Printing

If the operator wants to print labels and a nest layout, they can select the “Print” button and the following dialog box will appear.

Printing Sheets:

Selecting the option "Print Per Sheet When Cutting" will enable Control Nesting's ability to print a single sheet of the currently cutting sheet. The printing will begin when the Start button is pressed to begin cutting that particular sheet. NOTE: This option only works properly when the program running is the last program that was generated by Control Nesting.

Print Sheets will perform the printing for the selected Sheet Settings.

Print to Window will create bitmaps of printed sheets and put them in the c:\Rolling Nest\SheetImages directory. Then they are displayed using Windows Picture Viewer.

Sheet Settings will take you to the following dialog where options for the printed sheet can be set.

Font size offers the ability to adjust the size of the number or name that is displayed on the part in the nest. It varies from 1-10. The default setting is 3.

Checking 'Use Part Name on Parts' will display the name rather than the part number in the nest. This will obey the font size setting.

NOTE: When using the "Use Part Name on Parts" option you must keep in mind that if you have parts with long names it could appear messy. Plus if the nest contains multiple parts with the same name it will be difficult to depict where a part is located in the nest. This option is recommended for jobs with simple unique part name strategies.

Print Barcodes offers a barcode to be printed on the page. These barcodes can be scanned to print a single label or to re-print the page using the Label Recovery option in Thermwood Control Software. (requires Thermwood Control Software version 8.3.0 or newer).

Column designation allows the user to select which available value they wish to be listed per part. There are a total of 8 columns available. Not all need to be used. You can edit the header name for the column by clicking the appropriate Header entry. If you alter the Field value, the Header value will go back to the default text.

Printing Labels:

Print Labels will bring up a dialog box to perform label printing. The labels will be printed based on the Crystal Report file selected. Click the Select File button to select a Crystal Report file. The files provided with Control Nesting are located in the C:\Rolling Nest\Labels directory.

Auto Options

"Print Per Sheet When Cutting" will enable Control Nesting's ability to print only the labels for the current sheet prior to cutting each sheet. The printing will begin when the Start button is pressed to begin cutting that particular sheet. NOTE 1: This option only works properly when the program running is the last program that was generated by Control Nesting OR the program is a CNC Database. (Only available with THM 7.6 or newer.)

"Print & Apply With Machine" will enable the machine labelling feature. If a machine is equipped with a labeling device it will automatically print and place the labels on each part prior to cutting each sheet. (Only available with THM 8.3 or newer with PLC version 2.0.3 or newer.)

"Print & Apply With Auto Processor" will enable the auto processor labelling feature. If your machine is an Auto Processor this setting is required to inform Control Nesting that an autoloader with labeling device is attached and ready for printing labels, placing labels, and loading sheets. (Only available with THM 8.3 or newer with PLC version 2.0.3 or newer.)

The values Label Width, Label Length, and Min. Clearance from Part Edge or Cuts are used for placing labels on parts. They are only needed for the Print & Apply With Machine and Print & Apply With Auto Processor options. These values do not affect the rpt that is used for the printing. It is up to the user to insure that the size values match the actual labels that are printed. This insures that there is room for the label and it will not get cut into. If a label does not fit on the part it is not placed.

The following is a list of the available Crystal Report files with a label type and an example of the data they display per label.

NOTE: Files with the word "Barcode" in the title will only print labels with barcodes.

Files with the work "Recut" in the title will include a barcode on each part label that can be scanned for loading to recut.

30252_Address.rpt & 30252_Address_Barcode.rpt

Label Type: Dymo label printer with 30252 Address labels