Multi-Part Nesting (Nest by folder)
Part Model:
In CAMWorksNesting, your part model is a solid created with SolidWorks/CAMWorks Solids or imported into SolidWorks/CAMWorks Solids from another CAD system via an IGES, STEP, Parasolid, SAT or other neutral translators.
Nesting of Parts:
CAMWorks Nesting also facilitates the nesting of flat or 3D sheet metal parts in addition to solid parts.
Both SolidWorks parts and imported parts can be nested.
Solid Parts as well as sheet metal parts can be nested using CAMWorksNesting commands that automatically nest multiple instances of the part on a pre-defined sheet and generates a best fit resulting in high sheet utilization and minimal scrap.
CAMWorksNesting provides the facility to nest either a single part or multiple parts in a single Nesting job. Based on the user-input number of instances of the part to be nested and the sheet size(s) defined, either a single nested layout or multiple layouts are generated.
Multi-Part Nesting:
CAMWorks Nesting provides the facility to nest a collection (of inter-related parts) as a unit with no constraint on the relative positioning of these parts. Such a collection of parts may include solid parts or sheet metal parts or both. Parts may vary in thickness and material.
In other words, multiple parts can be nested on the same sheet or multiple sheets as per the requirements.
Nest by Folder
- The 'Nest by Folder' is the option available under the CAMWorksNesting menu to nest multiple parts in a single nesting job.
- The 'Nest by Folder' option does not support assemblies.
- To use this option, all the parts which are to be nested in a single nesting job must be located within a singular folder.
- When the Nest by folder option is chosen from the CAMWorksNesting menu, the 'Browse for Folder' dialog is displayed. Use this dialog to browse to the folder containing the parts to be nested. Click OK in the dialog to finalize the folder selection.
- The below steps explain how to use the 'Nest by Folder' option to generate a nested layout.
Steps to generate Nested layout for Multiple Parts using 'Nest by Folder':
- Load the CAMWorksNesting Add-In in SolidWorks/ CAMWorks Solids.
- The CAMWorksNesting Menu will be added to the SolidWorks/ CAMWorks Solids menu bar.
- Select ‘Nest by Folder' from the CAMWorksNesting menu bar
- Use the displayed 'Browse for folder' to browse to the folder containing the parts to be nested. Click OK.
- A temporary assembly file comprising of all the parts in the selected folder is created and displayed in the SolidWorks Graphical User Interface.
- Select ‘Create Nesting Job’ from the CAMWorksNesting menu bar.
- The ‘Create Nesting Job’ dialog is displayed. Under the Part Data tab, all the parts within the selected folder are displayed. Modify or assign the Part controller parameters for these parts as required. These parameters include thickness, material, grain direction, quantity, Step angle and Normal Face Selection.
- Under the Sheet data tab, select the required sheet size(s). Modify or assign the sheet parameters such as sheet name, sheet thickness, sheet material, sheet quantity, grain direction, sheet length and width.
- In the ‘Nesting Data’ section (bottom section
of the dialog), assign appropriate values to the parameters of Part-to-Part distance
and Part-to-Sheet
distance. Use
the browse button
to
assign a new location for the output file rather than the default
location given in the Output Assembly File field. Fast
Nesting and Optimal
Nesting indicate the two different sets of algorithms used to
implement Nesting. Select the option that best suits your requirements.
- After all the parameters are set, click ‘OK’ to execute the Nesting Job.
This sets into motion the process to generate a nested layout. Generating the layout might take some time depending on the complexity of the part.
Two files will be generated during the nesting process, namely a text file and an assembly file.
After the Nesting process is completed, CAMWorksNesting will display a message indicating the location of the text file containing the summary of the Nest Results. Click OK to close the message. The Text file will be displayed.
The Nested layout assembly will be displayed in the Graphics area. Both these files are saved in the location indicated Output Assembly File path stated in the Apply Nesting dialog.
Note:
- CAMWorksNesting support nesting of multiple solid and sheet metal parts in one single nesting job.
- However, it does not support multiple assemblies in one single nesting job. Only one assembly can be nested at a time.
- Parts containing multiple bodies too can be nested using the Nest-by-Folder option. To understand how to nest an assembly which contains one or more multi-body body parts, read: Steps to generate a nested layout for an assembly containing multi-body parts.