Better way to do this? part spacing

[harryball]

When laying out parts on the page... is there some trick for placing parts as close as possible to each other? I'm zooming in and using guides to space my parts at 1/2" to allow for a 3/8" cutter to pass both ways. It just looks like there should be a gap tool, select 2 parts and insert a 1/2" gap or something.

Did I miss this in the videos? Is there such a method? If not, how are you guys spacing your parts quickly?

Robert

[frank_hav]

I have found that if you 1/2" offset part1 then move part 2, and so on, you can make good time. Don't forget to delete the extra "Temp" Shapes.

Frank

[harryball]

So there is no gap function. A few minutes ago I tried creating a .5" square and draging it around with me as I space parts... better than guide lines. I'll try the part offset copy for a while and see which I prefer.

Other methods? This must be a common issue.

Robert

[beacon14]

Another reason why some of us find it faster to do the CAD work in a CAD program and then import into PW for toolpathing.

[mziegler]

Robert, in PartWizard as Frank mention above , offset the parts ½ of the cutter diameter for the gap work petty fast. Then just move and copy the parts. Or offset the parts and then copy use the mirror vectors tool. Also there is block and rotate copy tool with a gap fill in tool.
In Vcarve Pro, I use the offset tool and then mirrored copy the parts all over the drawing. The parts then can being flip if needed. Mark

[mziegler]

The above is good for the production of the same part but what if you have many different size parts like lettering? You can to do real nesting without putting out the big bucks. Download the demo version of Artcam insignia. Copy your parts in Partwizard and then paste them into demo version. Do the nesting and copy the new vectors of the nest parts and then paste back into Partwizard. Do the toolpathing in Partwizard. Mark

[gabepari]

I can beat the part density of Insignia's nesting routine every time (it's really horrible). I nest all the vectors in Autocad, using the offset method, just flip, rotate, move parts around until they fit nicely. Doesn't take that long once your used to it. I've actually imported in a sheet of pre-nested parts and ran insignia's nesting routine, and it still couldn't fit them all on the sheet

[mziegler]

Gabe, I notice that too that the nesting wasn’t to good on large irregular size parts. For large parts I don’t use the Insignia’s nesting anymore. I just do it manually. Mainly because I am concern with orientation of parts to each other on the sheet. The tabs need to be properly place on the parts so everything hold together. I like the tabs to be located and connected to the same branch. The branch is where the brads or screws goes to hold it to the table. I still find the nesting is useful for small parts that are to be resaw. Mark