Time-Saving Benefits of Nesting Software in Sheet Metal Manufacturing

In the competitive world of sheet metal manufacturing, efficiency is not just an added advantage, but a crucial necessity. To succeed, manufacturers must be able to use processes that save time, reduce waste, and maximise productivity. One avenue to achieve this level of efficiency is nesting software, an advanced solution that automatically creates optimal nesting layouts for sheet materials. The use of professional-grade nesting software like JETCAM's can lead to substantial time savings in the production line.

Here are some key time-saving features of nesting software:

Automated Nesting Procedures

Traditional manual nesting can consume a significant amount of staff time, as it requires detailing each component and calculating the best layout to cut parts. Nesting software eliminates this time-consuming process. It takes into account the exact dimensions and shapes of the parts required and automatically calculates the most efficient layout. This reduces staff time spent on preparing nests and allows them to focus on other value-adding activities.

Optimisation of Material Usage

Aside from the pure time-saving benefits, nesting software like JETCAM's ensures optimal use of materials by reducing scrap. Less wasted material means less time spent managing waste and more efficient use of raw resources. This not only saves time but also directly impacts the bottom line by reducing unnecessary expense on material. Additional strategies can be employed, such as 'Progressive Nesting', which is useful for companies cutting assemblies/kits of parts. These can be grouped together, providing a balance between material efficiency and faster unloading on the shop floor.

Tool Path Optimisation

Advanced nesting software offers tool path optimisation features. This means that the software will calculate the fastest, most efficient tool path to reduce machine movement and tool changes, thereby curbing process time and enhancing machine lifespan. Features such as intelligent lead ins and heat avoidance for CNC lasers can be automatically applied, ultimately improving the quality of the finished part.

Dynamic Nesting

Dynamic nesting is an essential feature that automatically adjusts the nesting layout based on real-time changes or additions, saving staff from the grunt work of recalculating the layout every time a change occurs, such as re-nesting scrapped items. JETCAM's time-based high and ultra performance nesting algorithms allow you to queue any number of individual parts or assemblies for nesting, often overnight, to get the absolute maximum material yield.

Automatic Remnant Creation

When working with sheet metal, you will often only fill part of a sheet. By automatically creating remnants that are added to the material stock database, you can easily keep track of them. Furthermore, if your nesting software allows, you can specify to always use remnants first, ensuring that you minimise offcuts within your factory.

CNC Machine Compatibility

Of course, nesting software is only as good as the NC code that it outputs. Compatibility with your machines is paramount, so ensure that you check that your chosen software can drive all the features of your CNC machine. Furthermore, if you have multiple brands of machine then, where possible, try to standardise on a single system that can support all of them. Otherwise, you end up in a situation where some staff may only know how to program some of your machines. This also causes problems during holiday season or if a staff member leaves.

Summary

Embracing the use of automatic nesting software in sheet metal manufacturing opens doors to a whole new level of efficiency, productivity, and cost savings. The initial investment in nesting software can often see a pay back within a matter of months due to the time saved from streamlining and automation, and will ultimately lead to a stronger, more competitive business. For an industry where time is indeed money, the right nesting software is an investment well worth considering.