Clusters
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A cluster is a group of parts that have been joined together to form one unit. When you nest a cluster PrimeCut will record the quantity nested against the original part so that the correct number of parts will still be nested.
Clustering has a number of purposes.
▪You can create compact packages of parts for more efficient nesting and then use auto-nesting, create an array, or copy the cluster to different locations on the plate.
▪You can create a cluster in order to perform bridge cutting or common line cutting and SmartCluster (documented in the processing section) does this automatically.
▪You can create a cluster of a single part in order to delete or modify processing that exists on a part.
•A cluster can contain any number of parts, in fact a whole nest can be clustered.
•You can cluster together clusters.
•You can Array a Cluster, and you can also Cluster an Array.
•Unfortunately, sometimes when a cluster is exploded, its component parts may not all still fit, due to nesting discretization.
•Clusters are treated as single parts when sequencing, so if you do a Part By Part optimization, do not be surprised if the sequence produced partially completes one sub-part, the begins another from the same cluster. But the cluster itself will complete before another part begins, and inside-to outside cutting order should be preserved.
•When a nest containing clustered parts is loaded from the database, the clusters will not appear in the part explorer UNLESS the clusters themselves were edited, ie had geometry, processing or sequencing manipulated. However any cluster in a nest can be added to the parts explorer, so that it can be reused, or so that it can be edited.
•SmartCluster does a lot of the heavy-lifting for you if you are wanting to create clusters for common-line cutting, strip cutting, bridge cutting etc. This can modify cluster geometry and add special processing all from a simple wizard.