Panel Percentage Utilization

After completing an optimization sufficient utilization is listed as a percent. This percent only applies if the raw panel is shortened to the used length. Shouldn’t this percent apply to the entire panel if the selection to “shorten raw panel to used length” is set to “No”? For example, if the optimization nests an 8x8 panel in an 8 x16 raw panel, the utilization percent should be 50%, not 100%.

In our case it is waste. We don't have the room to keep the "drops" off panels to be reused on another job that might be a month or more away. So we laminate panels to the size - of best optimization in 2' increments from 8' to 24'. So typically the waste is less than 2' (off the end of the panel).

Is this an option that could be added?

Can you add the option to show utilization percetage of panel being used as explained in my first post? An 8x8 panel in an 8x16 raw panel should be 50% utilization.

Thanks. Staying on this same topic I want to say that there's another issue with the way we optimize and the way the programming is written for optimization. It has to do with the reason you said waste can be used for the next optimization and that's why such a high yield is shown for an 8x8 panel being nested in an 8x16 and that's exacty the problem.

For example:
If sufficient utilization is set to 95% and I optimize (4) 8x8 panels and my available material is 8x16, instead of optimizing (2) 8x8 panels in an 8x16 raw panels, it will only optimize (1) panel in an 8x16 because it thinks its ok because the sufficient utilization is 100%, when i fact it's not ok. It's forcing me to use more material than i need. Now, this situation doesn't happen every time, but it does happen and it is a problem since we don't use waste like you said the optimization is programmed to do.

I think "max operation time" is also a factor because i don't know how much time to allow so that i get the best yield.

See the attached file. When I optimize I make the following raw panels lengths available: 8'/14'/16'/18'/20'/24'
See nestings: 22/24/25/34-46/49-50/56-59. These are all nestings that used a 14' raw panel. The used length on these nestings are under 10'.
Why weren't the panels doubled up to use the available 20' raw panels?

Your english is fine and understand what you're saying, but what you are saying is a huge issue for us.
"The program does not use all raw panels which are available"
-Why not? Isn't that the whole point of having optimization?

"It is programmed to use as less material as possible"
Then this statement is not true because it's not using all the material available.

Zitat von Joachim Neumann

In such a case as you describe it above you have to help for a good optimization. You could optimize some panels with the raw panels you feel best and then the other panels with other raw panels.)

Do you have any more suggestions to help get the best yield out of our situation?

Zitat von Joachim Neumann

No not realy but I do not know your whole situation.

Here is the situation:
#1. The goal is to have the best material yield.
#2. The size of the material is 8'x8'/14'/16'/18'/20'/24'.
#3. The amount of material available is whatever it take to achieve #1.
#4. Material "drop" or "waste" is thrown away, we typically do not use it for another job.

Zitat von Joachim Neumann

If the program would try to use all lengths the optimization would need much more time.

#5. We can let the optimization run overnight in needed.

Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Also, Joachim you have an open invitation to come to Holland Michigan to see for yourself our situation.