X-CuT Features | Easy-to-use Cutting Optimization Calculator

I. Entering available materials (raw stock):

The program has functionalities that allow optimization for one or for many types of materials – in one plan of cutting.
Pipes, rods, aluminum, steel or wooden profiles – the program can support them in parallel.

“Index” editing field – what is it and what is it for?
“Index” – is located both on the list containing available materials, as well as on the list of parts for the cut.
It plays the role of an identifier that indicates which raw material should be cut out of.

1. If you are using a single type of material:

Example: All segments will be cut from the aluminum profile fi 100.
Action: on the list containing materials, as well as on the list of parts – ” Index” can be left empty.
Effect: The program will automatically assign all segments to the cut -out, to the available material.

2. If you are using multiple types of materials (grouping materials):

Example: You want to optimize the cut for “Steel Profile Fi 80” and “Aluminum Profile Fi 120” in one cutting plan.
Action:
On the list of materials:
Fill the ” Index” for each material with a unique value (eg “1” for the first type of material, “2” for the second type of material).
In the list of parts for cutting:
In the ” Index” , enter the value corresponding to the material from which a specific part is to be cut (e.g. “1” or “2”).
The effect: the program will assume the appropriate parts to the appropriate materials, based on the consistent ” Index” .

Summary:
Single material: “Index” editing fields can be empty.
Many materials: Use “Index” to assign segments to the right materials.

3. Then complement the editing fields:

Material name: (non -related field) makes it easier to identify the material.
Length (mm): determines  the dimension of the base material from which individual segments will be cut.
Stock (pcs.): The amount of raw material available.

Available materials can be entered on the list, in three ways:
1. By manually editing the list of materials,
2. Using the scanning of labels with previously printed QR codes or scanning the QR code from the computer screen.
(To activate the scanning function in the program, click: Add the material with a label scan .
3. Importing data from the CSV or JSON file.

4. X-CuT has 2 materials selection modes:

• Automatic: optimal lengths of materials from the list are automatically selected …
• By list order: material is collected in order. If the condition of the material from position 1 is exhausted, then the raw material from position 2, etc. is taken, this is a useful function when we want to determine the priority of the materials taken.

II. Optimization parameters:

1. Cutting thickness configuration.
   “Cut thickness field, enter the number that defines “the width of the cutting line”. You can customize this parameter according to your needs and it is properly included during optimization. Cutting lines in the program are visualized in the form of vertical lines-> |
2. Minimum leftover .
   Example 1:
   The value defined in this editing field> 0 mm means that the program searches only for the configuration of the cutting, in which the residue is 0 or at least as much as the set value (e.g. 20 mm)
   …1547 |500 |500 |321|20

   Example 2:
   In turn, entering the value 0 allows you to configure the cutting, with any value of the remains of the material, also for those that require cutting the edge on the last part in the cut plan.
   …465 |321 |123 |123 |123|<-edge cutting 2.00mm
   
   min. Waste : you can adjust this parameter according to your needs, technological requirements.

3. Reusable leftover .
   This is the minimum size of the remains of the material, qualifying for later use. All leftover remains above this value will be classified in statistics, for utility waste, and below for non -usable waste. In this way, we are able to determine the exact effectiveness of optimization.
4. “Cut the edge of the material” – optional.
   You can use this function, e.g. when there is a need to equalize the edge of the material. In practice, first cut off the designated edge or edges on both sides, and then cut the designated segments – the right cut.
   If we would like to cut, e.g. 10 mm edge of raw material, we must remember that this value also contains “cutting thickness”.

III. Adding segments to the cut -out:

In the next stage, we fill out the next editing fields:

“Index”: optional – used in the case of optimization according to material groups.
“Segment name” : optional editing field – facilitates the identification of segments.
“Length (mm)”: length for cut -out parts. Unit: millimeter (accuracy 0.01 mm).
” Quantity”: number of segments of the given length.

IV. Export, import of materials and segments, from files in XLSX, CSV or JSON format.

In the program you can make an export, as well as imports of available materials and needed segments. Three XLSX, CSV or JSON . The file structure is available for inspection after a trial export …

V. Cutting optimization process:

After entering all the necessary data, you can start the optimization process by pressing the “Calculate” .

VI. Cut optimization effects:

1. The production order is included in:
a) specification of cut parts.
b) material statement.
c) configurations to cut out.
d) Additional parameters and information.

In the program, the waste is defined as cut off, the residue of the material. 

Example 1:
…2569 |2569 |500 |321|25 – cut off leftover of the raw material 25mm

Example 2
...465 |465 |321 |123 – no waste, leftover

Example 3:
…465 |321 |123 |123|<-cutting the edge 1.00mm – a blue line, marked at the end of the last segment in a given configuration, indicates the need to cut the edge to a width smaller or maximally equal to the thickness of the cut. If the technological process does not allow this type of cutting systems, we can avoid them by setting the “minimum leftover” parameter in the program. 

Print the order and transfer it to production.

You can also export data to the file:
– CSV (format compatible with spreadsheets such as Excel)
– JSON (format used in applications and databases)

VII. Printout of labels with QR code:

In each configuration of the sections to the cut, buttons are visible that inform us, about the number of parts, of a given length to cut.
After pressing the appropriate button, we can print the labels with information about the length, name of the material and the QR code, for utility waste, as well as each of the segments.
Labels make it easier to identify cut segments, as well as remains of materials that we can use in future production orders.

Technical note:
Calculations with precision up to 0.01 mm