Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Panel Layout Software

If you have AutoCAD, I think you have all you need.

Draw a rectangle (to scale) representing the plate.

Draw the parts in a different color. Add a line around all of them (in a
different color) representing the tool width.

Group the part outlines and their respective tool widths.

Now move the parts around individually in the area representing the plate
'till everything suit you.

Save this and print it!

Smoke

>Hi,
>
> Speaking of Drawings.... nice segue huh :-)
>
> I suddenly have a need for finding efficient layup
>of rectangular flat parts on a sheet of stock. Like
>cutting pieces out of a sheet of plywood or flame (plasma)
>cutting pieces from standard sized plate metal. I am aware that
>there are many commercial packages available but I am
>doing this as a hobby and would not want to spend much(any)
>money on it. It seems to me that this problem is more or less
>universal and would have been solved many times before. I have
>spent hours searching the web and have turned up nothing (for
>free).
> Does anyone know of a piece of software that will allow
>me to enter(draw) the sheet size, and the size of several rectangular
>shapes and have it give me an efficient layout. It would be nice if
>it would take into consideration cutter width etc. I have AutoCad 14
>and AutoCad 2000 available(friends). I also wouldn't mind doing some C
>or C++ programming to get the results that I need, if someone is aware
>of software from an educational institution, hobbyist or student.
> My particular problem is highly constrained in that it is only
>2D and deals strictly with rectangular parts but I wouldn't mind
>acquiring a more sophisticated solution.
> Currently I just draw the pieces in IntelliCad and then make
>copies and move them around. This actually works OK but is time
>consuming and I am never convinced that I have come up with the 'best'
>solution.
>
> Any source code, software, AutoCAD add-ons or suggestions would
>be appreciated.
>
>Thanks,
>
>don kelley
>dkelley@...
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Ian Wright [mailto:Ian@...]
>Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 4:33 AM
>To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Autosketch
>
>
>Hi,
>
>I've had to use Autosketch on-and-off since 1980. It started out pretty
>useless and hasn't progressed very far from there! There are a number of
>free programs about which are much better. Intellicad, which you mention,

is

>a pretty near clone of Autocad14 and is light years ahead of Autosketch.
>
>Ian
>
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