OptiCut V

Panel and Profile Cutting Optimization

Tutorial
OptiCut 50/ 200/ 500/ Pro/ Pro_PP
OptiCut V
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
I. 1 Presentation :
I. 2 Installation : !
II. "ENERAL PRINCIPLES
II. 1 Stock Management : 5
II. 2 Multi-Material and Multi-Format Functions : 5
II. 3 Optimum Format Search : #
III. PANEL CUTTIN"
III. 1 Panel Materials and Panel Stocks : $
III. 2 Panel Cutting ists : %
III. 3 Optimi!ation Parameters "or Panels : &
IV. BAR CUTTIN"
I#. 1 $ar Materials and $ar Stocks : ''
I#. 2 $ar Cutting ists : '
I#. 3 Optimi!ation Parameters "or $ars : '!
V. RESULT PRINTOUT
#. 1 Panel Optimi!ation Printout : '5
#. 2 $ar Optimi!ation Printout : '$
#. 3 a%el Printout : '%
VI. I(PORT/ E)PORT
#I. 1 Cutting ist and Stock Import : 20
#I. 2 &ata '(port : 2'
VII. POST PROCESSORS
#II. 1 Post Processors "or Panel Cutting : 22
#II. 2 Post Processors "or $ar Cutting : 2
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I. INTRODUCTION
Preface
Cutting optimization generally requires multiple combinations that cannot all be examined
because of their time-consuming calculations.
Thus, an optimization software cannot always find "the best solution" (this solution
sometimes does not even exist or there might also be several ones), but the more pertinent
the selection criteria of the examined cases (as opposed to the excluded cases) are, the more
efficient the solution will be.
I. 1 PRESENTATION
OptiCut V is a cutting optimization software for panels and bars. It )as de*eloped %+
BOOLE * PARTNERS, editor for professional software since 1988, whose product range
benefits of the experience of thousands of licenses used in more than 30 countries.
OptiCut V is mostly used in the wood, metal, plastic, glass and stone sectors and is applied
in material trade (panels, sheet metal, glazing, profiles and joists), cabinet making (wood or
metal), room layouts, facade, joisting, etc.
In addition to its optimization function, OptiCut V offers various other functions, as for
example the stock management or label print.
Moreover, both the "Pro" and the "Pro_PP" versions have several advanced functions as
the optimum format research (panels and bars), the limitation of the number of
simultaneously produced formats and the adjustment of the cutting angles (bar cutting).
The numerical control of saws (Post processor function) is available in the "Pro" Version
for bars and in the "Pro_PP" Version for panels.
OptiCut V is available in 4 capacities, depending on the sole maximum amount of pieces
that can be optimized simultaneously. The limit of the bar cutting lists (b) is 5 times higher
than the limit of the panel cutting lists (p):
- OptiCut V-50 : 50 p/ 250 b
- OptiCut V-200 : 200 p/ 1000 b
- OptiCut V-500 : 500 p/ 2500 b
- OptiCut V-Pro/ Pro_PP : Unlimited
___________________________________________
In the OptiCut V Version, the optimization algorithms of the panels and the bars have
been separated for improved efficiency.
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I. 2 INSTALLATION
OptiCut V can %e installed on e*er+ personal computer that runs )ith ,indo)s (Windows
98/ 2000/ XP Pro/ Vista). -ou can install it )ith the "ile .I+,tallOptiCut.-.-. that is a*aila%le
on C& or the )e%site ))).%oole.eu.
,hen +ou e(ecute the "ile .I+,tallOptiCut.-.-. the "ollo)ing )indo) opens:
/o) 0ust "ollo) the instructions: the installation onl+ takes a "e) seconds.
Once OptiCut V is installed1 +ou ma+ e(ecute it *ia the shortcut on +our desktop. Clicking on
the .&emo *ersion. %utton allo)s +ou to use OptiCut V in its demo mode until +ou enter the
2cti*ation Code )e )ill pro*ide +ou.
3o recei*e the 2cti*ation Code1 +ou ha*e to send us +our user code per '-mail or "a(.
444444444444444444444444
/ I(PORTANT0
-ou should a%solutel+ u+i+,tall OptiCut V %e"ore altering +our hard dri*e.
3o do this1 open the menu .Start5 Programs. o" +our computer and e(ecute the command
.$oole 6 Partners5 OptiCut 75 8ninstall OptiCut..
ATTENTION0 Do +ot 1or2-t to 3rit- 4o3+ t5- 6o4- pro7i4-4 4uri+2 t5- u+i+,talli+2.
444444444444444444444444
P !
II. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
II. ' STOC8 (ANA"E(ENT
3he OptiCut V stock structure di*ides into t)o parts:
- 2 9at-rial li,t containing the material names +ou entered into OptiCut V that
+ou can use in the cutting lists1
- 2 1or9at li,t containing all the a*aila%le "ormats "or e*er+ material o" the
pre*ious list.
Before defining a panel or bar format !ou s"ould t"us #"e#$ if t"e #orresponding
material e%ists and if not #reate it&
I" +ou )ant to create a panel measuring "or e(ample 050 . '%50 in '& 99-thick )hite
melamine1 +ou should proceed in t)o steps:
1- Create the panel material (ELA_:;< '& 99 thick1
2- Create a panel measuring 050 . '%50 linked to the material (ELA_:;< '&.
I" the material (ELA_:;< '& is a*aila%le in se*eral "ormats1 +ou onl+ ha*e to create them
successi*el+ and then link them to the same material.
I" +ou use the )hite melamine in another thickness1 e.g. '# 991 it is regarded as another
material that +ou should create and use separatel+ o" the pre*ious one.
The OptiCut V stocks can be managed either with the real quantities or unlimited quantities
if orders are made according to your requirements.
II. 2 (ULTI=(ATERIAL AND (ULTI=FOR(AT FUNCTIONS
OptiCut V is a 9ulti=9at-rial and 9ulti=1or9at so"t)are.
,ith the 9ulti=9at-rial "unction +ou can enter or import cutting lists containing se*eral
materials in an+ order.
$e"ore the optimi!ation1 this "unction groups the cutting lines )ith the same material1 then
launches a separate optimi!ation "or e*er+ material in the list.
&uring the optimi!ation process1 the 9ulti=1or9at "unction e(amines all the a*aila%le "ormats
o" the current material and chooses "or e*er+ cutting pattern the most appropriate one that can
either %e a )hole module or the o""-cut o" a pre*ious cutting.
'"us t"e optimization result #ontains a #ombination of t"e a(ailable formats&
$oth the a%o*e "unctions appl+ to panels as )ell as %ars. 9o)e*er1 +ou cannot mi( panels and
%ars in the same list. -ou )ould ha*e to create t)o separate "iles.
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II. OPTI(U( FOR(AT SEARC;
3his "unction1 a*aila%le in %oth the .Pro. and .Pro_PP. #ersions1 ena%les +ou to search
automaticall+ "or the sole most appropriate panel or %ar "ormat "or a gi*en cutting list.
3he search is carried out in a *irtual stock1 independent o" the real stock o" the gi*en material.
In the a%o*e e(ample1 OptiCut V tests :1 *irtual "ormats and suggests "or e(ample to use the
"ormat 17;; ( 3<7; i" it is %etter than the :; others.
This result can be found, even if there is no format at all in stock.
For the %ar cutting1 +ou ma+ proceed in a similar )a+:
In the e(ample a%o*e1 OptiCut V tests 121 *irtual "ormats and "inds "or e(ample the solution
o" 1: %ars )ith the same length o" <27; mm.
Comparatively, in case of a classical multi-format optimiation, OptiCut V would have been
limited to the real formats and thus would have found a less efficient solution of !" bars of
#$$$ mm length % & bars of '$$$ mm length.
3he optimum "ormat search is particularl+ interesting )hen +ou can order +our panel and %ar
"ormats to measure.
Please note t"at t"e "ig"er t"e number of tested formats t"e longer t"e #al#ulations&
P #
III. PANEL CUTTIN"
III. ' PANEL (ATERIALS AND PANEL STOC8S
$oth commands .Panel materials. and .'dit panels. in the .Stock. menu open the "ollo)ing
)indo):

3he panel speci"ic trim cut *alues are independant o" the glo%al trim cut *alues. 9o)e*er1 the+
could replace them or %e added to them1 depending on the selected optimi!ation options.
P $
III. 2 PANEL CUTTIN" LISTS
3he command ./e) panel cutting list. in the .File. menu opens the "ollo)ing )indo) in
)hich +ou can either directl+ enter the cutting list or import it.
'*er+ piece has a main re"erence and up to 1= additional properties that +ou ma+ create or
parameterise in the .3ools5 Pre"erences. )indo).
'ach o" the > edges o" a piece can %e de"ined either %+ its material or %+ its thickness.
3he thickness o" the edges is su%stracted "rom the "inished (entered) dimensions )hereas the
pre-cut is added. 3hese are the net cutting dimensions.

3he shi"t and the control ke+s o" the ke+%oard ena%le +ou to simultaneousl+ select se*eral lines
o" the cutting list.
3he %utton .&uplicate. duplicates the selected lines o" the cutting list.
3he %utton .?roup. groups the lines )ith identical content in one single line.
3he %utton .Multipl+. multiplies the @uantit+ o" the selected lines %+ the same num%er. It is
applied to the )hole cutting list i" there is no selection.
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III. OPTI(I>ATION PARA(ETERS FOR PANELS
"-+-ral Para9-t-r,
3he ta% .?eneral. o" the .Optimi!ation Parameter. )indo) looks like this:

In order to simpli"+ the use1 OptiCut V o""ers se*eral optimi!ation modes )ith pre-de"ined
algorithm parameters.
Contrar+ to the "ast and standard modes1 the ad*anced modes ena%le +ou to change the main
cutting direction (turn around) so as to o%tain more e""icient results and %etter re-usa%le
o""-cuts. Please note that this o"ten leads to more comple( cutting patterns.
The ()igital control( modes are specific to numerical saws and depend on the range of
products of the different manufacturers.
3he .Iterations. cursor de"ines the statistical precision o" the cutting and leads to a %etter
optimi!ation result )ithout ignoring the parameters +ou de"ined.
The best solutions are generally found before the !$
th
iteration, but in some cases only after
the "$
th
.
3he option .Second le*el trim cuts. applies a second trim cut during the cutting1 i" the
re-cutting le*el is higher than 2.
3hanks to the option .ast panel. +ou can1 pro*ided a panel is a*aila%le in se*eral "ormats1
gi*e priorit+ to the "ormat that "inishes the cutting %+ placing all the last pieces.
P &
A47a+6-4 Para9-t-r,
3he ta% .2d*anced. gi*es access to the "ollo)ing parameters:

3he ma(imum recut le*el ena%les +ou to limit the num%er o" tested com%inations and thus also
limits the comple(it+ o" the cutting patterns and the calculation time.
Once the pieces o" the cutting pattern ha*e %een determined1 OptiCut V uses the > cursors o"
the .Optimi!e. "ield to choose the cutting pattern that %est matches the pre"erences +ou
entered.
The more the cursor is placed to the right, the more important the criterion becomes in your
preferences.
,ith the last cursor +ou can "ind solutions using "e)er cutting patterns. 9o)e*er1 the o""-cuts
ma+ increase i" +ou use this option.
Ot5-r Para9-t-r,
3he option .Ae-optimi!e each cutting pattern indi*iduall+. reorganises the original cutting
pattern and sometimes this allo)s the placement o" a "urther piece.
3he parameter .Side threshold. de"ines the distance near the side o" a panel %e+ond )hich
a cutting line cannot %e placed.
3he parameter .imit piece t+pes used simultaneousl+. is used in case onl+ a limited num%er o"
output containers is a*aila%le. 9o)e*er1 it ma+ increase the o""-cuts.
P '0
IV. BAR CUTTING
IV. ' BAR (ATERIALS AND BAR STOC8S
3he )indo) .$ar materials. looks like this:

'ach material is descri%ed )ith a re"erence1 a @ualit+ and a section.
3he material sections can %e descri%ed:
- 'ither %+ their rectangular "ormat )ith its height and )idth1
- Or %+ a user-de"ined "ormat linked to an imported &BF-"ile.
In the latter case1 the section dimensions )ill %e those o" the imported &BF-"ile in the current
unit. 3he+ cannot %e modi"ied.
&uring the creation o" a %ar material1 OptiCut V identi"ies the possi%le s+mmetries o" the
section and then displa+s it in the corresponding "ield.
*ccording to the characteristics of the section, you may reduce these possibilities.
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S?99-tri-, a+4 A+2l- (at65i+2
3hanks to their description1 the %ar sections can %e seen on the screen and taken into account
during the optimi!ation according to the s+mmetries o" a section.
3he %utton .S+mmetries. o" the %ar-editing )indo) opens the "ollo)ing )indo) that sho)s
all the possi%le s+mmetries o" a section and its allo)ed rotations.

2 s@uare section has the ma(imum allo)ed rotations (#$+ for , and !-$+ for . and /)
)hereas a rectangular section )ith an as+mmetrical notch is not allo)ed to rotate.
In the .Pro. and .Pro_PP. #ersions1 i" the s+mmetries o" a section allo) it1 the pieces are
rotated so that their angles match and material is sa*ed.
)epending on whether the successive angles match e0actly, OptiCut V places one or two
cutting lines between two pieces.
P '2
IV. 2 BAR CUTTIN" LISTS
In the )indo) %elo)1 +ou can de"ine the material1 length1 re"erence and > cutting angles
(& angles per side) "or each piece o" the %ar cutting list:
-ou can parameterise the angle description in the .3ools5 Pre"erences. menu
P '
IV. OPTI(I>ATION PARA(ETERS FOR BARS
'(cept "or the angle management1 the general optimi!ation parameters "or %ars are similar to
those "or panels:
3he angle matching "unction1 a*aila%le in the .Pro. and .Pro_PP. #ersions1 has
> optimi!ation le*els: /one1 Minimum1 /ormal and Ma(imum.
The level (1one( corresponds to a straight cut based on the ma0imum lengths of the pieces.
,hen the angle matching re@uires a dou%le cutting line1 the t)o parameters .&ou%le cutting
lines order. and .2dditional cutting thickness. speci"+ )hich o" the t)o cutting lines is made
the "irst and ho) man+ space there is le"t %et)een the t)o lines.
A47a+6-4 Para9-t-r,
3he parameter .O""-cuts length control. o" the .2d*anced. ta% a*oids the creation o" o""-cuts
)hen their length lies %et)een the minimum and ma(imum *alues.
3his "unction increases the possi%ilities o" producing re-usa%le o""-cuts. 9o)e*er1 it generall+
leads to an increased num%er o" re@uired %ars.
P '!
V. RESULT PRINTOUT
V. ' PANEL OPTI(I>ATION PRINTOUT
3he print-out "unction prints a recap o" the optimi!ation and the cutting patterns.
8sing the .File5 Print setup. menu1 +ou can personalise the header on the "ront page and
parameterise the printout %+ choosing the categories +ou )ant to print1 the t)o colours o" the
o""-cuts (recoverable and unrecoverable)1 the margins o" the print and the print mode o" the
cutting patterns (full page or half page with details).
,hen the cutting contains edges1 a categor+ called .'dges list. is automaticall+ created.
It contains the used edges and corresponding edges linear.
,hen the optimi!ation "ails to place one or more pieces1 a section called .Failed pieces. is
created. 3here1 each concerned piece is listed )ith the corresponding moti*e "or the "ailure
(no panels in stock, panels too small, etc.).
P '5
Pa+-l Cutti+2 Patt-r+ Pri+tout
One panel cutting pattern is printed per 2> page.
'ach pattern sho)s the "ile name1 date1 page num%er1 cutting pattern num%er1 material name
and dimensions o" the used panel.
3he patterns are printed in the same order in )hich the algorithm "ound them1 %ut sorted %+
the direction o" the "irst cut (horiontally, then vertically).
,hen a cutting pattern is printed on hal"-pages1 the lo)er hal" is used "or printing either the
piece list (individual or grouped) or the cutting line list depending on the options o" the ta%
.Panels. in the .3ools5 Pre"erences. menu.
,hen the same cutting pattern is to %e e(ecuted B times1 the mention .8ni@ue sample. is
replaced %+ .3o %e produced in B samples..
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V. 2 BAR OPTI(I>ATION PRINTOUT
3he "ront page o" the %ar optimi!ation printout is similar to that o" the panels.
9o)e*er1 more cutting patterns are printed on an 2> page depending on the place the+ take
up )hich is de"ined in the *ie) options (illustration of the cutting angles, precision of the
units, dimensioning of cutting lines, etc.).
3he option .Print cutting patterns: 9ori!ontall+. increases the num%er o" patterns per page %ut
reduces their reada%ilit+.
,hen the pro"ile is de"ined %+ a &BF "ile1 it is graphicall+ represented in the top right %o(.
8sing the print options1 +ou can also de"ine the dimensioned a(is1 the top *ie) "ace (indicated
under the date).
The option (2ace3 *utomatic( chooses the face with the most telling view.
P '$
V. LABEL PRINTOUT
OptiCut V can print a personalised la%el "or each produced piece or o""-cut as )ell as the
used panels (4eparators).
3his "unction does not re@uire another printer as the one used "or the cutting patterns. -ou
0ust ha*e to insert la%el paper.
-ou can also parameterise the dimensions and the margins o" the paper and the la%els.
3he la%els are printed either in the original order de"ined %+ OptiCut V or sorted %+ increasing
or decreasing strips.
,hen the pieces are di*ided into stacks1 the option .Per stack. prints one single la%el "or each
stack o" B produced samples.
3he option .Print edges along the la%el sides. keeps "ree a !one along the la%el sides in order
to print edge in"ormation there.
3icking the option .3ake into account alread+ used la%els on the "irst page.1 +ou can enter the
num%er o" missing la%els on the "irst page %ecause o" their prior use and %egin the print )ith
the "irst a*aila%le la%el.
3he %uttons .Separator.1 .Pieces. and .O""-cuts. in the la%el "ormat section open a )indo) in
)hich +ou can de"ine the content o" the corresponding la%els.
.ou can see the window on the following page.
P '%
La@-l Para9-t-ri,atio+
In the )indo) .a%el "ormat.1 +ou can determine the categories +ou )ant to print1 their order
on the la%el1 their si!e and )hether the+ appear as %arcodes (5ptions).
3he categor+ .8ser-de"ined te(t. ma+ %e used se*eral times. 3his te(t is the same "or each
la%el (client name, address of the building site, etc.).
3he additional re"erences o" the pieces1 created in the .3ools5 Pre"erences. menu can also %e
printed on the la%els.
La@-l E.a9pl-,
3he %elo) e(amples sho) three la%els )ith t)o di""erent parameterisations:
In the second e(ample1 the edges are printed along the la%el sides1 the "ile name has %een
replaced %+ the material name1 the dimensions are printed in %old characters and the re"erences
are printed as %arcodes.
P '&
VI. I(PORT/ E)PORT
VI. ' CUTTIN" LIST AND STOC8 I(PORT
-ou can import cutting lists and panel and %ar stocks in OptiCut V in parameterisa%le .3e(t.
"ormats (60cel C47, etc.).
3he %utton .Format. opens the "ollo)ing )indo) in )hich +ou can determine the categories
that are to %e imported and the order in )hich the+ are "ound in the te(t "ile.
-ou ma+ use the categor+ .Ignored "ield. se*eral times so +ou can import data that do not
ha*e an+ e@ui*alent in OptiCut V.
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VI. 2 DATA E)PORT
2dditionall+ to cutting lists and stocks that are e(ported in a te(t "ormat separate "rom the
import "ormat1 OptiCut # e(ports a .a%el. "ile and a .Aesult. "ile.
The post processors for numerical saws are e0plained in the following chapter.
La@-l Fil-
3he la%el "ile contains a line )ith parameterisa%le content "or each produced piece1 o""-cut and
used panel.
3he categor+ list o" this "ile is similar to the la%el print list )ith some di""erences.
The label type (panel, piece, off-cut) is defined by a parameterisable te0t.
R-,ult Fil-
3he result "ile contains one line "or each cutting pattern.
'ach line contains @uantitati*e data1 thus allo)ing to calculate the net cost o" the produced
pieces in the cutting pattern1 taking into account the cutting itsel" and edges.
I" +ou use the result "ile in a spread sheet or data management so"t)are1 +ou can determine the
total need o" panels per t+pe1 as )ell as the corresponding costs.
:i+4o3, Co99a+4 Li+-
OptiCut V can %e started "rom another so"t)are using a ,indo)s command line that imports
the cutting and e(ports the result "ile a"ter the optimi!ation.
3his "ile can thus %e imported %+ the so"t)are that integrates the command line in order to plan
the production and logistics.
.ou may obtain the synta0 of this command line from BOO)* + P,-'.*-/.
P 2'
VII. POST PROCESSORS
Post processors translate cutting patterns into "iles )hose "ormats are compati%le )ith those o"
numerical sa)s.
*(er! produ#t range uses eit"er a generi# format or a format t"at is spe#ifi# to t"e
manufa#turer&
OptiCut V has a uni*ersal post processor that )as de*eloped )ith a speci"icall+ designed
language so that it can @uickl+ %e adapted to di""erent "ormats.
VII. ' POST PROCESSORS FOR PANEL CUTTIN"
/ Co+trol Fu+6tio+
C/C panel sa)s generall+ ha*e some constraints (limited number of re-cutting or
turnarounds) so that the+ cannot cut the more comple( cutting patterns.
, #utting pattern t"at is translated into t"e rig"t format but t"at does not ta$e into
a##ount t"e spe#ifi# #onstraints of t"e used saw model will be re0e#ted w"en performing
t"e #utting&
It is thus necessar+ to introduce a control "unction that "ilters the cutting patterns during the
optimi!ation so that onl+ those compati%le )ith the sa)Cs constraints are selected.
In OptiCut V1 this control "unction is integrated in the optimi!ation modes "or C/C sa)s.
-ou )ill ha*e to choose one %e"ore selecting the "ormat.
8n the above list, the constraints are grouped by product ranges. 5ne range can correspond
to several data formats.
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Po,t Pro6-,,or For9at,
3he parameterisation o" the "ormat is accessi%le through he .3ools5 Import5 e(port options.
menu or directl+ through the .File5 Post processor "ormat. menu.
In addition to the traditional C/C "ormats1 OptiCut V o""ers a ."-o9-tri6. "ormat (simple
geometric description), as )ell as the international data e(change "ormat D)F.
VII. 2 POST PROCESSORS FOR BAR CUTTIN"
3hese post processors are similar to those o" the panels1 %ut )ith a simpler structure.
The below e0ample shows a post processor for 'iger/top linear saws.
P 2