Updated Sheet Metal-Fabricating Software Streamlines Shop-Floor Operations

Lantek has released v45 of its Lantek Expert sheet metal-fabricating software, designed to enhance part-handling and shop-floor efficiency, and incorporating a new feature that allows users to set custom nesting priorities based on operational needs.

The latest Nesting by Attribute tool enables manufacturers to group and organize parts on sheet metal based on selected criteria, thus simplifying part identification and improving operator workflow, according to company officials. Parts from the same job or production stage can be color-coded, separated by offset zones or even divided by visible lines, making them easier to identify and remove. 

“The latest Nesting by Attribute tool is user friendly, helping machine operators quickly identify which parts belong to which job,” summarizes Adam Ball, Lantek commercial director. “With today’s high-speed laser cutting machines, shop-floor operators often struggle to sort cut parts quickly enough. Grouping parts from different jobs on a single sheet sometimes can disrupt the production flow if the parts require different post-processing steps. This new feature helps to avoid that, reduce errors and save time.”

And, users now clearly can define nesting priorities using any attributes stored in Lantek Expert or Lantek MES, such as delivery deadlines, follow-up processes, container type, associated job orders or assemblies. During nesting, parts matching the selected properties are prioritized, while others are placed in the remaining spaces.

“In some cases,” Ball says, “full material optimization is ideal, but in other cases, it's far more practical to nest in a way that supports faster and more efficient part handling on the shop floor.”

See also: Lantek Systems Inc.

Technologies: CNC Punching, Cutting, Software

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Start receiving newsletters.