Several shapes occupying the smallest possible surface

Hi.

First of all, excuses for my english, I'll try to explain my problem the best I can.

I generate the objects in green that you can see in the image attached. They are made by projecting 3d surfaces in the X-Z plane.

First question is: What kind of object are projections? Surfaces? Meshes? Lines?

Can I convert this projected objetc to lines? How?

I want to generate a dxf for cutting this shapes in a laser cut machine, so I would like to put all of them as close as possible so the piece of wood or steel to cut is the less possible.

Is there any way of doing this?

Thanks for your interest!

Attachments:

projected.png, 52 KB

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Fred Becquelin on October 26, 2016 at 7:06am

Hi Zagal,

1) well it depends on the original objects... plug the result into a text panel!

2) well it depends on the projected objects! Retrieving the outline curve could be a bit tricky... If your original objects are surfaces or Breps you can try the BrepEdges component.

3) This problem is knon as nesting. Take a look at the Packrat plugin.

Post your files if you need more help.

Permalink Reply by Zagal on October 27, 2016 at 2:38am

Hi! Thanks for answering.

For retrieve the outline curve I find a good method; cut the brep by a plane and you get it!

The Packrat is great! It will be perfect if the objects where not packed with a bounding box, because, in my case there are importants gaps between the shapes (see atached pic) and this means a waste of material.

If there is any other solution for nesting, please let me know.

Thanks again!

Attachments:

captura.png, 29 KB

Permalink Reply by Fred Becquelin on October 27, 2016 at 6:28am

There's one with galapagos somewhere. Use the searchbox.

Permalink Reply by Fred Becquelin on October 27, 2016 at 6:34am

On seconds thought, use the google searchbox instead! I just remember I did it online once :))

Permalink Reply by Zagal on November 3, 2016 at 1:50am

I tried, but can't figure it out. Anyway, people of laser cuttin told me that they can make the nesting with their own software, so this is not a problem anymore.

Thanks!!

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