Feature | Description |
| Cutting options | 1D and 2D cutting is possible. 1D case cutting is a separate procedure from 2D cutting which allows simplicity in entering 1D data and speeds up calculation. |
| Estimating | Produce quick, accurate estimates backed by material, cost, and labour details. Do fast takeoffs directly from material list entered for optimisation. |
| Database Security | Program provides several options for securing database to ensure that the integrity of the application and the data it maintains are not violated. These options range from a very simple method of applying a password to the entire database, to applying varying levels of security to each and every object in the database. |
| Joining of pieces permitted | 1D calculation can be executed with joining allowed (stock items may be joined together by welding and pieces cut from the newly joined items) – in that way reducing even more wastage. |
| Layout Summary Reports | Program provides separate layout summary reports for 1D and 2D calculation. These reports show not only layout for workshop reference but also weights of the stock and ordered materials plus wastage percentages (Note that weights can be used in calculation of material handling costs). Reports can be printed with multiple equally acceptable options (each option has a different layout but with equal wastage) from which user can choose the most economical option with regard to handling and time required for cutting. |
| Error Reporting | Order items not used in a calculation are reported along with the reason for their rejection. |
| Stock Categories | Stock items are categorized by Item Classes which contain similar types of material and which helps keep them in hierarchical order. Each Item Class can be accompanied by a picture for easier recognition of its shape. |
| Parts Report for Customer | Two additional reports are provided for the issuing of Main Member delivery and Parts/Components (cleats attached to main member). The Main Member delivery report can be split into stages to accommodate separate delivery schedules. |
| Multi-User Environment | Program can be used in multi-user environment (separate license required) to share data files over a network. |
| Data Transfer | Data may be read from user provided Excel, Lotus Notes and Text type files into the program for cutting. And results may be written to a text or DXF file from the "Ace Cutting" program for future use in other programs. |
| Interchange of Types of Materials | Substitution can be made between plates and flats which changes the process from guillotining pieces out of stock plates to the more economical cutting by cropper machinery from stock rolls. |
| Item Code Conversion | The Proxy table will assist in converting Item Codes from external data source files to the ACE Cutting internal item codes. It will eliminate hours of work usually required to convert customers items codes to the company internal code structure policy. Results can be transferred to the ";" delimited file for the future use by another program (plotting or use by CNC cutting machinery). |
| Tolerances | Dimension tolerances can be allowed for Stock Materials as well as in Customer Order Materials which can significantly decrease wastage. This may be used in cases such as the need for additional edge treatment or if the customer allows deviation from the base dimension (e.g. 2000mm ± 20mm). |
| Guillotine Span Limitations | In 2D cutting the Maximum Cut Length can be nominated (limited guillotine span case). This option applies to situations where the cutting tool can only handle cuts up to a certain length. By specifying a non-zero value for the respective parameter, the solution patterns produced will not include cuts longer than specified. |
| Conditions Governing Rotation | In 2D cutting Order items can be designated as 90-degree Rotatable on an individual item basis allowing grain orientation concerns to be addressed in a flexible and efficient manner. One can use a mixed bag of grain-aware and grain-indifferent order items and the library will sort them out and produce layouts with grain-aware order items on grain-aware stock items in the appropriate orientation. Of course grain-indifferent order items will not discriminate and will be placed on grain-aware or grain-indifferent stock items. Thus, layouts for grain-aware stock items may include both grain-aware and grain indifferent order items. |
| Stock Combinations | Cutting can be performed by using a combination of Standard and Remnant Stock materials as following: - Remnant stock only
- Standard stock only
- Remnant and Standard stocks
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| Simplified Data Entry | Order and stock item dimensions can be provided in single precession arithmetic which simplifies user entry and eliminates integer arithmetic loss of precession in calculations. |
| Choice of Units of Measurement | Program can be used in Metric and Imperial environment. |
| Order Item Identification | Every order item can be labelled by a tag. This identifying piece of information accompanies the item throughout the calculations and is output together with the other item information. In this way users can easily match the program's output to the actual problem data. |
Multilingual capability | This means that no matter what language you are using, you can display, enter, edit, and print text in most European, East Asian, or right-to-left languages (provided that your operating system supports the characters specific to that language). |
| Materials List | Australian users may have all the BHP steel section materials entered into the Ace Cutting Database. |
