Does the software exist??

[Joc]

I've worked my current job for 7 years and have always wondered if there is software that could save me time.
My job consists of cutting large quantities of glass. Some weeks we may cut 20 sheets of glass others we may cut 50 sheets. It can take anywhere from a hour to 4 hours to "map out" the sheets before cutting can begin. It just seems like the biggest waste of time.

We use 4' x 7' sheets and 3' x 7' sheets.
I calculate hundreds of different sizes each week and then have to draw a rectangle and start placing sizes in the sheet as tight as possible in order to use as much as possible.

Is there a program that I can enter all the sizes into and it map out the sheets? There might be something like this for metal but with glass once you start a cut you gotta go all the way to the other end/side. no stopping in the middle or you've just left the door open to a crack running out into the remain section.

 

[civicmindedex79]

Did I miss it but what software are you using now? Does it have "nesting" (hope that is still the proper term) capabilities? Are you cutting finished shapes or just roughing out like a windshield to rectangle shape? Forgive me if this sounds ignorant. I haven't ever run any sort of glass cutting program but did program CNC's for a few years. When we was making copper electrodes on one job we had some software that would help lay out the proper order for "optimization of stock material" and I believe it was called nesting feature.





Just a quick search but something like this:

Optimizer For Glass - Glass Sheet Nesting Software

 

[TBItoy]

Re:

I think the term is "nesting". A nesting program

That might help in your search


Civicmindedex beat me to it...

 

[Joc]

Did I miss it but what software are you using now? ..............

Just a quick search but something like this:

Optimizer For Glass - Glass Sheet Nesting Software

current method was taught to me when i hired in and its pencil and paper and alot of brain power. been done that way for 40 years. There stuck in there ways i guess and never got up to date with modern technology.

But thanks for the search tips. That may be what I need to look for.

As far as shapes. All straight lines with various radius' on the corners. If its a pattern (no height , no width) we cut a rectangle piece 1/8 bigger than the outermost edges of shape and cut it down from that. So basically its cutting blocks, then they get cut down smaller if there special shape. Our rule is not to cut more than 4" off so mapping the sheets there would be a min of 1/8" and a max of 4" drop/scrap.

 

[Joc]

well heck i didnt relize that was a video til after i posted. watched a few mins and looked up the site and i believe this may be what im looking for

thanks

 

[civicmindedex79]

No prob. Everybody may not agree with it but if you work with some cheap asses most of these programs can be had by demos. They will process the work but will not put out a cut file. Mainly it will do the layout work but not the cut file if that makes sense for free.

 

[Joc]

well I dl that above demo but it limits it to the point its annoying but it does what I got in mind but the tolerances stack up to the point that its leaving 6-8" strips that we would trash.
first i set the tolerances to 1/8 and 4" and it was placing 2 pieces and stacking the 4 and giving 8" drop. I gotta figure out how to set the tolerances or other settings(which are minimum).
it only allows me to put in 1 size sheet, 2 sizes of glass with any amount. It would take a while to enter 100+ sizes into the system but after time i think it would pay off as long as we can make it do it w/o leaving odd ball sizes that would be in between 4 and 13 b/c its hard to get rid of scrap pieces that small.