The Shear Genius of SigmaNEST

SigmaTEK announces major successes currently being achieved with SigmaNEST on Finn-Power right-angle shear (RAS) machines.

SigmaNEST has long been the leader in designing and providing profile nesting CAD/CAM software to sheet and plate fabricators.

In addition to profile cutting capabilities, the software has been used to program punch profile combination machines for a long time. Using this experience as a foundation, the company has developed turret punch software that has been successfully installed at a number of sites.

In a recent interview, Glenn Binder, Sales and Marketing Director said, "Being able to program laser, punch, right angle shear, and combo machines on a single nesting CAD/CAM platform is a key advantage of using SigmaNEST."

Over the years, many of the high volume sheet metal part producers have invested in RAS machines because they are capable of producing parts quickly without leaving a skeleton. Besides speed and material efficiency, another advantage is the automatic part off-loading system which further streamlines the process. One of the leading OEMs for RAS machines is Finn-Power, a manufacturer headquartered in Finland.

The main method of operating these machines is that, after the punching and forming operations have been completed on the full size sheet, the "X" slide moves the sheet to the right-angle shear. The shear has two blades mounted at an angle of 90 degrees and is able to shear the parts from the main sheet. To produce longer parts, the shear has the ability to make a half-stroke in the x-axis direction for longitudinal cuts. The part is then separated by a full stroke in the x- and y-axes. This is all accomplished by automatic sub-programs in the NC control — programmed by SigmaNEST.

Following the successful implementation of laser and turret punching systems, SigmaTEK has invested in the development of nesting CAM software to program RAS machines. The challenge has been to run the Finn-Power Shear Genius better than any other vendor; we met that goal as one of our customers currently produces around 18,000 parts a day with SigmaNEST.

The most innovative system available, the new SigmaNEST for punching machines has taken the industry by storm. Auto Dynamic Nesting, a proprietary function, allows for simultaneous automatic part nesting and tooling assignment, negating many non-value added processes associated with punch machine programming. "In the box tooling" and "automatic part shear sequencing" have made SigmaNEST a true nesting CAD/CAM system for right-angle shear machines.

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