Selectable Flip Operations

[Doug Sommers]

It would be nice if the control nesting software allowed the CNC operator to select specific parts on a sheet and flip them over prior to writing the CNC code. This would help us tremendously when cutting one-sided material to make sure we end up with the side we want facing up during the initial cut. Very seldom does the control nesting software place all the parts we need face up or face down on the same sheet. We are usually forced to go back to the "load" page and turn off certain parts, nest & cut the rest - then go back and load the parts we turned off so they can be cut together. Thanks.

[Brad McIntosh]

Doug,

Would a better solution be to be able to "see" the FACE of a single sided material within eCab and then also be able to toggle that FACE to the side needed? This way the information goes out to the machine in a TWD and the operator would not have to get involved flipping this part and that part over at all.

Just a thought...

[Doug Sommers]

That would work too - and would probably be a better solution. It will be up to Thermwood to decide which solution would be easier to implement.

[Rob Davis]

Doug, Another option is one we have resorted to doing. We have essentially two identical materials for each sheet in the listings, one called face up and one called face down. For example we have 3/4 Maple face up and 3/4 Maple face down for plywood finished on one side. Then when we build the cabinets in eCabs, we select the parts of the cabinet and change the material to face up or down depending on where we want the finished side. When we nest it then, the operator knows which way to put the face and it all nests together without doing a bunch of removing and flipping, etc.
Just a work around we have developed and pretty easy once we had our library converted. Probably not the greatest but works for us.

[David Egnoski]

Rob,

That's how I do it also, once I train my customers. As you said, not the way I would prefer but it works well.

[Michael S Murray]

what Rob says, its pretty painless once set up. We also use 2 sided material at times just to avoid flip ops.