Tekla PowerFab Plugin for SigmaNest Getting Started Guide Setup

Tekla PowerFab
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Tekla PowerFab Tekla PowerFab GO
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Tekla PowerFab Tekla PowerFab GO
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Tekla PowerFab Tekla PowerFab GO

ENABLE SIGMANEST INTEGRATION IN Tekla PowerFab

See also Integrate Tekla PowerFab to SigmaNest in the Tekla PowerFab Product Guide.

1. On the Tekla PowerFab Maintenance ribbon tab, select Integration Settings > SigmaNest

2. Check Enable SigmaNest for Plate Nesting.

This adds the option to send the inventory to SigmaNest, and adds SigmaNest as a choice of nesting software for a combining run.

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enable sigmanest

SET UP SIGMANEST DATABASE CONNECTION

1. Open SigmaNest Tools Help tab, then SQL Manager and click Connect.

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2. Copy information from each field so that the information on Tekla PowerFab SigmaNest Database tab matches SigmaNest.

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sigmanest database tab

 

3. Click Test Connection to verify that it's set up correctly.

SET UP SIMTRANS CONNECTION

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simtrans_tab


1. To Use SimTrans, enable it on the SimTrans tab in Tekla PowerFab.

2. Enter the District number this instance of Tekla PowerFab will be using.

3. Open SimTrans Configuration in Options > Preferences with the Service Stopped.

4. Copy information from each field so that the information on Tekla PowerFab SimTrans tab matches SimTrans.

5. Click Test Connection to verify that it's set up correctly.

INVENTORY TRANSFER SETTINGS

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SigmaNest Settings: Inventory Transfer Settings


Enter Reports Directory to point to the eReports directory in your SNData folder. This should be a UNC file path, and NOT to a mapped drive.

Select your Dimension Units to match Units in SigmaNest (on the Tools Help tab, then Configuration, under System)

Select your choice of Cost Calculated by units.
This will affect the cost field when data is sent through SimTrans.

If you wish to enable automatic take from stock, which attempts a take from stock based on Program Updates performed in SigmaNest, check the Automatically TFS box.

If you wish to include material that's "on Order" as inventory in SigmaNest, check the Sync material on order box.

Check Sync combined material if you want stock synced with SigmaNest even if it's combined with other software.

FIELD MAPPING

In Tekla PowerFab, at the bottom of the Transfer Settings tab, you find the field mappings.

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field_mapping


Five fields from Tekla PowerFab can be mapped in to SigmaNest.

Any of these five fields that you use in FabSuite should be mapped in SigmaNest in order to perform a Take-From-Stock automatically.

The fields are:

  • Heat Serial Number Field: The heat number of an inventory item automatically maps across to SigmaNest. If you also use the Heat Serial Number field, map it here.
  • PO Number Field: This allows you to see what PO an inventory item is on from SigmaNest.
  • Bill of Lading Field: If you use this field in FabSuite, you may also want to see it's contents in SigmaNest.
  • Secondary Location Field: The location of an inventory item automatically maps across to SigmaNest. If you also use Secondary Location, map it here.
  • Job Reserve Field: This shows what job inventory is reserved to in Tekla PowerFab. If you wish to automatically take from stock, the mapped field in SigmaNest must have the same data in it as this field in Tekla PowerFab.

WORK ORDER SETTINGS

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SigmaNest Settings: Work Order Settings

 

For CNC Files Directory, enter a directory that both the computer with Tekla PowerFab and the computer with SimTrans have access to in CNC Files Directory. Use the UNC file path (NOT a mapped drive) so that the path will be the same from the computer with SimTrans and the computer with Tekla PowerFab.

  • Part Name: Determines how the CNC file is named in the export.
  • Include Drawing Number: Populates the Drawing field in SigmaNest with the drawing number from Tekla PowerFab.
  • Material: Needs to match the SigmaNest material field, either GradeShape, or Shape Grade.
  • Allow Custom Work Order Number: If checked allows adding a custom work order number when exporting the combining run.
  • Part Data fields: These populate the matching fields in SigmaNest. If using the Tekla PowerFab Plugin in SigmaNest, these settings need to be configured to match. 


WHEN THE SETTINGS ARE TO YOUR SATISFACTION, CLICK SAVE TO SAVE AND EXIT.

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