General procedure overview: 

1. Create a new nest sheet. 
   
2. Add parts to the sheet. 
   
3. Add machining to the parts. 
   
4. Modify the nest sheet layout as needed. 
   
5. Generate G-Code for the nest sheet.
   

Click the button on the MV palette "Nest Editing and 2D Machining Tools" to display the "2D Machining Tools" palette. 

If a work order has not been opened in the Processing Center already in this Toolbox session, the Current Work Order box will be empty, as shown above. If the opposite is true and a work order has been opened in this session, the Current Work Order box will contain that work order name, as shown below.

Create a New Nest Sheet

Verify the pre-populated Processing Station, or select a different one.

Decide whether you want to add the nested sheet to an existing work order, create a new work order, or add it to the work order already displayed. Click the ellipsis button to add it to an existing work order, the plus button to add it to a new work order, or just continue to the next step to add it to the work order displayed.

The Nest Tools tab is displayed when the 2D Machining pallet is opened, but if not, click on it.

Select sheet stock material from the list.

Select sheet size from the list (materials and sizes originate in the material file – mirrors what is configured there).

Click the Draw button and select a location in the drawing to place the new nest sheet.

Add Parts to the Nest Sheet

Click the tab Part Tools.

Enter the part name, part length, part width.

Select a tool to route the part border from the dropdown list. The tools and their depths originate in the tool file and mirror the data configured there. Be sure to select a tool and depth that reflects what you want to do with the part. If this is a part that should be cut free from the sheet, the tool depth should take into account the material thickness.

Click the Draw button and select a location on the nest sheet to place the part. The part contains the lead-in and lead-out paths and is assigned a tool to match the data you entered.

Add multiple identical parts to the nest sheet by repeatedly clicking the Draw button with the same data entered in the Part Information area and clicking a location to place the part on the nest sheet.

Add new different parts by entering a new name, dimensions, and border tool in the Part Information area. Click the Draw button and click a location to place the part on the nest sheet. If you click a location that is not on a nest sheet, a part will be created with a label indicating the information you entered. (There is more information about the reasons for doing this below.)

Add a new part to the nest sheet by drawing a closed polyline within the borders of an existing nest sheet. Add a name, dimensions, and border tool in the Part Information area and click the button Select Existing. Click on the closed polyline, and the color of the object will change to yellow to indicate it was recognized and added to the sheet.

Add Machining to the Parts

Click one of the tabs for the machining tools that match what you want to accomplish. These tabs are Vertical Drilling, Horizontal Drilling, Routing Tools, Route Editing Tools, or Sawing Tools.

For this tutorial, click the tab Vertical Drilling Tools to shelf pin machining.

Select a tool from your list of tools that matches the diameter and depth of the shelf pins you are using.

Check the checkbox "Pick on Screen."

Click the Draw button.

Click in the drawing to define the start point and endpoint of the shelf pin machining.

Enter the necessary distance between holes and click OK.

Next, add routing by clicking the tab Routing Tools.

Draw a closed polyline on an existing part that will be converted to the routing operation in a later step.

Select a tool from your list of tools that matches the diameter and depth of the routing you need to add.

If you want the machining to be on face 6 of the part, check the checkbox for "Make Face 6 Operation" and enter a depth if different than the selected tool. In this case, leave both blank.

Click the option for the Tool Compensation you want.

Click the button "Pick Existing Entities" and select the closed polyline in the drawing when prompted to do so.

Suppose you don't want to select an existing AutoCAD polyline, but want to draw the machining directly from this interface. Click the button "Draw Routing Polyline" instead of picking the existing entity as described above. Select the part border and then click inside that part to define the route machining points needed.

More extensive tutorials for the commands in these machining tools tabs will be found elsewhere in the Help Center.

Modify the Nest Sheet as Required

Move Part: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Move Part" in the Part Placement area.

Click the border of the part you intend to move.

Without right-clicking or pushing the Enter key, click the border of the first boundary as prompted. This is the first of 2 perpendicular axes that define the new location of the part. Then click a border for the second boundary. It is the second of the two perpendicular axes that define the 'move' location.

You may also use the AutoCAD command Move.

If you use the AutoCAD command, be sure to include ALL the information associated with that part, including the machining, setmill data, offset indicator, tabs, etc. when selecting the components to include. Don't leave anything associated with that part behind.

Copy Part: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Move Part" in the Part Placement area.

Click the border of the part you intend to copy.

Without right-clicking or pushing the Enter key, click the border of the first boundary as prompted. This is the first of two perpendicular axes that define the new location of the part. Then click a border for the second boundary. It is the second of the two perpendicular axes that define the 'move' location.

You may also use the AutoCAD command Copy.

If you use the AutoCAD command, be sure to include ALL the information associated with that part, including the machining, setmill data, offset indicator, tabs, etc. when selecting the components to include. Don't leave anything associated with that part behind.

Erase Part: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Erase Part" in the Part Placement area.

Click the border of the part you want to erase.

Click Yes to confirm that you want to erase it.

You may also use the AutoCAD command  Erase.

If you use the AutoCAD command, be sure to include ALL the information associated with that part, including the machining, setmill data, offset indicator, tabs, etc. when selecting the components to include. Don't leave anything associated with that part behind.

Rotate Part in Nest: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Rotate Part in Nest" in the Part Placement area.

Click the border of the part you want to rotate. The part is first rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Selecting the part a second time, after selecting Rotate Part in Nest again, will rotate the part back to its original position. Think of this command as rotate and move combined. After the rotate operation, the original lower right corner becomes the new lower-left corner. The part is then moved to keep the relative part position on the sheet.

You may also use the AutoCAD commands Rotate and Move to provide more control of the part placement.

If you use the AutoCAD command, be sure to include ALL the information associated with that part, including the machining, setmill data, offset indicator, tabs, etc. when selecting the components to include. Don't leave anything associated with that part behind.

Change Setmill Location: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Change Part Border Setmill Location" in the Part Placement area.

Click a location on a part border to select the new setmill location. The snap mode is automatically set to Nearest to allow selection of any point along the border geometry.

Create and Revise G-Code

Create New G-Code: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Create New G-Code Files from Drawing" in the Machining area.

Click on a part border or nest border. Alternatively, enter AN at the command prompt to include all nests in the drawing, or enter AP at the command prompt to include all parts in the drawing.

Give the file a name and select the location on disc or on your network to save the g-code file.

Update G-Code: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Update Existing G-Code Files from Drawing" in the Machining area.

Click on a part border or nest border. Alternatively, enter AN at the command prompt to include all nests in the drawing, or enter AP at the command prompt to include all parts in the drawing.

Select the file to update when presented with the Save As file box, and confirm whether you want to overwrite the existing file or not.

Display Machining Properties: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Show Machining Properties" in the Machining area.

Click on machining geometry in the drawing for a display of the properties of that machining.

Convert to a Center Line Nest: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Make Center Line Nest" in the Machining area.

Click on a nest border to convert that nest to center line.

Add Machining Tabs to a Nest: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Add Tab to Nest" in the Machining area. Machining tabs are used to keep the part in place to help maintain a machine vacuum and prevent small parts from being ejected from the machine table.

Click on the part borders to place the machining tabs as needed.

Assign Part Border Priorities:  Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Assign Priorities to Borders" in the Machining area.

Click on the part borders in the desired machining order.

Update the G-Code for that nest and verify the machining sequence in a third-party CNC machine code editor such as Discriminator or equivalent. (The tool "Show Machining Sequence" may not accurately reflect the altered priorities.)

Assign Part Route Priorities: Click the tab Nest Tools and click the button "Assign Priorities to Routes" in the Machining area.

Click on the part route machining in the desired machining order.

Update the G-Code for that nest and verify the machining sequence in a third-party CNC machine code editor such as Discriminator or equivalent. (The tool "Show Machining Sequence" may not accurately reflect the altered priorities.)

The use of the tabs for adding and editing machinings such as drilling, routing, and sawing will be covered elsewhere in the Help Center.

FAQ:

Can you use these 2D Machining Tools to add parts to a nest created by the Microvellum Nest Optimizer?

Yes.

Can you optimize this nest sheet with the MV Nest Optimizer?

No. This is the method of creating nested sheets that intended to be used by those wanting to create parts quickly – parts that they already know the dimensions for. It is a manual method of creating nested sheets.