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Looking for a good sheet metal nesting program.

40 REPLIES 40
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Message 1 of 41
zma1013
17617 Views, 40 Replies

Looking for a good sheet metal nesting program.

We use a manual shear to cut the majority of our pieces but creating a cut sheet is a time consuming process.  Does anyone know of a good sheet metal nesting program for use in efficiently placing square and rectangular shapes on sheet metal?  It doesn't necessarily have to integrate with Inventor, but that would be a nice bonus.  This is not for any kind of CNC machine, it's just for making cut sheets faster.

 

I've been looking at one from Striker Systems but they don't seem to have a free trial.  I requested info from them so I'm waiting on that.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

IV2012

Windows XP SP3 32-bit
Intel Core 2 Duo 6400 @ 2.13 GHz
Nvidia Quadro FX 3450/4000 SDI 256MB Vram
2 GB Ram
160GB HDD
40 REPLIES 40
Message 2 of 41
pauldoubet
in reply to: zma1013

We use Striker software and we were able to try the products we wanted to by to make sure they would do what we expected, which was interface with Inventor and AutoCAD.

 

I can sum up my opinion by saying, It Works and we bought it.

 

Paul

Message 3 of 41
stevec781
in reply to: pauldoubet

If you dont do a lot of nesting My Netsing could be a cost effective solution.  http://www.mynesting.com/

 

Theres also Bobcad.

 

Cant comment on how good they are as I use Sigmanest.  Good software but expensive.

 

 

Message 4 of 41
most2d
in reply to: zma1013

Check PLUS 2D from http://www.nirvanatec.com .

 

Message 5 of 41
brendan.henderson
in reply to: most2d

Try FastCUT from FastCAM. Only $99. We use the full FastCAM/FastNEST package for automatic nesting of odd shaped parts for our CNC plasma cutter and can recommend thier products (no kickbacks-no affiliation).

 

http://www.fastcamusa.com/new/fastcutmetal/

Brendan Henderson
CAD Manager


New Blog | Old Blog | Google+ | Twitter


Inventor 2016 PDSU Build 236, Release 2016.2.2, Vault Professional 2016 Update 1, Win 7 64 bit


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Message 6 of 41
EddieGreen
in reply to: stevec781

Thanks for your suggestion about myNesting. Very useful. The same company have a standalone application called NestFab which is $1500. It seems pretty robust.
Message 7 of 41
blair
in reply to: zma1013

We use Radan, switching from MTC/Thermadyne. The only problem with Striker is for their sort and nest build, Inventor files need to be Sheet-Metal. If you created profiles that are not Sheet-Metal, then the auto nest build won't work and you need to manually select your items to nest.

 

The nest will still work but not having the ability to take a number of parts of different material and thickness and let the software soft them out and create the nested jobs.


Inventor 2020, In-Cad, Simulation Mechanical

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Message 8 of 41
dpete
in reply to: blair

Blair,

 How is Radan working out for you? Do you have the 3d module?

Thanks,

Debbie

Message 9 of 41
blair
in reply to: dpete

Yes,but it's not cheap. We have the 3d plugin for Inventor.

Inventor 2020, In-Cad, Simulation Mechanical

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Message 10 of 41
dpete
in reply to: blair

IT is going to look into getting this. We have Radan but not the 3d part. We spend an insane amount of time creating flats the way the shop needs them done.

Message 11 of 41
blair
in reply to: dpete

You may need to play with kFactor. I am currently at AU. Send me a private message, I have a Excel spreadsheet that helps calculate kFactor (reverse engineer) from the shot floor part. This might help adjust your kFactor.

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Message 12 of 41
blair
in reply to: blair

Use the calculate k-Factor. Have the shop bend a predetermined length of scrape material, then get the leg measurements. This will then allow you to calculate the correct k-Factor for each machine and type of bend.


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Message 13 of 41
dpete
in reply to: blair

Thanks, I had done that with the shop but the tables will be very helpful!

Message 14 of 41
dox32
in reply to: dpete

Did you try DGNestPro from http://tangenta.hr/download

Message 15 of 41
stephengibson76
in reply to: zma1013

A lot depends on what you are cutting...  If its cheap material or a material you can recycle the offcuts then cheap or free nesting software will work for you depending on the shapes you are cutting effects the percentage of waste.  If you are cutting more expensive material you want to minimize waste, I have not found software that can nest parts better than me manually...  simple equation...

 

if "my time cost" < "waste cost saved" = do it manually

elseif "my time cost" > "waste cost saved" + "software cost" = use software

Stephen Gibson



View stephen gibson's profile on LinkedIn


Message 16 of 41
jletcher
in reply to: zma1013

Look into sigmanest out of all the software nest programs I have used and that is most this one worked the best.

 

 you click on the assembly and it extracts all flats and folded parts unfolds them reads the material and thickness and nest all with one click.

 

 Very Very expensive starts at $14,000.00

 

 

http://www.sigmanest.com/en-us/

 

 But it is great...

Message 17 of 41
sameith
in reply to: ovidiuse

Hi,

 

We have a new Solution for the Nesting "Problem".

 

Our Solution has a strong optimized process in Inventor for Nesting Parts.

You can look at http://www.simplifiers.de/software/module/simple-nesting

With this solution you never have to leave Autodesk Inventor to produce nesting sheet plates.

 

also you can take a look here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksMTTmy8cO8

 

Greetings

 

Steffen Sameith

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Message 18 of 41
vince.adams
in reply to: zma1013

I know this is an old post but Autodesk now offers Autodesk TruNEST (formerly from Magestic Systems). This is our own product that is integrated with Inventor & Vault and should provide Adsk CAD users their best solution for metal and composite nesting.  If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact Taylor Munz (taylor.munz@autodesk.com) or check out the product page: 

 

http://www.autodesk.com/products/trunest/overview

 

 

Thanks!

Vince

Message 19 of 41
FProcp
in reply to: vince.adams

Has anyone here tried

Trunest?

Franco
GMT +08:00
Message 20 of 41
vince.adams
in reply to: FProcp

Good afternoon Franc!  We would appreciate the chance to share some customer testimonials regarding TruNest success.  It is still your best solution for Inventor integrated nesting.  If you would send your contact information to my Autodesk e-mail,  I can make sure the right information is sent over.  You can reach me at vince.adams@autodesk.com.  Thanks!!

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