KwickFit Features

KwickFit provides a powerful suite of panel layout optimization calculators that maximize part per panel yield. These easy to use calculators allow you to quickly evaluate several layouts on various panel sizes to determine which layout best meets your needs.

The Basic Layout calculates the optimum layout for a single (non array) part. The part can be a single board or it can be outer dimension of an array that contains several parts. KwickFit also provides several array specific calculators to a address common array layout challenges. Part rotations on the panel can be enabled or disabled to control part placement.

Use the Fixed Array Matrix Layout when a specific array matrix is required. Array rotations on the panel can be enabled or disabled. Using one or more of the other array layout optimizers can quickly allow you to evaluate "what if" scenarios that may present an alternate array matrix that produce a higher part per panel yield.

Use the Auto Array Matrix Layout when a specific array matrix and array size are not required. Using a range of allowable parts on the array, KwickFit will calculate the array matrix that produces the highest part per panel yield on a given panel. If the specific number of parts on the array is required and you want to determine which matrix will yield the best layout, enter the same number in both the minimum and maximum parts on the array fields. For example, to determine which configuration of an 8 up array matrix produces the highest part per panel yield, enter 8 in both the minimum and maximum fields. KwickFit will analyze the 1 x 8, 8 x 1, 2 x 4 and 4 x 2 matrices to determine which produces the highest part per panel yield on each panel size. Array rotations on the panel can be enabled or disabled.

Use the Fixed Size Array Layout to calculate the array matrix options that fit within an array of a specific size. This layout is helpful when a specific array size is required possibly due to handling or assembly equipment setup requirements. When only one dimension of the array (width or length) is fixed and the other array dimension is flexible, use the Semi-Fixed Size Array Layout to calculate the array design that produces the highest part per panel yield.

Use the Semi-Fixed Size Array Layout when a specific size requirement exits for one dimension of the array but the size of the other dimension is flexible. This layout will calculate array matrix options that produce the highest part per panel yield and fall within the specified array dimension constraints. When a specific size requirement exists for both array dimensions, use the Fixed Size Array Layout.

Use the Round Part Layout to calculate the optimum layout for round parts. Part nesting can be enabled or disabled.

The Panel Shear Layout is used to calculate the optimum layout when shearing sheet stock into panels. Either axis of the panel can be aligned with the sheet grain to control how the stock will be sheared.

Automatically analyze any part size to determine the threshold at which a reduced part size increases the part per panel yield. This analysis quickly identifies hidden opportunities for cost reduction. Results will vary by part size and panel configuration. In some cases a part size reduction is not practical because the required part size change is to large. However, in many cases a higher part per panel yield is just a couple of millimeters away. Using this analysis, customers have reported part size optimizations that have saved thousands of dollars in monthly production costs.

In the sample below the Part Size Analysis feature has identified that if the part dimensions are reduced from (1.895 x 2.875) to (1.895 x 2.872), a .003" change in one dimension, the part per panel yield will grow from 58 to 61 parts per panel. Hypothetically, if the panel price is $50, adding an additional three parts per panel reduces the part price from $.862 per part to $.819 per part. With a run of 10,000 parts a savings of $430 is achieved. With a run of 100,000 parts the savings is $4,300. KwickFit pays for itself many times over.

An unlimited number of standard panel sizes can be defined with each panel having similar or different values for part spacing, minimum borders, etc. Layouts are automatically calculated for each standard panel size. Panels of the same size can be identified with a unique name which is displayed in the Fit List. Optionally, multiple configurations can be created to logically group like configurations. For example, one might choose to create separate configurations for double sided and multilayer panels.

KwickFit calculates all the possible layouts for each panel size and displays the results sorted by part per panel yield in the Fit List. Often, there are several layout's that produce the same part per panel yield. The Fit List provides a fast an easy means of evaluating the various layout options so you can determine which meets your needs.

Layouts can be exported to DXF for import into other DXF compatible applications. Layout results can also be exported to comma separated value files (.csv) to integrate the layout results with other applications.

Each numeric field within KwickFit has a built in calculator. Multiple arithmetic operations can be performed at once. The built in calculator is helpful when entering length and width dimensions for parts dimensioned from a datum.

Create a robust pricing structure to price parts based on the panel layout. If you have an existing quoting system, the results of the layout can also be exported to a (.csv) file and imported into other quoting tools such as Bacon Software's Job Quote System for price calculation.