Technology to fit your profile.

Developed over many years to make CNC profile cutting quick and simple.

Getting the most from man and materials using Oxy-acetylene, Plasma, Laser, Water-jet, in fact any profile cutting technology.

The practical solution to the problems of fitting parts on stock material and efficiently cutting them out, carefully taking in account heat distribution, component handling, operator convenience, use of consumables and cutting time.

Draw or DXF import - Nest - Post Process and Download DNC now with WiFi

A single port Serial (RS232 RS422) DNC is supplied as standard with ShapeNest. Dual port, Multiport and WiFi are options

 

Putting your production in better shape.

 

Compared to more antiquated methods, Shape Nest will save at least 15% on materials, consumables and time, easily paying for itself in a few months.

 

Quick turn round Job to Job

 

Off line programming ensures the cutting machines are kept cutting. Design drawing data can be used to directly describe and define the shape to be cut with lead in and run off moves added automatically to your own preferences. Repetitive shapes, either simple or complex can be recalled and sized using the shape library, thus reducing programming time.

 

Keeping it simple

 

Combining multiple orders in a single nest can be done + plus + with part marking ShapNest helps the operator collect and sort the batches of components

 

The trade-off

 

Whether it is better to cut the nest quickly with multiple burners or make the most out of the material, but taking more time, can be weighed up with Shape Nest and then the appropriate program can be issued to production.

Part definition can include details of drilled holes

When nesting components on the plate, the start and end points are automatically arranged taking account of the Lead in and run out movements.

The movement between cuts is shown, the order is marked by a number and inner profiles are cut automatically before outer profiles.

Step by Step

 

Part definition point, lines and circles.

These basic shapes and more complex functions are picked from icons and menus, hot keys are also used to give a very rapid and effective user interface.

Where CAD drawings are available from internet and magnetic media, simply read in the geometry and display the finished part.

Save the component as a outside profile with apertures and holes, giving it an easily recognised name and with a preferred, but not mandatory, material grade and thickness.

Call up a new rectangular plate or recall a remnant, giving material grade, thickness and plate sizes. Select from the list of components you have stored and preview the shape as you select it. Semi-automatic nesting puts the shape just clear of the edge or adjacent to other components. Spin and slide the shapes to best fit the material repeating parts and optionally use multi-head cutting, check the order of cutting and if you want to you can add a start and stop positions, then put in continuous cutting in place of short rapid moves. Add special features for line, punch and part marking.

Click the Icon to produce the cutting program with operator instructions and dimensioned drawings. The cutting program is transferred automatically into the job queue for the DNC link down to the cutting machines.

On the cutting the machine the operator can browse the Job Queue to select the next nest of parts to be cut.

Cutting analysis give an inventory of parts in the nest and manufacturing time.

System manager stores all the setting for Shape Nest for easy selection from lists of options.

Part geometry definition

Auto trim and extend

Dynamic error checking for overlaps

Line marking

Text marking

CAD interface for DXF DSTV and others.

Component library

Dimensioned drawing

Operator instruction sheets

Cutting instructions

Continuous cutting

Scale - Rotation - Mirror

Cutting time analysis

Material utilisation % figures

Microsoft Windows Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Multiple head cutting

Common line cutting

Automatic overlap check

Variables and expression

Part Inventory

Automatic Lead-in and Run-off added

Calculated cutting time and distance

Stand Alone or Networked

DNC Server - Single or Multiple machine

Cutting program management

Program distribution

Job Queue

Repeated features - Linear and circular repeat

Looping (program format)

Open and closed profile definition.

Preview component selection

Left hand / Right hand mirror

Interference check

Dynamic position check.

Blue shape are too close.

Duck - bends - square to rounds

3D visualisation of ducks .

Drilling and punching