FORMING AND FABRICATING AUTOMATION
For example, in theory, a part can be nested at any angle for laser cutting. " " “Punches trace the outer profile of the part when making a square, for example,” Carnall says. “The type of punching machine determines how that’s done. Turret- and rail-style punching machines require different methods, and each serve particular niches very well.”
7.2: Fabrication Software
CNC Punching: Machine Management and Nesting Capability Form Powerful Combo B y considering tool usage and other machine factors in CNC punching applications,
fabricators can add to the efficiencies delivered by nesting software.
CNC punching machines leverage rapidly evolving nest-
CNC punching machines take advantage of rapidly evolving nesting software to produce parts quickly and accurately, while optimizing material utilization. Such software also can perform smart-sort nesting to combine parts into nests that use similar tooling, eliminating the need for excessive tool and sheet changeout.
ing software to produce parts quickly and accurately, while optimizing material utilization. For details on
industry-wide CNC punching trends related to nesting, and a list of nesting tips for fabricators, MetalForming reached out to Gary C. Carnall, regional manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Metamation, a Trumpf Group company specializing in sheet metal CAD/CAM software. “As opposed to laser cutting machines that don’t employ tools, tooling can constrain nesting on CNC punching ma- chines,” Carnall says, citing a disadvantage commonly at- tributed to CNC punching. On the other hand, he notes, some
advantages chalked up to laser cutting over CNC punching can become disadvantages downstream. “For example, in theory, a part can be nested at any angle for laser cutting. But should that laser-cut part then require bending, a bend may crack the part due to unfavorable grain direction.” So, grain direction then becomes a consideration in nesting for laser cutting and CNC punching. The particular style of CNC punching machines also affects nesting.
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