Product category:
CNC plasma-arc and oxy-fuel gas cutting/profiling machines
News Release from: SigmaTEK Europe | Subject: SigmaNEST nesting software - CNC laser profiling
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 03 February 2006
Nesting software improves material usage
by 15%
Automotive cab fabricator has achieved material utilisation improvements of around 15% with SigmaNEST software that also automatically generates cutting times for four CNC laser profilers.
Widney Cabs is a leading supplier of cabs for the automotive and earthmoving industry Based in Northampton, it has an annual turnover of GBP 45 million and employs 500 people
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 7 Sep 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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The company consumes 120 to 130 tonnes of sheet material every week, so material utilisation is of major importance.
Widney Cabs selected SigmaNEST from SigmaTEK to program and nest parts for its four Trumpf TC L 3030 laser machines.
Steve Milton, production superintendent, Unit 61 at Widney Cabs explained, "Our MRP system generates a cutting list of components which we import into SigmaNEST.
Further reading
CAD/CAM replacement saved profiling time
Existing software was unable to program lasers, its replacement offered flexibility - drawings and designs could be imported, drawn and nested in the one system - saving time for each job.
CNC laser cutting investment expands business
By investing GBP 655,000 in two Trumpf laser cutting machines an architectural metalworker has reduced cycle times by 50-60% and expanded sub contract work.
The automatic nesting routines optimise the sheet layout, which we can then further improve through manual intervention." The geometry for each part is imported into SigmaNEST from the company's Pro/ENGINEER CAD system, using DXF to produce parts up to 15mm thick.
Milton added, "Through the use of SigmaNEST we have achieved material utilisation improvements of around 15%" Widney Cabs has seen additional benefits from the introduction of SigmaNEST.
The software automatically generates cutting times for the Trumpf machines which the company uses to help control its manufacturing management, and to produce accurate costings for new jobs.
Additionally, programming effort is much reduced.
Currently, one person uses approximately 70% of his time to operate the SigmaNEST software whereas previously, two people were required to keep up with the programming load.
This reduction has released more resources for the company to develop further productivity improvements.
Milton commented, "Much of our production is repetitive.
At the moment 30% of the nests we have created in SigmaNEST are static, which we can simply call up each week to meet our production requirements.
Our aim is to increase the proportion of static nests, to minimise the amount of special programming and nesting required.
SigmaNEST plays a valuable role in our division of Widney Cabs as a management system for our laser machines." * About the SigmaTEK Corporation - formed in 1992, with USA offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, Seattle, Washington; international offices in Europe, Japan and Australia, and a worldwide distribution network, over 4000 SigmaNEST systems are now in use round the globe.
SigmaNEST software maintains its technological leadership in sheet metal nesting and cutting by a relentless commitment to research and development, providing customers with tools to maximise material utilisation and increase machine throughput while minimising programming time and effort.
Authorised training centres around the world provide after sales technical support and education to optimise productivity for users.
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