Nesting Options - Small Parts to Center of Nest

Nesting Options - Small Parts to Center of Nest

Users of Microvellum set their nesting optimization ‘Strategy’ option to ‘Small Parts to Center’ for various reasons, including safety and accuracy. However, this option is often misunderstood. This article explains what the percentage value represents and how to set it to achieve your objectives in using it.

Nesting Optimization Strategy

When the option is set to ‘Small Parts to Center,’ the optimizer uses the ‘Small Part Threshold’ property to determine what qualifies as a small part. The optimizer first identifies and creates a collection of ‘small parts’ defined by the Small Part Threshold value. It then locates those small parts in the center of the sheet. Lastly, it collects all the parts that are larger than the small part threshold and places them around the perimeter of the sheet, outside the area defined for the small parts. 

Small Parts % Buffer from Sheet Edge

The value for ‘Small Parts % Buffer From Sheet Edge’ is crucial if you want to predictably group your small parts in the center of the sheet. Look at Figure 1 below as an example.

The value of this property is set to 20. This value represents a percentage of the width and length of the sheet.


Fig. 01 - Optimization Strategy Set to Small Parts to Center and Parts % Buffer Set to 20 

By entering a value of 20 as shown in Figure 1, you are identifying the border of the ‘small parts area’ as being a distance of 20% of the sheet width from each long edge, and a distance of 20% of the sheet length from each short edge.

Therefore, if you have a sheet that measures 48 inches wide and 96 inches long, your area for small parts is 28.8 inches wide and 57.6 inches long.

The distance from both the long edges is 9.6 inches, and the distance from both short edges is 19.2, as shown in Figure 2 below.

To calculate your small part area, use the following formula:
Small part area width = Sheet width – ((Sheet width x 0.2) x 2)
Small part area length = Sheet length – ((Sheet length x 0.2) x 2)

Fig. 02 - AutoCAD Drawing Showing Small Part Area in the Center of 48x96 Sheet with 20% Edge Buffer


Fig. 03 - AutoCAD Drawing Showing Small Part Area in the Center of 48x96 Sheet with 5% Edge Buffer

The red rectangle represents the area where the optimizer will place the small parts. Make sure this area is larger than your largest ‘small part’ as defined by ‘Small Part Threshold.’ If you have a part that is larger than that size, it will fail to optimize as expected.


    • Related Articles

    • Processing Station Nest Options - Optimization

      The nesting optimization section in the Processing Station allows you to choose how to optimize parts within a material sheet. Selecting the strategy for your Nesting Optimizer will allow you to maximize materials by placing and rotating the parts as ...
    • Processing Station Nest Options - Border Method

      This article covers Border Methods available in the Nest tab of the Processing Station options interface.  For more information on processing station options see the article Nesting Processing Station Controls and Settings . Standard Border Method ...
    • Overview & Tutorials: Nest Tabbing

      Automated nesting programs such as the Microvellum Nesting Optimizer are very efficient at maximizing material usage by placing and rotating a large number of parts as necessary to create a nested pattern that minimizes waste. Along with this ...
    • Nesting Processing Station Controls and Settings

      To access the settings for a processing station, select the processing station and click the Edit icon. The Settings tab for the processing stations is the same across the different types of processing stations. Name – Allows you to set the name for ...
    • Overview: 15.6 Processing Center

      The Microvellum Processing Center is an indispensable tool in the production of manufacturing data for your company. Countless users depend on it every day to edit processing stations, create g-code, print reports, and labels, work with the nest ...
    • Recent Articles

    • Microvellum Foundation Library Release Notes | Build 24.0322

      Additions Added the Master Angled Ends Cabinet. Added a Global prompt, "Hinge Plate Offset From Front" for easier control. Added “Double Division” option to Horizontal Designer Cabinets, 3 Door Cabinets, and other similar products. Added a new ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0318.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0318.641 Shadowline Fix Figure 1: Shadowline shaping issue (left) and fixed (right). There were reports of users experiencing issues with products having incorrectly shaped shadow lines when the ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0312.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0312.641 Processing Station IDs Processing stations will have IDs added to them as an option within the Toolbox UI, to better distinguish between different processing stations. Perfect Graining ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0306.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0306.641 Destroy Offal Fix Figure 1: Destroy Offal arc part issue. There was an issue reported by users utilizing nesting with the “Destroy Offal” setting applied during processing. ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0227.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0227.641 UI Fixes Figure 1: Expansion issue with Function Arguments window. There was a noted issue regarding the Function Arguments window in the Formula Editor: when one expanded or increased ...