What's New in SigmaNEST Version 8.0

General

Windows Vista

Microsoft Windows Vista introduces a new set of rules regarding security. To conform, SigmaNEST has changed the location of some files.

User-specific and system-wide program settings are separated and stored in Microsoft approved locations on Windows Vista and Windows XP. Reworking these parts of SigmaNEST results in better and more efficient functionality.

File Loading Speed

Re-arranged and optimized data structures dramatically improve the part and work space loading times

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express replaces MSDE 2000

The Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express edition replaces the Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE) and provides numerous ease-of-use features. The reliability and scalability of SQL Server 2005 Express is significantly better than MSDE. SQL Server 2005 Express is based on the latest SQL Server 2005 technology and applications using it can easily be moved to SQL Server 2005 Workgroup, Standard, or Enterprise editions.

SQL Server 2005 Express only needs to be installed on the database server and is not required on the work stations. If required, an existing instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 can be used instead of the bundled Express edition. The installation guide provides assistance on different configurations.

Technology editor

The technology editor is a tool that manages SigmaNEST's production data, such as, materials, material costs, markup percentages, costing functions, etc. The functions in the technology editor are much more accessible. The technology editor is also used for machine-specific technology files.

New Costing Models

There are new global and machine costing parameters that permit greater flexibility in setting up cost models. There are now 3 levels of cost information:

  • Global, or company-wide costs, such as overhead and administration costs.
  • Machine-specific costs that do not depend on the material grade, such as machine operator costs.
  • Material-specific costs, such as consumables that depend on the material and grade that is being cut.

Parts also have three cost components:

  • The material cost. It is a $/lb cost and is dependent on the weight of the part.
  • The time it takes to produce the part. It is a $/hour cost.
  • The cost of the consumables. It is a $/inc or $/hit cost depending on the type of machine.

It is important to note that SigmaNEST uses the post to calculate the time it takes to cut a part or a nest. It is, therefore, important that the post has the correct time parameters. If it does not, time and cost calculations cannot be correct.

SigmaNEST uses the part area and thickness to calculate the weight of a part. The material cost does not depend on the costing model selected. The material cost of a part is only determined by the weight of the part (which is calculated by SigmaNEST) and the cost per pound, which is supplied by the operator.

The same applies to the cutting time. It does not depend on the costing model selected. It is calculated by SigmaNEST. The only cost value entered is the monetary amount per hour.

There are 5 predefined costing models and one that permits custom combinations of the costing functions:

  • User Setup: User-defined combinations of costing functions.
  • Only Detail: Based on the material costs. Every machine has an associated material cost lookup table. The values in these tables are used in conjunction with SigmaNEST's material weight calculations.
  • Only Machine: Uses the cost parameters from each machine's lookup table that are not material dependent.
  • Only Global: Uses the global costing parameters.
  • Global and Machine: Combines the global and machine-specific costing parameters.
  • Global, Machine and Detail: Combines the global, machine-specific and material-dependent costing parameters. This model offers the most control, but requires that more costing parameters be entered.
User configuration settings

SigmaNEST's settings are saved in a variety of configuration files (with an .ini extension). Examples of the type of information stored in these files are: the path to the SNData folder, tool bar layouts and database connection strings. Two things have changed:

  • The location of these files has moved, because of Windows Vista requirements.
  • Different settings are now possible for different users.

On Windows Vista, the configuration files are in the hidden ProgramData folder. On Windows XP they are in the All Users\AppData folder. They are also in a new location on Windows XP.

If "Profile by User Name" is checked when a SigmaNEST user is created or edited, the configuration files are saved in a unique sub-folder for each user. A "user" within SigmaNEST can be a named user, but it could also be a role or a location. This mechanism can thus be used to maintain different settings for different plants, divisions, or operator roles (e.g. programming or quoting).

Integrated online help

Reference material, such as that previously found in the printed Reference manual is now in on-line help format only and is better integrated with the software. Help is now context sensitive. More introductory and tutorial type of information, such as that found in the User Guide, remains in printed form.

Reset tool bars

The new Reset button on the tool bars dialog resets all tool bars to their original, installed configuration. Any custom changes are removed.