Creating layout from multipart structures on a sheet material

You can produce a series of the same multipart structures — for examples, a display or a piece of furniture — directly after you have decided on its structure and design in 3D. You need only create layouts of its components, send them to a production machine (a cutter, a digital machine), and then assemble the cut components into actual structures.

The nesting job procedure that follows takes you through the steps of how to can create a layout by nesting the parts of a structure on a sheet material. The example model is ICB10001 Multiple-Shelf Display. The procedure starts from the structure's assembled-state drawing.

The nesting job

In the 3D model view, go to the assembled-state drawing.
On the 3D tab toolbar, click Create Layout From 3D .

The Multi-Part Nesting Wizard opens at the Parameters step. Scroll past the picture to learn how to read it.

The step window is divided into three sections:

Progress bar: Positioned in the uppermost section, the progress bar is the sequence of technological steps that make up a nesting job.
The tabular section: Positioned on the left, it is where you group the parts for nesting (the upper pane) and select the sheets the job will work with (the lower pane).
Graphical section: Positioned on the right, it displays the part selected in the tabular section.

Consult the table that follows to learn how to use the Parameters step.

The progress bar	The progress bar follows the sequence of steps that makes up the nesting job. The first and last steps — Parameters and Results — are permanent, while the number of the intermediate steps depends on (1) the number of the materials used in the 3D model and (2) the grouping of the parts for the actual nesting (see below). The name of an intermediate step is a compound generated automatically from the name of the used material and that of the nesting group. In the example above, ICB Board White 16, Nesting Group 1. Scroll below in the table to learn how to use nesting groups.

Quantity of displays to produce	Type how many finished products you want produced as a result of the nesting job.

1up Nesting Groups	Here you tell EngView how to nest the parts on the sheet. When you select a part, it appears in the preview area on the right. If you have defined nesting groups in the materials store, based on a particular material, these are loaded automatically. IMPORTANT: If you make changes to the nesting groups that you want to use in the future, you can update them in the materials store. Updating the store is automatic for rolled materials, but not for sheet materials. So do it manually. Learn how to define a nesting group.
Cost Parameters	Opens a dialog box in which you tell EngView how to calculate an estimate for the cost of the production. This estimates does not offer an actual production cost but is a instrument for ranking layout variants by lowest cost.
Name	The column displays three nesting job components: The name of the used material. Material names are added automatically by EngView. This name takes part in the EngView-generated name of the nesting job's intermediate steps. You cannot edit the name here. The nesting groups defined for the job. Each material used in the 3D model defines its own set of nesting groups. There is always a default group, Nesting Group 1, whose name you can neither modify nor delete. You can tell EngView to always nest certain parts together. In this case, you need to group the parts into a separate group. To create a group: Select the name of the material. Click the Plus button above. In the row that appears, edit the group's name as you need it. From Nesting Group 1, drag into the new group the parts that you want to group individually into the new group. Repeat Steps 1–4 for each new group you choose to create. The indvidual parts that will take part in the nesting job. By default, when you begin, you see all available parts in Nesting Group 1. If you choose to have some parts always processed together, create nesting groups for them. If you do not want to use a part in the nesting job, leave its check box empty. Article indicates the name of the article applied onto the part.
Rotation	Type an angle that EngView will use to rotate the part while populating the sheet. To specify a value for all the parts, set it across the name of the nesting group. To set an individual angle value for a part, type it across the part's name.
Spacing	Type a gap between the parts. To specify a global value, type it across the name of the nesting group. To set an individual spacing for a part, type it across its name.
Delivery Quantity	Specify how many pieces of this part you want produced.
Overproduction	Specify as percentage the amount of production that the customer is willing to pay for in excess of the combined total as calculated from Quantity + Allowance.
Allowance	Set spoilage for the current part. Spoilage is the number of excess pieces that will be produced for the purpose of setting up the die. Generally, after setting up the die, these pieces are recycled.

Sheets	The sheets that will be used in the nesting job. Each material used in the 3D model defines its own set of sheets. NOTE: To add a sheet, click any row in the table, and then click the Plus button; then, from the list that appears, select a sheet. To delete a sheet, click it, and then click the Remove button.
The Sheets List	A list of the sheets selected for production. For each material, you see two default sheets groups: All Sheets and Nesting Group 1. For each new nesting group you choose to create, a new sheets group appears here. If you are working with multiple nesting groups, here you can add sheets to each one of them. To add a sheet: Select a group's name. Click the Plus button. From the list that appears, select the sheet that you want to work with. Repeat Steps 1–3 for each sheet you want to add. Notice that each sheet you add automatically goes into both its own nesting group and the All Sheets group. NOTE: In a nesting group, you can add multiple sheets but use only some of them. To choose which ones to use, use the mouse to select or deselect the check box in front of each sheet. Alternatively, use the Space bar to select or deselect sheets and nesting groups.
Flute/Grain direction	Sets whether the sheet will take into account the grain or flute of the material. The options are: fdX. Arranges the parts according to the horizontal flute/grain. fdY. Arranges the parts according to the horizontal flute/grain. fdAny. Ignores the direction of the flute/grain.
Count	Sets the number of sheets available, the default value is Infinite. You can set your own number. In that case, if EngView computes a number that is greater than the one set here, a red notification and a tooltip alert will appear in the Total Sheet Count column in the Results step.
Width	The horizontal length of the sheet.
Height	The vertical length of the sheet.
Left, Right, Top, Bottom	The values for the sheet's left, right, upper and lower margins

The Preview Pane	A preview of the part selected in the Name column
Single Object Dimension	Click to measure the lengths of individual objects in the preview area.
Associative (Two Object) Dimension	Click to measure distances between two objects.
Show Images	If images have been applied to the parts, clicking this button hides/displays them.
Clipped Image	If images have been applied onto the parts that go outside the parts, clicking this button clips the images to make them fit the parts' actual areas.
View Bleed	Hides/Displays the bleed in the preview area.

The progress bar

The progress bar follows the sequence of steps that makes up the nesting job. The first and last steps — Parameters and Results — are permanent, while the number of the intermediate steps depends on (1) the number of the materials used in the 3D model and (2) the grouping of the parts for the actual nesting (see below). The name of an intermediate step is a compound generated automatically from the name of the used material and that of the nesting group. In the example above, ICB Board White 16, Nesting Group 1. Scroll below in the table to learn how to use nesting groups.

Quantity of displays to produce

Type how many finished products you want produced as a result of the nesting job.

1up Nesting Groups

Here you tell EngView how to nest the parts on the sheet. When you select a part, it appears in the preview area on the right. If you have defined nesting groups in the materials store, based on a particular material, these are loaded automatically.

IMPORTANT: If you make changes to the nesting groups that you want to use in the future, you can update them in the materials store. Updating the store is automatic for rolled materials, but not for sheet materials. So do it manually.

Learn how to define a nesting group.

Cost Parameters

Opens a dialog box in which you tell EngView how to calculate an estimate for the cost of the production. This estimates does not offer an actual production cost but is a instrument for ranking layout variants by lowest cost.

Name

The column displays three nesting job components:

The name of the used material. Material names are added automatically by EngView. This name takes part in the EngView-generated name of the nesting job's intermediate steps. You cannot edit the name here.
The nesting groups defined for the job. Each material used in the 3D model defines its own set of nesting groups. There is always a default group, Nesting Group 1, whose name you can neither modify nor delete. You can tell EngView to always nest certain parts together. In this case, you need to group the parts into a separate group. To create a group:
1. Select the name of the material.
2. Click the Plus button above.
3. In the row that appears, edit the group's name as you need it.
4. From Nesting Group 1, drag into the new group the parts that you want to group individually into the new group.
5. Repeat Steps 1–4 for each new group you choose to create.
The indvidual parts that will take part in the nesting job. By default, when you begin, you see all available parts in Nesting Group 1. If you choose to have some parts always processed together, create nesting groups for them. If you do not want to use a part in the nesting job, leave its check box empty. Article indicates the name of the article applied onto the part.

Rotation

Type an angle that EngView will use to rotate the part while populating the sheet. To specify a value for all the parts, set it across the name of the nesting group. To set an individual angle value for a part, type it across the part's name.

Spacing

Type a gap between the parts. To specify a global value, type it across the name of the nesting group. To set an individual spacing for a part, type it across its name.

Delivery Quantity

Specify how many pieces of this part you want produced.

Overproduction

Specify as percentage the amount of production that the customer is willing to pay for in excess of the combined total as calculated from Quantity + Allowance.

Allowance

Set spoilage for the current part. Spoilage is the number of excess pieces that will be produced for the purpose of setting up the die. Generally, after setting up the die, these pieces are recycled.

Sheets

The sheets that will be used in the nesting job. Each material used in the 3D model defines its own set of sheets. NOTE: To add a sheet, click any row in the table, and then click the Plus button; then, from the list that appears, select a sheet. To delete a sheet, click it, and then click the Remove button.

The Sheets List

A list of the sheets selected for production. For each material, you see two default sheets groups: All Sheets and Nesting Group 1. For each new nesting group you choose to create, a new sheets group appears here. If you are working with multiple nesting groups, here you can add sheets to each one of them. To add a sheet:

Select a group's name.
Click the Plus button.
From the list that appears, select the sheet that you want to work with.
Repeat Steps 1–3 for each sheet you want to add. Notice that each sheet you add automatically goes into both its own nesting group and the All Sheets group.

NOTE: In a nesting group, you can add multiple sheets but use only some of them. To choose which ones to use, use the mouse to select or deselect the check box in front of each sheet. Alternatively, use the Space bar to select or deselect sheets and nesting groups.

Flute/Grain direction

Sets whether the sheet will take into account the grain or flute of the material. The options are:

fdX. Arranges the parts according to the horizontal flute/grain.
fdY. Arranges the parts according to the horizontal flute/grain.
fdAny. Ignores the direction of the flute/grain.

Count

Sets the number of sheets available, the default value is Infinite. You can set your own number. In that case, if EngView computes a number that is greater than the one set here, a red notification and a tooltip alert will appear in the Total Sheet Count column in the Results step.

Width

The horizontal length of the sheet.

Height

The vertical length of the sheet.

Left, Right, Top, Bottom

The values for the sheet's left, right, upper and lower margins

The Preview Pane

A preview of the part selected in the Name column

Single Object Dimension

Click to measure the lengths of individual objects in the preview area.

Associative (Two Object) Dimension

Click to measure distances between two objects.

Show Images

If images have been applied to the parts, clicking this button hides/displays them.

Clipped Image

If images have been applied onto the parts that go outside the parts, clicking this button clips the images to make them fit the parts' actual areas.

View Bleed

Hides/Displays the bleed in the preview area.

Click the Cost Parameters icon and in it set how you want EngView to compute the cost estimate. See details about how to do this.
Edit the sheet and grouping settings to make them work for your case. Then click Next to continue.

An intermediate step appears. A general info about the intermediate steps follows:

The number of intermediate steps is determined by (1) the number of used materials and (2) the number of nesting groups (see the note for progress bar in the previous step). The name of an intermediate step is a compound from the name of the used material and that of the nesting group. This means that if you work with multiple materials, you will have as many individual pages as materials, and if you work with multiple nesting groups, you will have as many pages as groups. In other words, if you work with:

One material and one nesting group, the wizard will display one intermediate step.
Two materials and two nesting groups, the wizard will display four intermediate steps.

Scroll past the picture that follows to learn how to read an intermediate step.

The page is divided into two sections: a two-pane tabular section in the upper half and a preview area in the lower.

Left-hand tabular pane. The list of variants that EngView computes from the parameters you have supplied. The list does not include all the computed variants but only a selection of the best-performing ones. The variants are listed in descending order, ranked by the lowest cost and waste. To view the details for each variant, select it in the left-hand pane, and then review its production numbers in the right-hand pane.
Middle tabular pane. Lists the same information as in the left-hand one, but shown by sheets, not by material. You see information for each sheet you have selected in the left-handed pane. You can see how many parts are nested on which individual sheet, as well as the waste and cost.
Right-hand tabular pane. For each variant, lists the 1ups (parts) and how many of them will be produced.
Preview pane in the lower half, presenting the selected variant in visual terms.

The Left-Hand Pane	The pane lists the layout variants that EngView has computed from the parameters you have supplied. The variants are listed in descending order, ranked by the lowest cost and waste.
Layout Variants	The names of the sheets that EngView will use for the nesting job.
Layout Variants	How many dies (or sheets) the job requires.
Total Sheet Count	The total number of sheets EngView has computed for the nesting job. Note that if you see a red text and an alert tooltip here, this means that in Count (in the Parameters step) you have entered a number that is smaller than the one EngView has computed. This alert will not stop the nesting job, but it is best to go back to the Parameters step and modify the value in Count.
Waste %	The overall waste in relation to the total area of the sheet
Model Cost Estimate	The relative cost for the variant


The Middle Pane	The pane lists a breakdown of the parts combinations by particular sheet. For each part are displayed its production volume (in Delivery Qnty, Produced and Excess), spatial positioning on the sheet (Rotation), and per-sheet distribution.
The Right-Hand Pane	The pane lists the 1ups (parts) featured in the variant selected in the left-hand pane. For each part are displayed its production volume (in Delivery Qnty, Produced and Excess), spatial positioning on the sheet (Rotation), and per-sheet distribution.
1up	The name of the 1up (part). When you select a part, it is highlighted in the preview pane in all the sheets it appears.
Rotation	The angle of rotation for the part when arrayed in the sheet
Delivery Quantity	How many pieces of this part you want produced. If colored results appear, see what they mean*.
Produced	The number of parts the nesting job will actually produce. If colored results appear, see what they mean*.
Excess	The difference between the values in Produced and in Delivery Quantity. If colored results appear, see what they mean*.
Per Sheet	Indicates how many pieces of the part there are in each sheet in which the part appears. Examples: sh1:1 means Sheet 1 contains one pieces of the part. sh2:3 means Sheet 2 contains three pieces. sh2:2, sh3:6 means Sheet 2 contains two pieces and Sheet 3 contains six pieces. When you select the row, EngView highlights the part in the preview pane in all the sheets it appears. If colored results appear, see what they mean*.

*Colored results	Depending on the amounts you have set for a nesting job, in the right-hand pane you may see colored results in the columns Delivery Quantity, Produced, Excess and Per Sheet. The colors means as follows: Blue. The amounts produced are greater than what you have set. That means you will have surplus output. Red. The amounts produced are smaller than what you have set. This means you will have smaller output than what you need.

The Preview Pane	A preview of the layouts EngView has computed under the selected variant. If a row is selected in the right-hand pane, the respective part is highlighted in all the sheets in which it appears.
Single Object Dimension	Click to measure the lengths of individual objects in the preview area.
Associative (Two Object) Dimension	Click to measure distances between two objects.
Show Images	If images have been applied to the parts, clicking this button hides/displays them.
Clipped Image	If images have been applied onto the parts that go outside the parts, clicking this button clips the images to make them fit the parts' actual areas.
View Bleed	Hides/Displays the bleed in the preview area.

The Left-Hand Pane

The pane lists the layout variants that EngView has computed from the parameters you have supplied. The variants are listed in descending order, ranked by the lowest cost and waste.

Layout Variants

The names of the sheets that EngView will use for the nesting job.

Layout Variants

How many dies (or sheets) the job requires.

Total Sheet Count

The total number of sheets EngView has computed for the nesting job. Note that if you see a red text and an alert tooltip here, this means that in Count (in the Parameters step) you have entered a number that is smaller than the one EngView has computed. This alert will not stop the nesting job, but it is best to go back to the Parameters step and modify the value in Count.

Waste %

The overall waste in relation to the total area of the sheet

Model Cost Estimate

The relative cost for the variant

The Middle Pane

The pane lists a breakdown of the parts combinations by particular sheet. For each part are displayed its production volume (in Delivery Qnty, Produced and Excess), spatial positioning on the sheet (Rotation), and per-sheet distribution.

The Right-Hand Pane

The pane lists the 1ups (parts) featured in the variant selected in the left-hand pane. For each part are displayed its production volume (in Delivery Qnty, Produced and Excess), spatial positioning on the sheet (Rotation), and per-sheet distribution.

1up

The name of the 1up (part). When you select a part, it is highlighted in the preview pane in all the sheets it appears.

Rotation

The angle of rotation for the part when arrayed in the sheet

Delivery Quantity

How many pieces of this part you want produced. If colored results appear, see what they mean*.

Produced

The number of parts the nesting job will actually produce. If colored results appear, see what they mean*.

Excess

The difference between the values in Produced and in Delivery Quantity. If colored results appear, see what they mean*.

Per Sheet

Indicates how many pieces of the part there are in each sheet in which the part appears. Examples:

sh1:1 means Sheet 1 contains one pieces of the part.
sh2:3 means Sheet 2 contains three pieces.
sh2:2, sh3:6 means Sheet 2 contains two pieces and Sheet 3 contains six pieces.

When you select the row, EngView highlights the part in the preview pane in all the sheets it appears. If colored results appear, see what they mean*.

*Colored results

Depending on the amounts you have set for a nesting job, in the right-hand pane you may see colored results in the columns Delivery Quantity, Produced, Excess and Per Sheet. The colors means as follows:

Blue. The amounts produced are greater than what you have set. That means you will have surplus output.
Red. The amounts produced are smaller than what you have set. This means you will have smaller output than what you need.

The Preview Pane

A preview of the layouts EngView has computed under the selected variant. If a row is selected in the right-hand pane, the respective part is highlighted in all the sheets in which it appears.

Single Object Dimension

Click to measure the lengths of individual objects in the preview area.

Associative (Two Object) Dimension

Click to measure distances between two objects.

Show Images

If images have been applied to the parts, clicking this button hides/displays them.

Clipped Image

If images have been applied onto the parts that go outside the parts, clicking this button clips the images to make them fit the parts' actual areas.

View Bleed

Hides/Displays the bleed in the preview area.

Review the nesting job, and then click Next. If you want to modify the job, click Back and do the necessary editing in the Parameters step.

The Results step of the wizard appears, which is an overview of the selected nesting plan.

Material	Displays: The material used for the variant and the nesting group. A list of the sheets used for the nesting job.
Quantity	Displays how many sheets are needed for producing the production run set in Quantity of displays to produce in the Parameters step.
Waste %	Displays the share of the waste for the sheet.
Use Layout Name	(editable) A name that EngView generates from the name of the material, the name of the sheet, and the number of sheets that the job needs. Example: The name B FluteBobst SP 162 X 100 reads: B Flute (material), Bobst 162 SP (sheet name), 100 (number of required sheets). After the layout is generated, this name appears as the name of the layout drawing. You can edit it here to avoid similar-sounding names.

Material

Displays:

The material used for the variant and the nesting group.
A list of the sheets used for the nesting job.

Quantity

Displays how many sheets are needed for producing the production run set in Quantity of displays to produce in the Parameters step.

Waste %

Displays the share of the waste for the sheet.

Use Layout Name

(editable) A name that EngView generates from the name of the material, the name of the sheet, and the number of sheets that the job needs. Example: The name B FluteBobst SP 162 X 100 reads: B Flute (material), Bobst 162 SP (sheet name), 100 (number of required sheets). After the layout is generated, this name appears as the name of the layout drawing. You can edit it here to avoid similar-sounding names.