Multi-component linear nesting

• Quick start guide
• Nesting requirements
• Written walkthrough
• FAQ
  • Nest eligibility
  • Compatibility
  • Nestable operations

Note: The linear nesting module requires account-specific configuration and setup. To learn more, or to inquire about adding nesting to your account, reach out to our Support team.

Quick start guide

For a more detailed written and visual walkthrough, click here.

1. Quote as normal, assigning a process, material, and any finishes as well as setting customer-requested quantities.
   1. Ensure that your quote meets all requirements before proceeding. Keep in mind that any overrides you have made will not be affected by nests.
2. Open the nesting module, either from the top level of the quote in the Actions menu or from the Linear metal interrogation results panel in the quote item. Select all parts you’d like to nest together, optionally using Select All Compatible for efficiency.
3. Fill out the Nest Preparation Form, and hit Generate.
4. Once the results have finished generating, click on the nest in the sidebar or in the Nested? column to view results.

Nesting requirements

In order to truly optimize cost, you should be just about done with the quote before you enter the nesting module. A completed quote likely already meets these requirements.

Requirements:

1. Each part has a 3D model that has been assigned the tube laser interrogation.
2. Each part has an assigned process, material, and nestable operation.
3. Each part’s make quantity is accurate.

Any part that you have quoted as normal will likely meet these requirements, but you can confirm by checking the banner in the Linear metal interrogation results panel.

Written walkthrough

Begin by quoting as normal. While working through your quote, confirm that each part you would like to nest meets the nesting requirements detailed above by looking for the nest-eligible banner.

Open the nesting module, either directly from the Linear metal interrogation results panel or from the Actions menu in the main quote.

Click the Linear Metal tab on the left side of the module to view all parts eligible for linear metal nesting.

Here, the nesting process varies slightly depending on if the parts you'd like to nest are from the same quote item (such as assembly components) or multiple quote items. The process will be the same for both again starting with the Viewing nest results section.

Nesting parts from the same quote item

Select the parts that you’d like to nest, either by clicking each part’s checkbox or by using the Select all compatible option.

Linear parts from the same quote item are considered compatible with each other if they have the same shape, dimensions, material, make quantities, and nestable operation.

Once you've finalized your selections, click Prepare nest to open the nest preparation form. Fill in any relevant details about the properties of the stock you will be using for each quantity, desired nesting behavior, and pricing.

For users without ERP systems, simply enter a cost - either per inch or per tube, which you can select from the Cost method dropdown. If you have an ERP integration and want to pull pricing for a specific tube, enter an ERP code to search your material table. (The data in this table will be pulled from your ERP system.)

Be aware that manually typing a value into the Cost field will override any information coming in from your ERP, even if you enter an ERP code.

Note: Be sure to check operations after nesting to confirm that the cost was captured correctly from your material table.

Once you’ve finalized your Nest and Pricing settings, click Generate nest. This will create a separate nest for each make quantity.

Note: Extremely complex nests (those with hundreds of parts) may take up to five minutes to load but will continue to generate even if you leave the module, so don't be afraid to do something else in the platform (or grab a cup of coffee!) while you wait.

Nesting across quote items

Select the parts that you’d like to nest, either by clicking each part’s checkbox or by using the Select all compatible option.

Linear parts across quote items are considered compatible with each other if they have the same shape, dimensions, material, and nestable operation. Each part should also have a single make quantity.

Once you've finalized your selections, click Prepare nest to open the nest preparation form. Here, fill in information fields about the properties of the stock you will be using, desired nesting behavior, and pricing.

For users without an ERP integration, simply enter a cost in the Cost field - either per inch or per tube, which you can select from the Cost method dropdown. If you have an ERP integration and want to pull pricing for a specific tube, enter an ERP code to search your material table. (The data in this table will be pulled from your ERP system.)

Be aware that typing in a cost will override any information coming in from your ERP, even if you enter an ERP code.

Note: Check operations after nesting to confirm that the cost was captured correctly from your material table.

Because the nest-optimized costs will only be valid if your customer orders all of the parts you’ve nested together, online checkout will be disabled for any quote with a nest across multiple quote items. You and your team will receive multiple warnings before finalizing a quote that falls into this category, but be sure to communicate to your customers that they need to order all nested parts to receive optimized pricing.

Once you’ve finalized your Nest and Pricing settings, click Generate nest.

Note: Extremely complex nests (those with hundreds of components) may take up to five minutes to load but will continue to generate even if you leave the module, so don't be afraid to do something else in the platform (or grab a cup of coffee!) while you wait.

Viewing nest results

You can view completed nests either by clicking on the nest in the sidebar or in the Nested? column for each component. These results include nest-level statistics as well as statistics for the specific piece type.

For part-specific information, including cost distribution, select Components in Nest.

To delete a nest, select Delete nest in the top right corner.

Note: Deleting one nest that includes parts with multiple make quantities will delete the nests for the other make quantities as well.

Operations optimized by a nest will now be marked as Nested, and core variables will be updated accordingly.

Certain actions, such as changing a part’s make quantity or deleting a nestable operation, will be locked in the presence of a nest. To adjust one of these values, you'll first need to delete the nest for that part or Replace referenced part with new version. 

Regenerating existing nests

To make changes to an existing nest, open it in the nesting modal and click   Actions in the top right corner. Select Regenerate nest to reopen the nest preparation form. 

Edit inputs as needed and click Regenerate nest to confirm. The old nest will be deleted and a new one will be created with the updated inputs. 

Note: If the nest you are regenerating is part of a set (i.e. you nested a part with multiple make quantities), the changes you make to the nest preparation form will persist across all associated nests. In this example, regenerating nest #1 will also regenerate nests #2 and #3 with the new inputs. 

Downloading nests

To download an existing nest as a PDF, open it in the nesting modal and click Actions in the top right corner. Select Download nest as PDF. 

Note: Download permissions are required to be able to download a nest locally. Downloading a nest PDF with CUI parts in it will trigger a CUI downloaded event in our IT module's "CUI audit" CSV export.

FAQ

What does “linear metal” mean?

We use the term linear metal to refer to any material in the shape of a tube, angle, u-channel, pipe, bar, or rod. Each of these profiles is a subclass of linear metal and can be nested in our Linear metal nesting module.

In order to nest a wider variety of linear metal parts, we also added angle and u-channel profile detection to our Tube laser interrogation as part of this feature release.

What makes a part nest eligible?

A part is nest eligible if it meets all of the requirements outlined above. Nest eligible parts will have a banner in their Linear metal interrogation results panel letting you know that the part is eligible for linear nesting.

Can I generate a nest for multiple make quantities?

Only if the components you would like to nest together are in the same quote item (e.g. assembly components) and are compatible with each other. The workflow will be the same until you reach the Nest preparation form, at which point you will also need to enter quantity-break-specific stock options for each make quantity. A nest will be generated for each make quantity.

What makes parts nest-compatible with each other?

It depends - are you nesting multiple parts within one quote item, such as components of an assembly, or parts across multiple quote items?

Parts within the same quote item are compatible if they have the same shape profile, dimensions, material, and nestable operation. Nesting two components with multiple make quantities will create a nest for each quantity.

Parts across multiple quote items are considered compatible with each other if they have the same shape profile, dimensions, material, and nestable operation. They also need to have one make quantity each. Even if two parts across quote items have the same shape, dimensions, and material but they have multiple make quantities, they will not be considered nest compatible. This is because we cannot currently enforce that customers purchase the correct, optimized set of parts from the digital quote.

What is a nestable operation? How will linear nesting optimize the cost of my quote?

Any operation that can be optimized by a linear metal nest is considered linear nest compatible and will have a badge alerting you that the operation is Nestable. 

If an operation's cost has been optimized by a nest, the badge will turn green and say Nested.

To tell if an operation can be optimized by sheet metal or linear metal nesting, check the symbol on the Nestable badge. 

Linear nest compatible badge

Sheet metal nest compatible badge

Keep in mind that any variables that you override before nesting will not be affected by a nest. Ensure that all nestable operations do not have any overrides before nesting.

The specifics of how a nest will optimize the cost of an operation will be determined by your TIS. Be sure to communicate with your Paperless team about how you expect nesting to impact your quote.

How can I implement linear nesting in my account today?

Contact our team at support@paperlessparts.com to get nestable operations configured in your account.