Sheet optimisation: Reduce waste and save money
When working with plastic sheets and linear products, it is important to consider how we can minimise waste and thereby save money. One of the best ways to achieve this is through cutting optimisation, also known as nesting or optimisation. Let’s take a closer look at the concept and how it can help us reduce material consumption.
What is cutting optimisation?
Cutting optimisation is the process of cutting parts from a larger sheet or linear material in such a way as to minimise waste. This is done using software that calculates the most efficient cutting pattern. We offer such software, VisualCutter, which helps you optimise your cuts and save material.
When cutting out parts, it is important to take the kerf into account – that is, the amount of material removed during the cut. Taking the kerf into account is crucial for optimising the cuts. If we do not do so, we risk cutting away too much material, leading to unnecessary waste.
When machining plastic sheets, it is also important to consider the direction of the material. If parts are cut out in the wrong direction, the material may become weaker or more prone to cracking. We must also take into account the minimum scrap size – the smallest amount of material that can be left behind after cutting. A scrap piece that is too small can be difficult to handle, whilst one that is too large leads to unnecessary waste.
So how can we take all these factors into account whilst still saving material and money? This is where VisualCutter comes in. With it, we can easily import our parts and sheets, and then let the software calculate the most efficient cutting plan. The software takes into account cutting width, material grain direction and the minimum scrap size, providing us with an optimised cutting plan that minimises waste.
Exempel på materialbesparingar
Here are a few examples of how VisualCutter can help us save on materials and money. One customer used VisualCutter to cut parts from a PE-HD sheet. By using the software, the customer was able to reduce material consumption by 20 per cent, which equated to a saving of 15 per cent of the total cost.
I ett annat exempel använde en kund VisualCutter för att skära ut detaljer från en POM C-skiva och lyckades minska materialåtgången med 25 %, vilket motsvarade en besparing på 18 % av den totala kostnaden.
It takes much more work and planning to reduce waste without cutting optimisation. Without it, we have to manually calculate the cuts and take into account all the factors that can affect the material and the cutting process. This can be time-consuming and lead to errors and unnecessary waste.
Hur mycket material och pengar kan vi spara genom att använda kapoptimering? Är det möjligt att minska materialåtgången med 30 % eller mer? Med VisualCutter kan vi enkelt testa och se hur mycket material och pengar vi kan spara.
Would you like to know more about how you can use cutting optimisation to save material and money? Please feel free to contact us for further information.
Kapoptimering: Minska spill och spara pengar