An integrated nesting software agent for sheet metal FMS is introduced. The major improvement comparing to other existing nesting software is that the software is based on the shop floor FMS manufacturing environment which enables it to be easily integrated with other software systems such as production planning system, FMS planning/scheduling system and NC programming system etc. Furthermore, instead of traditional nested-sheet-oriented manufacturing, it provides FMS with the capability of order-oriented manufacturing. Considering the characteristics of sheet metal manufacturing, algorithms have been developed for both rectangular nesting and irregular nesting, which are used in traditional punch press and modern laser-cut punch press respectively. The software and algorithm are proved efficient. The system has been tested by computer simulations and will be implemented in industrial environment of a Finnish machine tool company. The company will also use this nesting agent as a part of its new generation sheet metal FMS product.
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