Released on: July 15, 2008, 5:15 am

Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler

Industry: Software

Press Release Summary: Optimation Nesting Solutions Beat Heuristics

Press Release Body: Manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, recently authored a
feature article for Automation.com titled, "Nesting Heuristics Less Effective than
Vision Emulation." In the article Cutler cites Michael D Lundy, P.E. and CEO of
Optimation (www.optimation.com) who commented, "In all cases heuristics are blind.
In order to prevent the heuristic from selecting a nest that is infeasible,
constraints are applied to the list. A filter is applied to prevent parts that are
due in the future from being considered. Another filter will limit the list of
parts to insure that too many tools are not required by the set of parts in the
list. These filters limit many of the possibilities that are feasible. The
result is a sub-optimal nest that is feasible but wastes material and productivity."

Lundy's company approached this problem with a dynamic method of evaluating optimal
results. Multi-Dimensional-Combinatorial-Nesting technology (MDCNT) is a new
technology which transcends previous nesting methods. Previously most nesting
algorithms were simple heuristics, and did not consider the alternatives; this new
methodology guarantees the highest efficiency while insuring that production
schedule and priorities are optimized. Lundy suggested, "Standard heuristics crash
badly when presented with real world problems. MDCN looks at many different
dimensions affecting cost. Schedule, hot parts, material efficiency, order
completion, tool optimization, common cutting, torch load, and other costs make
finding the optimal nest Multi-Dimensional."
Unlike heuristics, the combinatorial nesting approach uses fathoming to eliminate
infeasible solutions and sub-optimal solutions. MDCN converges, learning as it
works to find the optimal solution. Each new solution becomes the benchmark to
best when comparing alternative combinations of parts; any solution that is not
better or can not improve on the best solution found, is not considered.
For 30 years Optimation® has been the world leader in Part Nesting for Optimized
Material and Labor utilization. Consistently providing product advancement
leadership to industry, the company's new Nesting Technology, AxiomVE make previous
nesting methods obsolete. The new technology, Vision EmulationT, allows the system
to "see" the shape of parts, just as human eyes would view them. When a person
looks at a part, they see the whole shape and any special features on the part.
This information is then used to determine if the part will fit in an area of the
nest. Vision Emulation eliminates excessive trial and error as well as excessive
rotation.
Optimation offers benchmarking against any other method of part nesting; recent
benchmarks have show improvements up to 15% in material efficiency alone. As lean
efficiencies are essential, the most advanced nesting technology guarantees the most
important parts are always nested in the next available machine, providing advanced
information to integrated costing, labor reporting, and material inventory systems.
Because Optimation is strong financially and has the most advanced technology; the
company offers direct financing from its own capital resources.
The complete article may be read at
http://www.automation.com/resources-tools/articles-white-papers/articles-by-thomas-r-cutler/nesting-heuristics-less-effective-than-vision-emulation.

Optimation
www.optimation.com
Michael D Lundy P.E.
Opti1@optinest.com
877-827-2100


Web Site: http://www.optimation.com

Contact Details: Optimation
704 NW Mock Street
Blue Springs, MO 64015
816-228-2100