Computer Software for Steel Professionals
Structural Material Manager Length-Nesting Module
An optional Length-Nesting Module is available. The length-nesting process, referred to by some as "multing", uses a branch of mathematics called "combinatorics" to run an incredible number of combinations on the list until it finds the most efficient way to cut the list's items from available stock lengths. Since the cut-list produced results in the least "dropped" material, waste is reduced and efficiency increased. The module is capable of nesting all lineal material types, namely, Beams, Channels, Bars, Angles, Tubes, Rods, Rebar and Pipes.
You may instruct this module to nest into unlimited quantities of standard stock lengths, your in-house inventory or the best combination of both. If you nest into in-house inventory, any stocks used can automatically be removed from inventory, and any usable "drops" can be added back. In addition to stock lengths, values may also be specified for cutting, milling and squaring clearances.
The Length-Nesting Report groups together items that are to be cut from the same stock length. After the last item in a group is printed, a summary line shows the stock length the items were nested into, the lineal total of the items, the total "drop" length and the total weight of all items nested into the stock.
Below is a thumbnail image demonstrating the Length-Nesting Report's format for a group of Angles; click to enlarge it to full size:
After an entire material type is printed, a summary of all required stock
lengths is printed. Not only does
this summary show the stock with the quantity needed and resulting drop, it
also shows the source for that stock as being either in-house inventory or
supplier stock. If neither source
had enough stocks to cut the list, the summary indicates this instead of
showing a source.
The following thumbnail image shows a sample summary of W-Shapes; click to enlarge it to full size:
