Part Works & CorelDraw X3

[ddechert]

High all. I'm new to the forum, so if I have posted this in the wrong location, I appologise. I need to get my cabinet files (all parts are drawn in Corel X3) to shopbot cut files. I understood I should use PartWorks for this. Will PartWorks nest parts automatically for imported DXF files and if so, how do I do it? If it won't automatically nest, I have so many files in CDX3, is there another way (software, etc.).

If this is in the wrong location, please just point me in the right one and I will move on.

Thanks.

[fleinbach]

Don,

Welcome to the forum. Part works does not nest parts. There are several software solutions for nesting being used by other Shopboters. Just do a search using nesting as the key word and you will find plenty of information. You will also find there are limitations when using these programs. I find as have others on the forum it works best to just nest manually.

[ed_lang]

Welcome Don,

If I were drawing cabinet parts in Corel and exporting to PartWorks, I would nest in Corel and then export as .EPS files. Import into PartWorks and tool path.

I like the way Corel will allow you to drag a part off of the "work" and when you go to the next page the parts are all there for you too see what has not been nested onto sheets yet. All done by eye, but I know a guy who always get a tighter nest then any other software and he uses Corel and Part Works.

[ddechert]

Thanks. Not the answer I wanted, but I do believe it is the best one I could get. Thanks again.

[Brady Watson]

Don,
There's really no tool in any software more powerful than your brain for nesting...In fact, once you get good in the software, you will prefer to nest things manually as this gives you the most control and most desirable results.

-B

[bcammack]

Even with a $25k piece of software like ProNest, we still have to fiddle with about 40% of the output to optimize material utilization. I call it "playing the world's slowest game of Tetris."

[ddechert]

Thanks again to all... boy, I wish I were better at video games and puzzles.

[bill.young]

For all you programming types, there's an interesting article on nesting algorithms (with C# and VB.net code samples) at http://www.devx.com/dotnet/Article/36005/0/page/1

Bill