COMPUTER-AIDED NESTING IN SHEET-METAL FOR PRESSWORKING OPERATIONS INVOLVING BENDING

This paper presents an algorithm for development of a computer aided n esting software for sheet metal work. In the algorithm, a pattern is a pproximated by a polygon with sufficient number of sides to enclose th e pattern. Besides that, grain flow direction is taken into considerat ion while developing the nesting algorithm especially for the pattern which involves bending. In the process of cold rolling, the sheet meta l will undergo plastic deformation causing the grains to elongate and align parallel to the rolling direction. The brittleness of the cold-r olled sheet in the transverse direction is higher than in its rolling direction. Cracking at the bending edge might occur if the bend is par allel to the grain flow direction. The algorithm developed for nesting has the unique feature that takes into account the grain flow directi on.