Blank Nesting Analysis

Create numerous configurations to determine the optimal material usage for the transfer or progressive die stamping of sheet metal components.

  1. On the Feasibility tab, Nest icon, click Run Blank Nesting.


    The flattened blank from the last run executed is loaded into the session. If desired, you can measure the flattened blank with the Measure tool and provide input into the Blank Nesting dialog as required.
  2. In the Blank Nesting dialog, define the blank nesting settings:
    1. Enter a run name.
    2. Enter a material and scrap cost per unit mass.
    3. Enter an Addendum (extra material on the periphery of the forming shape that serves to hold the blank during the stamping process).
    4. Select Overlap to enable the option and enter an amount.
    5. Select the Stock form.
    6. Select a Process Type.
    7. If you selected the process type Progressive Die, select a carrier option and patterns.
    8. If you selected the process type Transfer Die, select fitted shapes to use when fitting the blank and patterns.
    9. If you selected the process type Laser Cut, select the patterns.
    10. Select the amount of Rotation to maintain and nest, choosing from Free, Constrained, and Locked (manually adjusted rotation). If you choose Constrained, enter the angle of +/- freedom.
    11. Select Show contour to include trim angle visualization with the analysis.
  3. Click Run.


After the run has successfully completed, view the results of the blank nesting. The nested results are available in .iges file format for downstream applications.

Tip: Once you have started to run the blank nesting, you can close the Blank Nesting Status dialog and continue working without disturbing the progress of the run. Check the status of the run at any time by clicking the Blank Nesting Status tool. When the run is complete, a flag appears over the Nest tool group. A green flag indicates a successful run; a red flag indicates failure.

Blank Nesting

Use the following table to understand the process and components of blank nesting within the stamping process.

Table 1. Blank Nesting
Type Description
Coil Infinitesimally long sheet metal rolled into a coil
Sheet Flat sheet metal with finite dimensions
Progressive Die The blank sheet metal that is formed to finished part remain attached to the coil as it is fed from one stage to another until last stage and then the finished part is separated from the coil.
Transfer Die Stamping The blank sheet metal is separated from the coil at the first stage. The blank sheet metal is transferred from one stage to another until last stage using robot or transfer mechanism.
Laser Cut Flat sheet metal with finite dimensions is laser cut.
Carrier The carrier is the portion of the coil to which the blank sheet remains attached in progressive die stamping. It helps to carry the part from one stage to another until the final stage where the part is separated from the coil.
Single-sided The carrier is attached to one side of the part.
Double-sided The carrier is attached to both sides of the part.
Nested The carrier is nested within the part.
Double-sided and nested The carrier is attached to both sides of the part and it is nested between the parts as well.
Central The carrier is in the center with the parts attached on both sides. The parts mostly will be reflection of each other.
Double-sided and central The carrier is in the center with the parts attached on both sides. The parts mostly will be reflection of each other. There is also a carrier on both ends.
One-up

This option allows you to nest one instance of the part on coil or sheet metal so that every stroke of press will produce a single part.
Two-up

This option allows you to nest two instances of the part on a coil or sheet metal so that every stroke of press will produce two identical parts.
Three-up This option allows you to nest three instances of the part on a coil or sheet metal so that every stroke of press will produce three identical parts.
Mirror

This option allows you to nest one instance of the part and its mirror image on the coil or sheet metal so that every stroke of press will produce two parts that are mirror images of each other.

View Blank Nesting Summary

View the summary of a blank nesting.

  1. On the Feasibility tab, Nest icon, click the Show Blank Nesting icon.
    A summary of the blank nesting opens in Inspire Form.
  2. In the Nest runs table, click a run to view a table of results from that run. By default, the most recent blank nesting is selected.
  3. Select one of the results to view detailed information.
    Note: Blanks of tailor-welded parts are nested as two separate pieces.
    Note: Parts with a symmetry boundary condition are reflected about the symmetric plane, and and the entire part is nested.
  4. Close the Nest runs dialog to exit, or press the Esc key.
    Note: The run folder also contains a .htm version of the blank nesting report.

Blank Nesting Status

View the status of the current run, as well runs for the current model that have not yet been viewed. To see all past runs, you need to view the run history.

  1. Hover over the Nest icon, then click Blank Nesting Status.
    The run status is displayed.

  2. When the run is complete, review its status.
    Status Description Note
    The run completed successfully. This is also indicated by a green flag above the Nest icon.

    You can click the green flag to display the results.
    The run was incomplete.

    Some but not all of the result types may be available. You should run a new analysis to generate complete results.
    The run failed and no meaningful results are available. This is also indicated by a red flag above the Nest icon.
  3. View one or more runs.
    • To view a run, double-click the row.
    • To view multiple runs, hold down Ctrl or Shift while clicking the rows, and then click the View Now button.
      Note: If several runs are associated with the same part, the result from the most recently completed run for that part will be activated in the modeling window.
    • To view deleted or previously viewed runs, click the History button.
    • To delete a run, select the run and press Delete.
Tip: To open the directory where a run is stored, right-click the run name and select Open Run Folder.

Blank Nesting History

View, sort, open, and delete past runs for the current and previous models.

Once you have viewed an analysis run, it is removed from the Run Status window but can be viewed using the Run History table.
  1. On the Nest icon, click Run History.
    The run history is displayed.

  2. Review the status of the run.
    Status Description Note
    The run completed successfully.
    The run was incomplete.

    Some but not all of the result types may be available. You should run a new analysis to generate complete results.
    The run failed and no meaningful results are available.
  3. To view a run, double-click the row.