As described by The Fabricator in their article “Nesting in sheet metal fabrication, then and now”, nesting technology has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last few decades. In 1990, shops were just beginning to adopt CNC laser cutting systems and early nesting software. Back then, a shop with two CNC punches and a CO₂ laser often required two full-time programmers to manage part layouts. By comparison, today’s custom fabricators, with multiple lasers and automation systems, may need only one programmer, thanks to advances in nesting and CAD/CAM tools.
Despite surface similarities between a shop in 1990 and one today, the differences beneath the surface are profound. Modern fiber lasers outpace older CO₂ machines, and information flow—once slow and error-prone—has been streamlined by advanced nesting software. These tools reduce work-in-process, shorten lead times, and maximize material use.
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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of The Fabricator — https://www.thefabricator.com/