ProNest

Software Information

Benefits

Material cost savings

Powerful, high-yield nesting reduces your material costs and increases profitability.

Ease of use

Incredibly easy to learn and use with intuitive screens and a wide variety of helpful features.

Breakthrough technologies

ProNest is the only software that provides full support for Hypertherm’s SureCut™ technologies, including True Hole® and Rapid Part™ (which are delivered automatically without operator intervention) and True Bevel™ (which greatly reduces bevel setup time).

Increased productivity

Modules like Common Line Cutting or Chain and Bridge Cutting can increase efficiency and reduce cutting time and consumable wear.

Beyond nesting

ProNest is more than just nesting software. It includes powerful features to help manage your entire cutting operation. You’ll be able to quote jobs, manage work orders, and monitor machine status all in one place.

Unlimited technical support

Unlimited access to technical support, training, and software updates is included with your purchase.

Supported Applications

Cut Process Support

• Plasma – conventional air/oxygen (ex., Powermax®, MAXPRO®)
• Plasma – high definition (ex., XPR™, HyPerformance®)
• Laser
• Oxyfuel
• Waterjet

Machine Applications

• Bevel machine*
• Drill machine*
• Plate machine (e.g., Peddinghaus)*
• Reposition machine (e.g., combination punch)*

* Requires an optional module

Standard Features

Comprehensive machine support

• All major brands/manufacturers/models

Advanced part design and development

• Integrated 2D CAD program to create and edit CAD files
• Variable Shape Parts library to develop common parts from templates

CAD/CAM import and conversion

• Import CAD files (industry-standard file formats)
• Import PDF
• Raster to vector converts static images to CAD
• Import Bill of Materials properties from CAD files
• Automatic CAD file correction and error notification
• Automatic spline/ellipse smoothing and reduction
• Separate multiple parts from a single CAD file
• Automatic mapping of CAD layers to processes (cut, mark, etc.)
• Automatic update of nest for part revisions
• Automatic part corner radiusing for optimized laser cycle time and part quality

Fast, easy job setup

• Material database (with grade and gauge)
• Customer database
• Custom remnant creation (define irregular shapes for nesting)
• Plate list
• Part library
• Assembly database
• Grain constraint
• Safe zones for plate clamping applications
• Multi-head cutting

SureCut™ technology and built-in process expertise

• True Hole® technology capable
• Rapid Part™ technology capable
• True Bevel™ technology capable
• Advanced process support and job setup on the CNC
• Material type, thickness, grade, and class-based process parameters:
• Separations for part, plate, and pierce spacing
• Kerf compensation and feed rate
• Quality and dynamic feed rate calculator for waterjet
• Lead-in/out style optimized for part geometry and quality
• Cutting techniques
• Pre-pierce and edge pierce
• Moving pierce techniques for waterjet
• Disable automatic height control based on part geometry
• Pre-heat timing for oxyfuel
• Cut sequencing (automatic or manual)
• Vaporize the protective film layer prior to laser cutting
• Automatic tabbing/micro-joints
• Fly cutting

Interactive manual nesting

• Jobs can contain sheets for different material types, thicknesses, and classes
• Color parts according to the part property
• Group parts into clusters for nesting
• Drag, drop, bump, and auto-bump parts on the nest
• Move, mirror, and drag to rotate parts
• Prohibit/permit nesting inside of a part
• Part interference detection
• Edit lead-in/out position and properties within the nest
• Animated cutting sequence simulation
• Control cut direction and cut sequencing on a part-by-part basis
• Plate cropping

Detailed reporting

• Management and shop reports
• Export reports directly to PDF, Excel Spreadsheet, CSV, or webpage

Simplified costing and quoting

• User-defined machine and labor production costing
• Automatic calculation of part production costs and part/nest utilization
• Quoting tool including itemized part costs, secondary processes, markups, and discounts

Choice of output

• OneClick™ feature runs all of your most common job tasks automatically
• Post-processor with advanced NC output
• DXF output

Modules

Productivity modules

• Automatic Nesting
• Nesting System Optimization
• Common Line Cutting
• Collison Avoidance
• Chain and Bridge Cutting
• Skeleton Cut-up

Enterprises modules

• Data Sync
• Plate Inventory
• Work Order Processing

3D process modules

• Pipe and Fittings
• SOLIDWORKS® Software Interface
• Inventor® Software Interface
• Creo™ Parametric (formerly Pro/E) Software Interface

Machine interface modules

• Reposition Machine Interface
• Bevel Machine Interface
• Drill Machine Interface
• Plate Machine Interface