Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI
Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI

AutoNester-T – For automatic marker making

Benefits:

  •  increasing productivity
  •  minimizing wasted material
  • takes into account various requirements
  • competitive to experienced human nesters
  • to be used as a developer's tool kit
 

Software AutoNester-T

AutoNester-T optimizes the automatic placement of markers onto fabric panels, sheet metal, wood or other materials. By configuring the optimal nesting pattern, the software minimizes the amount of wasted fabric.

Product sheet

Product Description

AutoNester-T is a software package for automatic marker making on fabrics, sheet metal, wood or other materials. It is widely used in the garment and upholstery manufacturing industry. It is able to nest any set of pieces within a very short time in an optimal way, minimizing wasted material, while taking into account various types of constraints. The efficiency of the markers achieved by AutoNester-T is competitive to experienced human nesters.

The AutoNester-T software is organized as a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) to be used as a developer's tool kit. Developers of CAD-systems can integrate AutoNester-T into their software.

We also offer the creation of custom-made standalone applications for the end user which can be used to create markers from special data formats.

Skirts, 64 pieces, efficiency 94,3%, 4 minutes

Skirts, 64 pieces, efficiency 94,3%, 4 minutes

Features:

  • Pre-placed pieces
  • Folded and mirrored pieces
  • Folded markers
  • Goal efficiency
  • Time limits
  • Unrestricted number of pieces

  • Nap and flip restrictions
  • Rotation adjustable
  • Tilt support
  • Dynamic half piece sharing
  • Splice marks

  • Bundel support
  • Splitted pieces
  • Holes and defects in the fabric
  • Finite sheet nesting
  • Stripe and plaid

Examples

The following markers have been calculated by the AutoNester-T software package. All runtimes refer to a standard PC with a 3 GHz processor. The colors of the pieces mark different bundles.

Trousers

Trousers, 64 parts, efficiency 89,1%, 3 minutes.

T-Shirts

T-Shirts, 102 parts, efficiency 89.0%, 4 minutes.

Shorts
© Photo Fraunhofer SCAI

Shorts, 48 pieces, efficiency 88,4%, 2 minutes

Methods

AutoNester-T combines many of the latest optimization techniques in order to achieve the best results in a very short time. We use local search algorithms based on new variants of Simulated Annealing, multiply iterated greedy strategies, paired with efficient heuristics, pattern recognition techniques, and fast Minkowski sum calculators. In the local search algorithms, we use fully dynamic statistical cooling schedules and dynamic parameter choice.

For the calculation of optimality proofs and efficiency guarantees on markers we use a combination of branch-and-bound algorithms and linear programming.

Software

The AutoNester-T software package for automatic placing of patterns on fabric can be used via an application programming interface (API). The software package addresses developers of CAD-systems for the textile manufacturing industry and industries with compatible packing problems. CAD-system developers can easily integrate AutoNester-T into their own CAD-software. On request, we also build tailormade standalone applications for our customers which are based on the AutoNester-T kernel.

AutoNester-T is available for all Windows operating systems.

Sofa
© Photo Fraunhofer SCAI

Sofa, 62 pieces, efficiency 93,8%, 4 minutes