7. ProNest Cut List Import

Import and Process Production for a ProNest Cut List

Cutting a nest produces new inventory - remnants.

Follow these steps to get this remnant information back from ProNest and entered into Tekla PowerFab inventory.

For the ProNest integration overview, see ProNest Integration.

Send nests out to CNC

Sending a nest to CNC, from the ProNest standpoint, fabricates the piece.

This step must be taken before importing a cut list in to Tekla PowerFab.

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• The process of sending nests to CNC populates the ProNest database with information about the nests and the remnants created. Afterward, Tekla PowerFab can add those remnants to the Tekla PowerFab inventory.
• If the ProNest to Tekla PowerFab Nest Summary report has not yet been imported to Tekla PowerFab, re-generate it (or generate it for the first time) after sending files out to CNC. There will be more information available about the remnants and inventory used at this point.

Import a ProNest Cut List

Do not import a cut list from ProNest until it has been sent to CNC from ProNest.

If you sent the nest to CNC before sending the HTML report to Tekla PowerFab, this step may not be necessary.

1. Open Inventory in Tekla PowerFab.

2. Click the Inventory ribbon tab and select Import > ProNest Cut List from the menu.

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3. Once a cut list is imported from Tekla PowerFab, you can cut it in Tekla PowerFab, relieving inventory of the plate used, and adding the proper remnants.

Keeping Inventory up to date through Production

1. Open the production control job.

2. On the Production Control ribbon tab, select Review > Cut Lists.

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3. At the bottom of the dialog box, click New Cut List.

4. Click Make Report. 

5.  Click Save Cut List.

6. Enter a description and due date for your cut list.

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Now, the new cut list shows up in the Cut Lists dialog box.

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7. Double-click a line to see the cuts on that cut list.

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Double-clicking one of these lines brings up details about the cut.

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8. Click Nest Image in the top right to see images for this nest.

• The top left shows the External Nest ID, and the software creating this nest, followed by a list of all the parts on this nest. The middle shows the ProNest image of the nest, and the tabs across the top show each remnant and each part in the nest.

9. After the machine has cut this plate, click Cut at the bottom of the Cut Lists dialog box.

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10. Enter information for the inventory piece actually used.

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11. Click TFS to remove the inventory piece from Tekla PowerFab inventory and add the remnants created to inventory.

The cut list now shows Complete.

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Remnants are added to inventory.

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Double-clicking the remnant piece opens up a picture of it.

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This remnant is linked to the ProNest database and can be returned to ProNest for further nesting.

Troubleshooting

A common problem when performing the take from stock (TFS) is to receive the error External Nesting Result is not available. This occurs when the cut list that was imported from ProNest to Tekla PowerFab could not be completed as imported.

Some common causes of this situation:

• The ProNest job was sent to CNC with the initial nesting, but the material in Tekla PowerFab needed to be ordered - so the inventory didn't exist in Tekla PowerFab when ProNest labeled this part "cut".
• The ProNest job was sent to CNC multiple times.
• The cut list was imported to Tekla PowerFab before the material being cut has been received in to Inventory.
• Something in the nest changed in Tekla PowerFab, invalidating the nest. (Perhaps the reserved inventory was used for something else).

To cure the External Nesting Result is not available error:

• Make sure all inventory needed for this nest is in stock (not on order, but received) in Tekla PowerFab, then
• Open the job in ProNest and resend it out to CNC.
• Then do Import Cut List from ProNest again in PowerFab.
  This time it should link properly.

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