ADDITIONAL MODULES & PRODUCTS

SigmaNEST solutions are built on core modules being packaged together and then incorporating specialized and enhancement modules or products for specific machine requirements or advanced to best meet the business needs of customers. These additional modules fall under the areas of:

ADDITIONAL MODULES

Add-On Nesting Modules


Continuous Nesting ties and maintains work orders together with a virtual crop line.

*Requires TrueShape or higher level package

Level 2/Non Rectangular nesting enables nesting on a non-rectangular (remnant) sheet.

Composite Nesting provides nesting capabilities specific to the sensitivities of composite materials.

Operations Planning & Management Modules


For consulting and custom work, see more details at SigmaTEK Services.

Estimating and Quoting is a module that utilizes the valuable parts and nesting data in SigmaNEST to produce formal time estimates and part pricing quotes in seconds. Key functionality includes:

  • Automatically calculate part area, cut length, and pierce numbers
  • Calculate part costs with an integrated costing model featuring user-defined parameters for machine recovery rate, operator costs, and other overhead and consumable materials
  • Calculate processing time based on the nominal feed rate, material type and thickness, machine acceleration, part quality specifications, rapid traverse, an d head up-down movement on piercings

Inventory Control

  • Integrated stock and remnant material database
  • Browse remnant database and select remnants according to graphical representation, size, thickness, or material type
  • Event-based inventory consumption tracking
  • Graphical plate history and traceability, including sheet number, dimensions, material grade, heat number, etc.
  • Inventory status and cost reporting
  • Import/export capabilities- new plates received or sold, and material consumed

Job Tracking and Scheduling

  • Automated nesting task set up
  • Integrated order database
  • Combine word orders for scrap reduction
  • Automatic party quantity tracking
  • Part production scheduling
  • Work order status reporting

Legacy Data Conversion SigmaNEST file converters are stand alone utilities that transform the file formats of several products to the SigmaNEST file format. These utilities are distinct from SigmaNEST's native ability to import DXF, DWG, IGES and HPGL files and also distinct from the CAD/CAM integration modules.

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Machine-Specific Modules


Bevel Programming provides programming for land, knife, K and blind bevels, corner loops and start slots, advanced height sensing and multi-cut single bevel head support.

*Requires the base AutoNEST package.

Drilling Combination provides interactive and automatic tooling, tool management and sorting, 2.5D milling and automatic repositioning.

*Requires minimum of TrueShape package.

Knife Cutting Module provides the necessary NC programming for basic to ultra-sonic knife cutters. Key features include:

  • Allows for multi-passes to reduce blade overload/breakage.
  • Calculates (auto or manual) depth for multi-passes.
  • Compensates for machine limitations with lift angle capabilities
  • Control of knife force pressure based on materials.

Profile/Punch Combination provides interactive and automatic tooling, tool management and sorting, drop door support and nesting in the dead zone.

Right Angle Shear provides automatic shear nesting, automatic dimensioning of the nesting plan, and material utilization reports. Sheer Nesting requires the AutoNEST package, and is included in the PowerPack package.

Waterjet supports most waterjet cutting systems including ESAB, Jet Edge, Flow, Omax, Romeo, Bystronic, and others.

  • Auto setup for cutting conditions, feed rate,and abrasive rate for required cut quality.
  • 5-axis bevel cutting, including knife and land bevels
  • Intricate detail cut with auto acceleration/de-acceleration programming
  • Advanced auto, pre-nesting and multi-nozzle nesting
  • Auto feed rate and power ramping

Router module provides programming for single- or multi-spindle routing machines in 2D profile cutting applications. The program is ideal for high-efficiency production in frame, boat and furniture manufacturing. Automatic router bit oscillation for smooth cutting. Key features include:

  • Automatic adjustment of lead in lines for positioning
  • Z-depth tabs
  • Mortise and Tenon
  • Depth control and tabs

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ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS

Design/Geometry Modules


Blow Pipe Fittings is used for designing and unfolding 3D transitions and welded fittings for blow pipe, boiler making and general fabrication applications. Key features include:

  • Selectable weld joints and connections
  • Alignment marks
  • 3D DXF wireframe import with surface patch definition
  • Shapes: Offset, skewed and combination for:
    • Oval-to-round
    • Oval-to-oval
    • Rectangle-to-round
    • Rectangle-to-oval
    • Taps, nozzles and intersecting cones
  • Gored and reduced gored elbow
  • Branches and Y-pieces
  • Taps, nozzles and intersecting cones

HVAC is specifically geared to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry. In addition to the Blow Pipe Fittings package, SigmaDUCT HVAC adds:

  • Built-in knowledge of industry tables
  • Integrated nesting and NC generation

Cut-to-Length is a general purpose, cut to length nesting and orders and raw material management system for steel stockholders, distributors and warehouses. It is a linear nesting bar stock and sections management system with:

  • Linear nesting optimization
  • Automatic bill of material processing
  • Cut schedule
  • Raw material tracking
  • Drop management

ScanLine is a powerful raster to vector application for converting scanned diagrams to SigmaNEST geometry with:

  • Entity recognition
  • Conversion of everything or a selection to vectors
  • Center line (sketch) conversion
  • Silhouette (outline) conversion
  • Raster / vector overlay
  • User-definable parameters

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Integration/Automation


SimTrans™ is an online transaction manager between SigmaNEST and the MRP system either via shared databases or program interfaces. SigmaNEST resides at the center of machining operations and maintains its own database of parts, work orders and material. SimTrans permits internal information other IT systems to communicate with SigmaNEST and its databases.

CAD Interfaces

SigmaNEST provides a high level of integration with major CAD/CAM products. The import process is initiated from the SigmaNEST tool bar, and in most cases, transparently invokes the corresponding application in the background to perform necessary preprocessing of the model before it is placed directly on the SigmaNEST work space.

SigmaNEST has interfaces to the following products:

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Shop Floor Operations


Machine Console™ provides on-demand or “just in time” nesting, ideally suited for medium-to-large and high-volume sheet processing sites. After a work load is drawn from an MRP system or maintained manually, it’s prioritized based on given attributes. Machine Console then draws from that work load, determines an optimum nest and specifies the sheet to be used for maximum utilization.

Color Offload™ enables easier parts sorting after cutting when true shape nests contain co-mingled orders. Parts related to a specific order share the same color on the nest layout within the system for quick reference during sorting.

Load Unload can be used by manufacturers utilizing machinery equipped with load-unload automation equipment. These machines come equipped with a scheduling solution for the loader using master programs that call a sub-program to some repeat quantity. This module functions much like the SigmaNEST FMS application with the exception of the output to drive the machine and the load-unloader.

Load Manager is an application designed for machine scheduling and load management, providing:

  • interactive load rebalancing
  • job reassignment
  • dynamic job progress tracking
  • graphical representation of machines load
  • automatic compatibility checking

SimGenie (LMS - Line Management System, application or module) provides flexible and automatic control for material handling and processing, giving laser shops the most efficient and productive manufacturing capabilities including:

  • "Smart scheduling"
  • Archiving and reporting of job data
  • Inventory tracking
  • Seamless integration with CAD/CAM nesting systems
  • Real-time progress reports
  • Error recovery
  • Comprehensive diagnostics

Stock Manage a raw material viewing and tracking utility with:

  • Stock viewing screen
  • Stock order updating
  • Work order management integration
  • Network access to SigmaNEST stock

SigmaTUBE is an add-in module for tube-cutting laser and plasma machines and for users comfortable with the SolidWorks design interface. SigmaTUBE offers linear nesting for round pipe, rectangular tube, and other cross sections.

    SigmaTUBE Spec Sheet

pdfVIEW FULL DETAILS

Step-by-step wizard guides users through the programming process with key features including:

  • Compatible with rectangular, round, or free-form tube
  • Feature suppression for cutting
  • Automatic cut out detection
  • Automatic toolpath and NC code generation
  • Automatic or manual lead-in/-out placement
  • 3D simulation of the cutting process that shows work part, cutting head, and machine.

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