The Nesting Job

Introduction

The Nesting Job in the CAM Tree provides the tools needed to define job settings, machine and post processor selection, tools, sheets, and feature operations. This topics explains everything that is included in the Nesting Job in the CAM Tree.

To create a Nesting Job, use one of the following two options:

 

  • In the CAM Tree, right-click CAM Defaults, and click New Job.

 

  • In the Modules menu, click New CAM Job.

 

The Machining Job dialog box displays.

 

  • Click Nesting, select a machine, and click Nesting Wizard to add the job to the CAM Tree and open the Nesting Wizard.

The Nesting Job in the CAM Tree

The following items are added to the CAM Tree after you finish the Nesting Wizard. All items in blue will have context menus available if you right-click on them in the Nesting Job. For this example, left-click an item below to see the context menu associated with that item as it would appear when you right-click on it in the CAM Tree.

Nesting Job

Machine

Post Processor

Milling Tools

Sheets

Sheet-1

Sheet 1-1

Sheet 1-2

Sheet-2

Sheet 2-1

Stock Material

Default Operations

Default Profile

Profile

Default Drill

Drill Hole

Default Dado

       Profile

Machine Setup

      Part 1

             Outer Profile

               Default Chain Start Point

               Profile

                    Chain Start Point

             Hole -

              Drill Hole

             Inner Profile

               Default Chain Start Point

               Profile

                    Chain Start Point 

             Dado

                     Default Chain Start Point

                     Profile

                          Chain Start Point

The Shortcut Menus

Job Settings, Commands, Adding Parts, and Calculating the Nest

Right-click Nesting Job to open a shortcut menu with the following commands.

 

Nesting Job

    • Edit - opens the Nesting Wizard for you to modify the nesting parameters as explained in the Nesting Wizard.

    • Re/Select Geometry - is used to modify the geometry selection of parts for the Nesting Job. The currently selected geometry displays in the selection color. Update your geometry selections, and click (OK) to confirm the selection.

    • Load Parts from Files - displays the Open dialog box for you to select external part files (.dxf, .dwg, .bbcd, or .cad) that you want to include in the nest. Navigate to and select the desired files, and click OK. This item is provided in case you need to update the selection made in the Nesting Wizard.

    • Current Settings - opens the Current Settings Job dialog box for you to change various machine and posting settings for the job only. You can define the default settings for all Nesting Jobs through the CAM Defaults Current Settings.

    • Machining Order - opens the Machining Order dialog box which allows you to set the Feature Order to Hole First or Dado First, and the Cutting Order to By Part or By Tool and a Cut Tabs Last check box that will wait until all parts are cut before coming back to cut off all tabs.

    • Post - creates the NC program and displays it in the Posting tab of the Layer-UCS-Post Manager. You can view the posted program, but you can't edit it in this location. Right-click anywhere in the Posting window to access another shortcut menu, or use Post & Save As.

    • Post & Save As - creates and displays the NC program, but first opens the Save As dialog box for you to name and save the file. You can use the default location, or select your own location.

    • Simulation - opens the simulation window for you to view the nesting toolpath with all operations that are set to Post Yes. To learn more, view Getting Started with Simulation.

    • Compute All Toolpath - calculates the current parameters to create the nesting result. If toolpath generation is turned on, it is calculated before nesting the parts. With toolpath generation turned off, only the parts are nested.

    • Post All Yes/No - toggles whether or not all feature operations in the job are output in the posted program.

    • Blank/Unblank All - toggles the visibility status of the stock and all operations in the job to hide or show. Note that you can then click any CAM Tree item to highlight that item in the Workspace until you click another location to change the focus.

    • Cutting Conditions - opens the Cutting Conditions for you to modify the cutting conditions of drilling operations.

    • Delete - deletes the entire job from the CAM Tree.

    • Collapse Items - collapses the child items of the Nesting Job folder. This is the same as clicking the minus sign () next to all child items.

    • Expand Items - expands the child items of the Nesting Job folder. This is the same as clicking the plus sign () next to all child items.

Machine Selection

Right-click Machine to open a shortcut menu with the following command.

 

Machine

    • Edit - opens the Machine Selection dialog box for you to select a machine for the job. This is a quick-change dialog box that is provided for you to change the machine without the need to open the Job Current Settings. Next to Make, click the down arrow, select a machine from the list, and click OK.

Post Processor Selection

Right-click Post Processor to open a shortcut menu with the following command.

 

Post Processor

    • Edit - opens the Set Post Processor dialog box for you to change the post processor that is used to generate the NC Program. This is a quick-change dialog box that is provided for you to change the post processor without the need to open the Job Current Settings. Click Select to display the Open dialog box, select a .MillPst file, and click Open. Click OK in the Set Post Processor dialog box.

Tool Information and Setup

Right-click Milling Tools to open a shortcut menu with the following commands.

 

Milling Tools

    • Tools - opens the Tool Library showing the available system tools. You can create or modify tools from this location.

    • Tool Crib - opens the Tool Crib for you to load all of the tools that you need for the job.

    • Mill Tool Holders - opens the Milling Tool Holder Library for you to create and/or modify the milling tool holders and arbors. The Holder Library can be used to model nozzles and various heads for the different machine types.

    • Verify Tool Assignment - displays the Assigned Tools dialog box containing all of the tools that are currently used in the program. The tool numbers used in the software may not match the tools as they are listed on the machine, so this item is provided so that you can reassign those numbers to reflect what is actually used in your shop.

Modifying and Adding Nesting Sheets

 

Sheets                 

Sheet-1            

Sheet 1-1   

Sheet 1-2   

Sheet-2             

Sheet 2-1   

 Global for all sheets Sheet type 1 Sheet type 1 first sheet (sub sheet) Sheet type 1 second sheet (sub sheet) Sheet type 2 Sheet type 2 first sheet (sub sheet)

 

Right-click / to open a shortcut menu with the following commands.

 

Sheets

    • Edit - opens the Nesting Wizard to the Sheet Parameters page. This will allow you to make the necessary changes and recompute the nest.

    • Blank/Unblank All Sheets - toggles the visibility of all sheets. When using multiple sheets, try to blank all and left-click on sheets to view them one at a time.

    • Show Summary - displays the Nesting Summary.

    • Remnant Sheet - launches the Remnant Sheet dialogue box in order to view remnants for each sheet and export their geometry

    • Post All Yes/No - toggles whether or not all sheets in the job are output in the posted program.

    • Export All Sheets to DXF - exports all of the nested sheets to separate DXF files. A series of Save As dialog boxes display for each sheet allowing you to specify a file name and location for each DXF file.

 

Sheet-1

    • Edit - opens the Nesting Sheet dialog box and highlights the particular sheet for you to edit.

    • Blank/Unblank All Sheets - hides the visible stock in the workspace for all sub-sheets in this group.

    • Blank/Unblank Nested Parts - hides the nested part geometry in the workspace for this sheet group.

    • Post Yes/No - toggles whether or not all sheets in the group are output in the posted program.

    • Export Sheet(s) to DXF - exports the nested toolpath or the nested parts for each sheet of this group to a DXF file. A Save As dialog box appears for you to specify a file name and location to save the file. The file is automatically opened for viewing and/or editing.
    • Start Simulation - launches the program simulation for you to view the current program (if it contains toolpath) with all operations that are set to Post Yes.

    • Post Sheet(s) - posts only the code for the sheets in this group that are set to Post Yes.

    • Remove - deletes the selected sheet from the Nesting Job.

Sheet-1-1

    • Blank/Unblank All Sheets - hides the visible stock in the workspace for this sheet.

    • Blank/Unblank Nested Parts - hides the nested part geometry in the workspace for this sheet. This value changes according to the current setting. If parts are visible the option will be Blank Nested Parts. If parts are not visible the option will be Unblank Nested Parts.

    • Post Yes/No - toggles whether or not this sheet is output in the posted program.

    • Export Sheet(s) to DXF - exports the nested toolpath or the nested parts for this sheet to a DXF file. A Save As dialog box appears for you to specify a file name and location to save the file. The file is automatically opened for viewing and/or editing.
    • Start Simulation - launches the program simulation for you to view the current program (if it contains toolpath) with all operations that are set to Post Yes.

    • Post Sheet(s) - posts only the code for the sheets in this group that are set to Post Yes.

Stock Material Selection and Modification

Right-click Stock Material to open a shortcut menu with the following command.

 

Stock Material

    • Edit - opens the Stock Material Library dialog box for you to select the sheet material for the job. This is used to define the automatic feeds and speeds calculations in the wizards. Select the desired material in the Material List, and click OK to update the material and close the dialog box.

Modifying the Default Operations

There are three potential default operations for every Nesting Job: Default Profile, Default Drill, and Default Dado. The default operations are created based on the geometry selections and their CAD layers that you made in the Nesting Wizard. The shortcut menu commands for these items are listed next. These items are used to modify the settings that you selected in the Nesting Wizard.

 

Default Profile

This item is a specialized feature that is used in Nesting only. The Default Profile defines the machining operations that are used for all Inner Profile and Outer Profile geometry items that you selected. This item is provided to allow you to modify the operation parameters that you assigned in the wizard. The next section in this topic shows the machining features that are created for each nesting Part. When you click Use Default from a feature that displays under any Part, it uses the settings defined for this feature.

    • Edit - opens the Milling Wizard for you to modify the default operations and parameters of the feature.

    • Color - opens the Color dialogue box for you to modify the color of the toolpath for the default operations.

 

Default Drill

This specialized feature is only added when holes are being created. Adding this feature can be done by selected arcs from a layer labeled as Holes. Another way to accomplish this is to assign a layer to the Holes Layers group in the Nesting Layer Manager. This feature defines the default operation parameters that are used for hole drilling in nesting and applied to all Hole features that are created for any Part. This item is provided for you to modify the operation parameters that you selected in the Nesting Wizard.

    • Edit - opens the Milling Wizard for you to modify the default operations and parameters of the feature.

    • Color - opens the Color dialogue box for you to modify the color of the toolpath for the default operations.

 

Default Dado

This specialized feature is only added when dadoes are being created. Adding this feature can be done by selected geometry from a layer labeled as dado. Another way to accomplish this is to assign a layer to the Dado Layers group in the Nesting Layer Manager. This feature defines the default operation parameters for Dado (open shape) cutting in nesting and applied to all Dado features that are created for any Part.

    • Edit - opens the Milling Wizard for you to modify the default operations and parameters of the feature.

    • Color - opens the Color dialogue box for you to modify the color of the toolpath for the default operations.

 

Operations

The operations displayed below each default feature do not contain a right-click shortcut menu.

The Machine Setup, Clearance Plane, Modifying Geometry and Operations

The Machine Setup, or machining origin, for Nesting is fixed at the WCS, which is the CAD origin. The Machine Setup of the Nesting Job contains all of the parts that you selected in the Nesting Wizard. The tree items which are added for each part are listed below. When you right-click these items the following shortcut menus will be displayed.

 

Machine Setup

The Machine Setup for Nesting is fixed at the WCS. All of the Parts that were automatically created from the nesting geometry selections display under the Machine Setup. Right-click Machine Setup to open a shortcut menu with the following options.

  • Edit - opens the Nesting Machine Setup dialog box for you to launch the Machine Setup dialogue box. This will allow you to update the Clearance Plane, set Origin to the top or bottom of the sheet and adjust the work offset for the job.

  • Compute All Toolpath - calculates the nesting result and toolpath for the job.

 

Part

Right-click any Part listed below the Machine Setup to open a shortcut menu with the following command.

    • Delete - removes the selected part from the Nesting Job. To update the nested result, compute the toolpath.

    • Post Yes/No - toggles whether or not this part is output in the posted program.

    • Blank/Unblank Toolpath - hides the toolpath in the workspace for this part.

 

The following items are added below each Part. You may have some or all of the following items depending on the parts you are nesting and the settings you defined in the Nesting Wizard.

 

Outer Profile/Inner Profile/Dado/Hole

The features that are added under any Part use the Default Operations settings initially. You can customize these operations using the following commands. The features that are created are based on the selected geometry and how the layer assignment has utilized. These can be Outer Profile, Inner Profile, Hole, or Dado. Right-click the feature name to access the following shortcut menu commands. This menu will changed based on the current setting. If the feature is set to default settings, you will see the Customize option and the Edit option will be unavailable. If the feature has been customized, you will see the Use Default option and the Edit option will be available.

      • Customize - is shown when the part is set to use the default operation parameters. The Edit command is disabled. When you select Customize, the feature can then be edited by right-clicking the Feature name again and clicking Edit.

      • Use Default - reverts the current feature back to default settings.

    • Edit - opens the Milling Wizard for you to modify the parameters of this feature.

    • Post Yes/No - toggles whether or not this part is output in the posted program.

    • Blank/Unblank Toolpath - hides the toolpath in the workspace for this part.

 

For information about setting start points for operations, view Setting Chain Start Points for Operations.

Related Topics

The Nesting Overview

The Nesting Wizard