Running Optimization

When all the information needed for the plan is defined (sources, parts, settings), you can start to perform the optimization of cutting layouts.

To start calculation of cutting layouts for the current plan, click the button in Main Toolbar. You can also run optimization directly by pressing keyboard shortcut [F3] or by selecting "File > Start Optimization" from the menu. You don't have to switch to Results form, the program does it automatically. During the optimization, you can watch its progress and the best results which are achieved.

You can stop optimization process at any time by clicking the button in the Main Toolbar or by pressing keyboard shortcut [Esc]. In such case following confirmation form appears:

If you click the button [Yes], program will stop the optimization and the values will be saved in the plan. Previous results will be overwritten by values which were found in the moment the optimization process was interrupted. If you click the button [No], the optimization will continue.

When optimization is finished, the best cutting layouts will be automatically entered to the plan. The cutting layouts which were saved the last are always stored for next potential use (additional printing of reports, statistics etc.)

TIP! When you choose particular plan in Plans form and you click the Results tab, you can immediately go over cutting layouts and summary of data which were saved the last.

TIP! If the achieved results fulfill your needs and the optimization is not finished, you can stop it and use these results in the plan.

Layouts

Following data grid shows the cutting layouts which were calculated by the program and user is immediately able to see their overview.

Summary

Here is complete information about the progress of calculation and currently achieved values of an active project (Cost, Yield, Hard yield, Used sources, Cut parts, Remnants, Layouts, Uncut parts).

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Cost	-	Overall cost of the project.
Yield	Achieved utilization in percentage taking into account produced remnants. [(Sum area of used parts + Sum area of produced remnants) / Sum area of used sources]	Absolute value of achieved utilization taking into account produced remnants. [Sum area of used parts + Sum area of produced remnants]
Hard yield	Achieved utilization in percentage not taking into account produced remnants. [Sum area of used parts / Sum area of used sources]	Absolute value of achieved utilization not taking into account produced remnants. [Sum area of used parts]
Used sources	Number of sources used in calculated cutting plan.	[Sum area of used sources]
Cut parts	Number of parts used in calculated cutting plan.	[Sum area of used parts]
Remnants	Number of reusable remnants produced in calculated cutting plan.	[Sum area of remnants]
Layouts	Number of layouts of calculated cutting plan.	-
Uncut parts	Number of uncut parts (not used parts) in calculated cutting plan.	[Sum area of uncut parts]

Layout

Graphical representation of the layout which is currently selected.

TIP! When clicking on individual part of a layout, basic information about it is showed (part number, position in layout, size).

It is possible to switch between colored or non-colored palette of Part colors used in graphics.

You can change part colors by clicking the button .

It is also possible to resize layout picture. This will hide Layouts and Summary tables and enlarge the graphic representation of currently set layout. To resize layout image click the button or press [F5].

Scroll Bar

Enables quick scrolling among individual layouts. Graphical representation also enables to get immediate overview about organization of individual parts in a layout.