We have just installed a Mitsubishi LVP 3015 Plus laser interfaced with Metalix cncKadsoftware. We should have changed sooner! The features of cncKad auto nesting, drag and drop, and simulation coupled with the Mitsubishi laser has paid for itself in just the first few weeks.

Stephen Manson, DC Norris, UK

AutoNest lets you easily nest your tubes.
Tubes can be imported directly from cncKad, from MTube, or from CAD programs (such as SOLIDWORKS, Solid Edge, PTC Creo, and Autodesk Inventor) via CAD Link. They can be batch processed via the Daily Job and automatically nested with AutoNest Pro. The automatic process identifies the different tube part profiles, material, and thickness, and nests them accordingly, rotating and flipping tube parts for the best and most efficient solutions. You generate NC for tube nests and preview them on tube nesting reports.

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Easy and fast for different brand machines without any problems. It’s the best choice. Everyone can learn cnckad even if he does not know CAD.

Daedong Door Co. Ltd., South Korea

Nest According to Turret Restrictions feature applies to punch machines, for avoiding unnecessary tool changes.

AutoNest arranges parts on the sheets, minimizing number of tool replacements in the turret, calculating the solution based on restrictions (number of stations, their sizes, and auto-index) dictated by the particular machine turret.

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It should be noted that after testing on 15 mm armor-plated metal, Metalix took all the comments we mentioned to the support people and transferred them to the development team. The changes are outstanding and the cutting quality is amazing”

Doron Hanuka, Urdan Metal & Casting Industries Ltd., Israel

AutoNest reports can be generated in DOC, XLS, XLSX, and TXT formats, and you can freely edit them, adding parameters, data, and graphics such as your logo.
The templates are fully customizable, with practically every detail of the part(s) and machine available for display.

AutoNest report types:
• Order and SubNest reports
• Barcode reports
• Label reports
• Plain text reports for ERP/PDM integration
Example of an order report

Example of a barcode report

Example of a label report

Example of a plain text report

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“What makes Metalix stand out for me personally is the flexibility that Metalix offers me as the programmer. Metalix AutoNestcan make automatic decisions that work in most situations; but when I would like to take a specific approach to a job, it is extremely easy and fast to implement things my way. The software does not push you into a corner and force you to do it a certain way.”

Henk Van Nierkerk and Derrick Van Nierkerk, Directors, METALFORMERS Pty. Ltd., South Africa

AutoNest allows you to position individual parts and groups of parts interactively. You maintain control over the nesting process, by dragging, rotating, mirroring, aligning, arraying, and grouping parts.

AutoNest guides you towards creating better nesting solutions:
• Warns of floating scraps
• Warns of one part placed on another
• Dodges predefined clamp area

The post Manual Nesting – AutoNest appeared first on 3D Experience.

Reliable software for punching, laser cutting, autonesting, and 3D CAD Link.  Service and support are good enough!

Gedeon System Co. Ltd., South Korea

One nesting solution can contain a few SubNests, each with a different material and thickness. Parts from the same order but with different material/thickness are sorted automatically and nested on appropriate sheets when AutoNest runs.

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“We highly recommend this useful software for any potential company manufacturing sheet metal products.”

Shmuel Josef, Sheet Metal Technologist, Tadiran Appliances Ltd., Israel

One nesting solution can contain multiple copies of sheets with the same SubNest part arrangements.
AutoNest can generate the SubNests on different sheet sizes. It automatically selects sheets from the sheet database for highest efficiency and the minimal number of SubNests.

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Using Metalix has helped us significantly optimize our production through the wide range of options and features available. Moreover, cncKad is intuitive and easy to use and the support from the Metalix team is outstanding. We highly recommend cncKad to anyone in the sheet metal industry looking for fast, powerful and reliable CAD/CAM software.

Stefan Bota, ARC GRUP SRL, Romania

When you run automatic nesting to place the parts on the sheet, AutoNest allows you to manage the remainder of the sheet material so that it is not wasted.

When you run another nesting solution, AutoNest nests the new parts in the unused portion of the sheet, thereby maximizing your sheet management and efficiency.

Gray indicates the used area of the sheet

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“We have found the nesting engine to be extremely good compared to other software we have used. And we trust the software very much to make the most of available material with minimum waste.”

Henk Van Nierkerk and Derrick Van Nierkerk, Directors, METALFORMERS Pty. Ltd., South Africa

AutoNest automatically positions parts so adjoining edges are processed at the same time, thereby saving material, machine time, cutting gas, and electricity, as well as wear on tools.
AutoNest calculates and shows the common cuts automatically, any time you manually move or place a part on the sheet.
The dynamic common cuts are automatically regenerated when moving parts from one location to another.

After snapping the parts into place, AutoNest automatically generates new common cuts.

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Editing CAMs includes running Smart Cut: Using this strong feature AutoNest determines from which side and corner to enter the parts, and runs part handling for MicroJoints.

Tooling View

AutoNest can display the tooling and the part arrangements on the sheets in many different ways as you can see in the examples.

Color tool path by speed (for cutting machines)

Split sheet

Cut sheet

CAM Editing

You can manipulate the tooling from within AutoNest.

Change the processing order

For punch machines:
• Edit tools and tool data
• Change MicroJoints
• Select a turret setup
• Change the processing order
• Drag nibbling
• Add tool functions
• Control pickup: change the unload tool position
• Edit and delete CAMs
For cutting machines:
• Change the lead-in (entry)
• Edit and delete CAMs
• Change the processing order
• Apply the smart cut
• Add/edit/delete/move MicroJoints

CAM Layers

One file can handle detailed processing definitions for different machines or different angles. These CAM layers can include push out, MicroJoints and WireJoints, unloading, trimming, cut sheet etc. This powerful solution ports parts from one technology or machine type to another, such as from punch to laser.
This feature enables you to place layers at different angles, and generate NC codes for your punch/cutting/combination machines. When you update your part geometry, or require different tooling definitions or adjustments for different machines, cncKadupdates the processing for all layers. Alternatively, edit specific CAMs without applying the changes to all CAMs.
When you import a part that includes CAM layers, AutoNest automatically uses the correct layer. For example, if a part is positioned at 90°, the 90° layer is used for processing the part; if positioned at 180° then this layer is used.
When you import the parts, you add CAM layers in AutoNest for the daily job order, to all parts of the order.

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AutoNest calculates efficient nesting solutions by considering combinations of rotated and mirrored parts, grouping, group arrays, turret-based nesting, part priority, sheet or remnant size and direction and supporting a minimum possible number of SubNests.
Automatic nesting options:
• Rectangular
• Standard True Shape
• Advanced True Shape with AutoNest Pro

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