts together (insert them first by selecting these parts in the plate insert menu)
• When a plate is not full then nest the parts in the left side and/or lower left corner
• Arranging nest lay outs in drawing:
  • 5 layouts in a row
  • Horizontal distance between layouts 500
  • Vertical distance between layouts 1000
• Manager/Library/stock/plate edit check gap and margin to be set up on 20.
• In exceptional situations the margin/gap may be reduced by maximum 5mm, add the ‘Tight Nesting’ warning block to the nest.

Nesting steps

• 01.Set up nest template: ShipConstructor/navigator/templates/Nest01:units:mm, text style : KP arial narrow
• 02.Check stock plate in manager.
• 03.Create the Nest files.
• 04.In every nest file insert nest plate.0,0 insertion point.
• 05.Insert the parts: array individually.
• 06.Nest the parts.
• 07.When nest is done assign the parts to the nest.
• 08.Nest/Check collision.Rearenge parts if necessary.
• 09.Update nest and BOM.
• 10.Add a calibration plates in every nest using tool pallete.
• 11.Delete content of Nestprt from project folder folder after every check nest.
• 12.Navigator/Unit/check nests. If OK you get an overview of all nests and at the end the message :0 parts remain unnested!.
• 13.Empty Nesprt folder.

If after Navigator/Unit/check nests you get results for some or all nets with text : parts moved to REV layer,than the steps are:

• 01.Delete content of Nestprt folder
• 02.Open only nest file where are problems.
• 03.Nest/Check nests
• 04.Nest/Reinsert parts.
• 05.Insert remaining parts if existing and nest them.
• 06.Nest/Check collision.Rearenge if necessary.
• 07.Assign to nest
• 08.Update nest and BOM.
• 09.Navigator/Unit/check nests. If OK you get the message :0 parts remain unnested!.

If the nest is ready and still 1 or 2 parts were modified and you now the thickness and name of the parts than:

• 01.Delete content of Nestprt folder
• 02.Nest/part list/ find the part/ select it and than Nest/ part/Reinsert.
• 03.Assign to nest.
• 04.Update nest and BOM.

Guidelines

• Nest the biggest parts first, the smallest last
• Nest rectangular parts together and curved parts together
• Use the smallest possible sheet for parts >15mm thickness

Note: if several sheet dimensions are used in one nest drawing, it can be useful to draw a temporary rectangle for the sheet instead of inserting a new nest. But NEVER COPY a rectangle from an existing nest and NEVER DRAW the rectangle INSIDE an existing nest since this will give conflicts with the database

Check

• Check if all parts are nested (SC Nesting » Part » Insert deselect Same stock as plate)
• Collision check (especially after re-nesting parts)
• Marking of bending and forming parts in BOM
• Grouping of bending and forming parts
• Presence of callibration part in every nest
• Not full nested plates: parts are nested in left side/lower left corner of plate?
• Run ‘Check’ for every nest

Nesting procedure for non-ShipConstructor projects

Every part arrives like independent dwg file The parts are not prepared (no blocks, no correct layer use, etc.).

Open a default SC project to be able to use the SC tools.

• The folder with parts arrives in Project Inbox, example: Section 4 parts which has folders for every plate thikness.
• In Project folder/Drawings/Create new folder name it ex:Parts Section 4 and copy here the thickness folder from Inbox.
• Open a default SC project to be able to use the SC tools.
• Open every the dwg for every part using File/Open/browse to the thickness folder from Drawings and prepare every parts for nest following the steps:
  • units:mm
  • lts:50
  • remove vertices 0.05 before and after closing the outside cut contur
  • tool palette - drag -0- and than delete it, to insert the KP text style
  • explode all dwg
  • delete the insertion point of orientation icon.
  • Use QUICK SELECT to select the desired entities and use the SC tools to give the correct properties
    • outside cut
    • inside cut if existing
    • mark line
    • text: size 40, if too big decrease 5 by 5.
    • orientation icon
  • after all entities are on the correct NC process color select all and move to _PRD layer
  • purge dwg. Should remain only _PRD and _0 layer.

After all parts were created in the way described than the steps are:

• 1. Create the SC project (see SC new project)
• 2.Navigator/Template/Nest template set up:
  • units:mm
  • text style KP arrial narrow
• 3.Navigator/Nest/Create the Nest files for every thickness: ex PL04,PL05 etc.
• 4.Open every nest file ,insert nest plates and than insert all the parts available from the same thikness by dragging them from the Drawing folder in the nest file dwg. After drag click enter 3 times and the parts is inserted.The inserted is block reference.
• 5. Nest the parts with care , nest check collision is not working in this case.
• 6. Add calibration icons.