Sheet Layout Material Optimization Software Features
Sheet Layout has no limit on the number of parts, cutting list items, number of materials, or types of edge banding that you can include in a project. There are limits on the number of layout diagrams that vary version to version.
Sheet Layout has no practical limit on the number of parts that can be assigned to a particular item. You can use a quantity of up to 9,999 per item.
Sheet Layout 2010 has versions to fit the needs and budgets of all our customers. Each versions offer the same quality optimization and diagram printing capability – by far the two most important features of any optimization product.
Nothing is more basic (or easier with Sheet Layout) than using the dimensional units you want; inches, millimeters, meters and more. Want to enter your raw material size in feet (or meters) and your cut list in inches (or millimeters). No worry, SL does all the conversions for you.
SL will convert a cut list from inches to millimeters and back again in a few mouse clicks.
Even if you want to enter you project in inches and print your diagrams in millimeters, Sheet Layout will do it for you.
Often there is nothing more frustrating and slow than entering fractions. With SL's Fast Fraction feature it couldn't be easier.
A typical part size entry may be; 23 3/16 tab 9 11/16 tab which is 17 total key strokes verses 23 3 tab 9 11 tab with fast fractions saving you 6 key strokes with every line entry. SL automatically adds the /16 to each entry for you.
Of course, you can change from 64ths, to 16ths, to 32nds with only one mouse click. If that's not fast enough, just talk to your computer. SL supports fast fractions and 3rd party voice recognition software (not provided).
SL will work with 3rd party speech recognition software (not provided) so that our keyboard challenged customers can just talk to SL and enter a project list.
With fast fractions typing "23 3 tab 9 11 tab" will provide 23 3/6 x 9 11/16.
With speech recognition software you would speak; “23 space 3 tab 9 space 11 tab” *.
*Note: This may vary based on your speech recognition software and Productivity Systems LLC does not warrant SL with any particular speech recognition system.
Every version of Sheet Layout offers the same cutting features. Here are a few of the major cutting controls.
1) Specify rip cut (with the stock length), or cross cut (with the stock width)
2) Allow parts to rotate with or against the grain
3) Specify rotation on an individual part basis
4) Stock select order; Find the “Best Fit”, Use Smallest First, or, In Order Listed
5) Saw Kerf width
6) Stock size trim allowance
Unlike some basic optimizers, Sheet Layout provides you four (4) choices for printing
1) A half page diagram with a following list of each part size and other part information
2) Two, half page diagrams.
3) Four, quarter page diagrams.
4) One landscape printed full page diagram.
There are other printing options that allow you to choose where (and if) the dimensions are printed on the diagrams and several other printing options.
Each user will have a preference. Customize SL for you.
Customizable reports are an extension to the customizable screen feature. You can drag and drop columns positioned where you want them, resize the width of the columns, and hide columns just like in the Raw Material and Project windows.
One significant additional feature is that you can customize EACH report to have a unique layout suited to you. Further, you can shown column subtotals. SL provides several ways to do this using pop-up windows and other drag and drop features.
Drag and drop columns where ever you want them to customize the look of SL to your preference. For example: If you prefer to enter the part Width before the part Length, you’ll probably want the columns to be ordered from left-to-right (Width followed by Length).
Just click on the Length header, drag and drop it as show in the drawing above. Next you can size the column width or hide the column from view all together.
Save your changes and your new configuration will be in place until you change them again.
Small shop registrations and above can print labels in commonly available label sheet sizes using SL’s predefined formats. (Commercial users and above have the ability to custom design their own label formats)
SL provides you the ability to export your project list to Excel for your convenience at the click of a button.
You can edit or add to the data with custom spreadsheet that you design. You can then re-import the data back into SL using the Advance Importing feature of SL for optimization.
A very powerful feature of SL is the ability to import data from various CAD programs, Excel, or other simple text documents.
You can select many data fields to import and it’s all done visually with SL’s importing wizard. Just select and match the import fields to your data once and SL will remember you settings. Then just select the data you want to import and SL will do it all for you. Quickly, easily, and with no data reentry errors.
One of the great user friendly features of SL is making your own label design – and it’s very easy. If you can drag and drop, you can design your own label.
- Just click on the data field you want to print on the label, and drag it where you want it positioned on the label, and drop it.
- Drag one or more data fields, and resize the font and other formatting features.
- Repeat for each field
- Of course, you can define the size of the label and the print format – all graphically. 3 labels across and 10 down for example.
Easily merge project together into a larger project, and/or multiply the quantity of parts in a project WITHOUT reentering data.
Example: If you have two projects named Desk & Shelves, you can easily combine the two projects into one large project. All you need to do is entering the number of “Desks” and “Shelves” that you want into the Combine/Multiply window. Just enter (3) for Desks and (5) for Shelves (5) and you will have 3 Desks and 5 Shelves in one project for your new project.
It’s that easy. No data reentry mistakes and its very, very quick.
Define as many typical edge banding configurations as you want. After you define them, you can use them in any projects. You can define a edge banding configuration for 1 edge, or, all 4 edges.
If you specify a thickness for your edge banding material, SL will automatically make adjustments to the part cut size and show a indicator on the layout diagrams for clarity.
SL will even add up the banded perimeter in your project and calculate the costs for you.
SL does everything possible to make your user interface customizable and visual to help you eliminate mistakes. You can select from a list of Raw Material icons or import your own.
SL will also generate an Edge Banding icon for you. Your edge banding definition may have 1, 2, 3 or 4 sides specified to have edge banding applied. SL will automatically outline which edges will have edge banding applied. If the same edge banding material is used on more than one edge, the edges will have the same color.
The Commercial DXF version of Sheet Layout provides you the powerful feature to export a DXF compatible file. This allows you, with the use of many CNC Machines (computer numerically controlled), to import the cutting diagram directly for automated machining without the need to do cumbersome reentry or manual programming of the CNC equipment.