Nesting module interface

The nesting module dialog window is integrated within the NCnetic interface and contains a Preview panel and a tab control

The ‘Run Nesting’ command executes the nesting algorithm using the inputs provided in the various tabs. The ‘Export DXF’ command opens a save file dialog to export the currently previewed shape or nesting. The ‘Generate Toolpath’ command creates the toolpath for the currently previewed shape or nesting and loads it into the NCnetic interface.

To export your machine G-code or NC file, use the Post-Processor module.

Any changes in the part or sheet list will reset the nesting results, which must be rerun to apply the modifications.

Parts tab

The Part tab allows users to import DXF geometries and set their quantities for nesting.

Click ‘Import DXF’ to open a file dialog and select the DXF files to import. If a DXF contains multiple parts, they are automatically divided into separate entries. If the imported DXF is organized into layers, a Layer Settings popup will appear.

Double-click an entry in the part list to set the initial quantity of a part.

Select a part and click ‘Remove’ to delete it, or click ‘Clear’ to remove all parts.

Select a part and click ‘Edit bevel’ to edit edge geometries. To post-process bevel toolpaths, a 2D Nesting & Bevel Cutting / 5 axis license is required.

Edit bevel:

Parameter	Description
Type	Bevel type (V, Y, X, or K).
Angle 1	First bevel angle.
Position ratio	Position ratio (% of the thickness).
Angle 2	Second bevel angle.
K heel height ratio	Height ratio (% of the thickness) of the heel for K bevel

Examples:

V(+) bevel 45°: Angle 1 = 45
V- or A bevel 45°: Angle 1 = -45
Y(+) bevel 45°, 5 mm heel on 20 mm thickness: Angle 1 = 45, Position ratio = 75%
Y- bevel 45°, 5 mm heel on 20 mm thickness: Angle 1 = -45, Position ratio = 25%
X bevel 35°/35°: Angle 1 = 35, Angle 2 = -35
K bevel 45°, 10 mm heel centered on 20 mm thickness: Angle 1 = 45, Position ratio = 50%, Angle 2 = 45, K heel height ratio = 50%

Library tab

The Library tab provides access to a standard set of parameterizable shapes.

Click ‘Add to Parts’ to add the selected shape to the part list.

Sheet tab

The Sheet tab contains the list of available sheets for nesting.

Click “Add” to create a new sheet with default parameters from the Options tab (length, width, and quantity).

Double-click an entry in the sheet list to set the length, width, and initial quantity of a sheet.

Select a sheet and click ‘Remove’ to delete it, or click ‘Clear’ to remove all sheets.

The “Load Nesting DXF” command allows you to load one or more existing nestings in DXF format. The sheet width and length are set using the default parameters from the Options tab. This function lets you add new parts from an existing nesting or simply generate a toolpath from an imported part or nesting.

Nesting tab

The Nesting tab displays the results of the current nesting calculation.

Options tab

Table:

Parameter	Description
Type	Machine type.
Thickness	Sheet thickness.

Clicking Load preset applies the default settings for the selected machine type and sheet thickness.

Sheet:

Parameter	Description
Origin	Defines the reference point for the sheet during nesting (or for the imported part when Set new origin is enabled).
Margins	Minimum distance between the sheet edges and the parts.
Part spacing	Minimum distance between parts during nesting.
Default sheet width	Default width for newly created sheets.
Default sheet height	Default height for newly created sheets.
Default sheet quantity	Default quantity for newly created sheets.

Nesting:

Parameter	Description
Rotations	Allowed part rotations during nesting.
Min internal areas	Minimum internal area (holes) considered by the nesting algorithm.
Pave limit	If a part’s area exceeds this percentage of its bounding box area, the nesting algorithm approximates the part using its bounding box to improve performance.

Tooling:

Parameter	Description
Tool radius compensation	Offset applied to compensate for the cutter radius.
Cutting feed rate	Default cutting feed rate.
Marking feed rate	Default marking feed rate.
Rapid feed	Default rapid traverse feed rate.

Leads:

Parameter	Description
Position	Preferred location of the lead-in and lead-out.
Lead-in length	Linear length of the lead-in segment before cutting the part.
Lead-in radius	Radius of the curve connecting the lead-in to the cut.
Lead-out length	Linear length of the lead-out segment after cutting the part.
Lead-out radius	Radius of the curve connecting the lead-out to the cut.
No arcs in corners	Enables straight lead-ins and lead-outs in corners (instead of arcs).
Lead-in length (no arcs)	Length of the straight lead-in in corners.
Lead-out length (no arcs)	Length of the straight lead-in in corners.
Bevel loop length	Length of the loop used during bevel angle changes.

Micro-joints:

Parameter	Description
Micros on externals	Apply micro-joints to external cuts.
Micros on internals	Apply micro-joints to internal cuts..
Step	Distance between adjacent micro-joints.
Length	Length of the micro-joints.

Bridges:

Parameter	Description
Add bridges	Add bridges between parts.
N max bridges	Max number of parts than can be linked by bridges.

DXF import:

Parameter	Description
Merge distance	Maximum distance between vertices to automatically merge overlapping points.
Link distance	Maximum distance to consider separate lines as connected for path creation.
Set new origin	Sets the origin of the imported DXF to a new point (0,0) or custom coordinates.
Multiplicity merge	Merge parts that have the same geometry.
Multiplicity merge tolerance	Tolerance on merging.
Merge layers	Combines multiple layers from the DXF into a single layer for processing.
Tool number from layer name	Get tool number from the layer name.
Default cutting layer	Default cutting layer.
Default marking layer	Default marking layer.