Create a combining job

Tekla PowerFab
2021
Tekla PowerFab Tekla PowerFab GO

Create a combining job

You can create a combining job to Tekla EPM by simply defining the job number, job date, and shipping date, and then saving the new job. However, you can also further adjust the combining job properties to meet your needs: you can modify the combining optimizations, suppliers, and input and display units. The changes will override the company standard settings for the current combining job.

To delete or otherwise modify existing combining jobs, see Manage combining jobs.

To add a new combining job, do the following:

  • At the bottom of the Select Combining Job dialog box, click Add.

The Combining Job Edit dialog box opens on the General tab.

Note that you can also modify the combining job settings on the Customer and Input Options tabs.

Define general, customer, and input settings

  1. On the General tab, define the following details according to your needs:

    Note that the fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

    Option

    Description

    Job Date *

    The date on which the bid is due.

    Tekla EPM automatically uses the date when you create the job, but you can select a different date in the associated calendar.

    Shipping Date *

    The date on which the job will be shipped.

    Tekla EPM automatically uses the date when you create the job, but you can select a different date in the associated calendar.

    Job # *

    A unique number for the combining job.

    Note that the job number cannot be modified after the job has been created.

    Job Description

    The description of the combining job.

    Job Location

    The town or city where the job takes place.

    Job Status Select if the job is still in progress (Open), or if the job has already been finished (Closed).

    You can filter the Select Combining Job dialog box, so that only open jobs are shown.

    Job Group

    One or two job groups that help you identify and sort combining jobs. For example, the year of the job can be used as a job group. For more information on setting up and modifying job groups, see Manage combining jobs.

    Either type a job group directly in the blank field, or click the arrow on the right side of the field to select an existing job group.

    Comment

    Type any additional comments on the job.

    Project Management Job

    The project management job that is linked to the estimating job.

    By linking combining and project management jobs to each other, you can share nesting results with the Project Management module. This way, you can save data transfer time.

  2. On the Customer tab, add any relevant customer information.
  3. On the Input Options tab, adjust how information can be entered in the combining job.

    Option

    Description

    Mark Input Type

    Allows you to select which format is used when defining mark numbers.

    The Any Input and Any Input - Logical Sort options allow you to use any format when defining marks. The difference between the two options is that the Any Input - Logical Sort sorts the items in a different way.

    Auto-Increment

    When selected, Tekla EPM automatically populates the new mark number with the next available mark number when you are adding items in the Combining dialog box.

    Auto-Increment From Last Entered Value

    When selected, Tekla EPM automatically populates the new mark number with the next mark number from the last added mark number.

    Allow Blank

    When selected, Tekla EPM allows blank mark numbers.

    Allow Duplicate

    When selected, Tekla EPM allows duplicate mark numbers.

  4. Do one of the following:
    • To create the new job without further modifying the settings, click Save.
    • Click the Combining Optimizations, Suppliers, and Input/Display Units buttons to further modify the properties of the new job.

Modify combining optimizations

  1. In the Combining Job Edit dialog box, click Combining Optimizations

    The General Settings tab of the Combining Setup dialog box opens.

  2. To use material grade substitutions with the optimization settings when performing a combining run, on the General Settings tab of the Combining Setup dialog box, select the Use Grade Substitutions check box.

    Grade substitutions must be set in the Shape / Grade / Size Maintenance dialog box. If the grade substitutions are not set, the material grades in the combining run and in the supplier pricing data set or the inventory need to match each other exactly.

  3. Click the arrow buttons to move the optimization options that you want to use to the Optimizations Included list.
    The options are:
    • Inventory Exact-Match (In Stock): Use this option for inventory items in stock that are an exact match without the use of kerf or clamp allowance.

    • Inventory Exact-Match (On Order): Use this option for inventory items that are on purchase orders and have not yet been received and that are an exact match without the use of kerf or clamp allowance.

    • Inventory Least-Scrap (On Order): Use this option for inventory items that are on purchase orders and have not yet been received and that will provide the least amount of scrap.

    • Inventory Least-Scrap (In Stock): Use this option for inventory items in stock that will provide the least amount of scrap.

    • Warehouse Least-Scrap: Use this option to give preference to warehouse items that will provide the least amount of scrap. Warehouse items will only be used when they provide less scrap than the available inventory items.

    • Warehouse Force Inventory: Use this option to force the use of inventory regardless of the amount of scrap, no matter where it is located in the Optimizations Included list. This option is the opposite of Warehouse Least-Scrap.

      Note that you can only include Warehouse Least-Scrap or Warehouse Force Inventory, not both.

  4. Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to modify the order of the optimizations.

    The order is important while performing a combining run.

  5. Click the Mult Settings - Linear Material tab to open it.
  6. If you want to apply the material kerf settings defined in Shape / Grade / Size Maintenance to the combining as part of the cutting pattern, select the Apply Kerf check box.
  7. Open the Plate Nesting Settings tab.
  8. In the Shear Cut Optimization list, click a suitable shear cut option to select it.
    The selected option determines the plate allowance to be used with the combining:
    • Use None when cutting plate on a burn table.
    • Use Shear Cut - First Cut Along Length or Shear Cut - First Cut Along Width to alert Tekla EPM that the nesting needs to allow for that type of cut first. Then, the nesting will allow for all subsequent cuts to be made with that condition.
  9. If necessary, select the Apply Kerf check box.

    For more details, see step 6.

  10. If the material grain direction is unimportant and you want Tekla EPM to create the best possible optimization of a plate, select the Rotate Plates for Best Fit check box.
  11. Click Save.
  12. Remember to click Save in the Combining Job Edit dialog box to save the changes.

The combining optimization settings are saved for the new job.

Modify suppliers

  1. In the Combining Job Edit dialog box, click the Suppliers button.
  2. In the Suppliers dialog box, select suppliers for each material group in the available lists.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Remember to click Save in the Combining Job Edit dialog box to save the changes.

Modify the input and display units

  1. In the Combining Job Edit dialog box, click Input/Display Units.
  2. In the Input/Display Units dialog box, select the units and the length input types in the available lists.

    Note that there are multiple options depending on the required precision and the desired input method.

  3. Click OK.
  4. Remember to click Save in the Combining Job Edit dialog box to save the changes.
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