6/12/2011

AutoForm-Optimization of Material Usage and Costs

AutoForm minimizes material costs in each phase of the product development process by quickly determining the smallest possible sheared blank and the unique optimal nesting layout of developed blanks on the coil. The combination of AutoForm-Blank Designer and AutoForm-Nest provides you with all die necessary functional­ity for job costing, bidding and planning.

AutoForm-BlankDesigner calculates the smallest possible devel­oped blank on the basis of CAD geometry (part or tool data). Due to the parametric connection and complete integration with all the other AutoForm modules, an automatic update takes place follow­ing modifications to the base geometry: If, for example, the punch opening line is modified, AutoForm-BlankDesigner will update the smallest possible blank.

Embedding

With AutoForm-BlankDesigner you can embed the smallest possi­ble developed blank (or any other closed curve) in a minimal rect­angle, trapezoid or arc section (Embedding). The optimal coil width is determined either on the basis of material cost or on the basis of material usage; utilization of material, unit cost prices and scrap are calculated automatically. You can find a lesson describing the pro­cedure for the calculation of the smallest possible developed blank in the Process Design workshop.

Nesting

AutoForm-Nest calculates the optimal nesting layout of a devel­oped blank, e.g., as determined by AutoForm-BlankDesigner (or any other closed outline), on the coil. The goal of this optimization can be the material usage or die price. As the material price can vary according to the coil width by up to 25%, the area-optimal nesting on the coil does not have to represent the most cost-efficient solution as well. This workshop describes the application of Auto­Form-Nest to the optimal nesting of blanks, with different bound­ary conditions such as coil width, coil price, nesting type, etc., being taken into account.

The basis for calculation of an optimal nesting with AutoForm-Nest can be both the developed blank calculated with AutoForm-BlankDesigner and an imported blank outline.

Embedding Optimal rectangle: Smallest sheared rectangular blank

Optimal parallelogram: Smallest sheared blank in form of a parallelogram

Optimal symmetrical trapez: Smallest sheared symmetri­cal trapezoid blank

Optimal trapez: Smallest sheared trapezoid blank

Optimal arc: Smallest sheared custom cut-off arc blank

Smallest possible, referred to here, means the minimum outer con­tour which encloses the developed blank completely.

Nesting ? One up: AutoForm-Nest calculates a single-part nesting

solution. The blank outline is distributed either price-opti­mized or area-optimized on the coil.

Two up: AutoForm-Nest calculates a double-part nesting solution. The adjustment of the two blank outlines to each other is freely calculated and the two blank outlines are distributed either price-optimized or area-optimized on the coil.

One up, one down: AutoForm-Nest calculates a double-part nesting solution. The adjustment of the two blank outlines is freely calculated and one of the two blanks is turned around by 180°, i.e. it lies with lower surface upwards.

Two shapes: AutoForm-Nest calculates a double-part nesting solution for two different blank outlines. The out­line of the second blank is defined as Shape 2 in the area Boundary of flat blank.

Additionally the system needs further information (minimum and max. coil width, material price, etc.), in order to determine an area-optimized or a price-optimized nesting configuration of the blank on the coil.

http://www.cadfamily.com/HTML/Article/AutoForm-Optimization%20of%20Material%20Usage%20and%20Costs_610.htm

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