PRODUCT REVIEWS
Nesting optimisation .
Cloud-based nesting for 2D cutting
Alma is a leading developer of CAD / CAM software for sheet metal working , cutting and robotics . With over 40 years of experience in cutting optimisation and sheet metal CAM software , Alma has developed Nest & Cut , an automatic nesting subscription-based web application for 2D cutting .
“ Nest & Cut enables any company that needs to cut sheet metal or any flat materials , wherever it is in the world , to easily access high-performance automatic nesting functions for reducing raw material costs , without investing in a costly solution . Today , Nest & Cut has several hundred users worldwide and now the application makes it possible to generate ISO programs for simple NC cutting machines ( 20 post-processors are already available in Nest & Cut ’ s web app ),” Claire Macabies , marketing manager for nesting applications at Alma , told ISMR .
In a few clicks the user sends DXF format geometries , prepares the data ( quantities of parts , material formats etc .) and then starts automatic nesting in the cloud . Seconds later , Nest & Cut delivers the optimised cutting plans in DXF format or NC code for some cutting machines , ready for cutting . All the nesting data is listed in a PDF document .
“ Four years ago , we launched Nest & Cut as a web app for nesting and a new business model in Saas ( software as a service ) and cloud . It now has customers all over the world and offers nesting and cutting , with many machine tools now driven directly with Nest & Cut ( integrated into the machine ’ s software package ). It offers substantial time and money savings to users and now includes several new advanced cutting optimisation features ,” explained Claire Macabies .
Advanced cutting optimisation features
Nest & Cut is a completely automated application and has been designed for ease of use . It is available online from any device connected to the web , with nothing to install or configure . Monthly or yearly subscriptions are possible . Simplicity of use was a key requirement from the start .
The Nest & Cut user cutting sequence .
58 | ismr . net | ISMR February 2024