The material database is at the center of the realization of a production process automation.

The goal is the inventory of all materials, methods and machine and tool parameters. In the ideal case, the material database is used to gather the experience gained from the practice of all production processes of a company.

Note: An animation shows the effect of the material database.

The RIP reads material and method from the material database and stores this information in addition to the cutting contours in an OXF file - for further processing in OptiScout.

List of supported RIPs: Compatibility Partnerships

The material database ensures that all material-specific properties are provided. These properties have previously been stored in a material profile. This information is available at all levels of the industrial workflow - from the design phase, through process preparation to production itself.

In cut finishing different machines from different manufacturers are often used. OptiScout 8 can handle several machines parallel either single or combined. The individual technology data are read from the material database and used in production. This results in a very high degree of flexibility on the cut-device sector.

The central material database can supply several production machines via LAN. This provides device-specific data at the production site.

The support for high-resolution monitors allows the use of current hardware.

The functionally designed user interface can be adjusted by individual profiles. The so-called sidebar was extended by the production tab. Complex workflows can be defined and started using production profiles. This tab is a further step towards automatic automation of production processes.

The Hand Mode

The hand button

The hand mode allows you to move the entire OptiScout desktop, including all objects on it and facilitates handling of large jobs significantly.

In the endeavor to optimize the usability of each new release this time important dialogues were put to the test and restructured. Great attention was given this time to intuitive use.

Use this command to enable the mode for defining any - even non-geometric - character styles. These shapes or objects can be placed with the mouse anywhere on the Workspace.

Note: This function takes any object from the clipboard (vectors, text blocks and bitmaps).

New plug-ins in OptiScout 8 (State 08/2022):

- AutoCAD 2017 / 2017LT - 2023 / 2023LT
- CorelDRAW X8, 2017 - 2022
- CorelDesigner X7, 2017 - 2020
- Adobe Illustrator CC 2017 - CC 2022
- Adobe InDesign CC 2017 - CC 2022

A Plug-in is a macro, which is integrated in the menu structure or toolbars of a host program, such as AutoCAD, Illustrator, InDesign, Inkscape or CorelDRAW. It works like a generic part of its host program. Plug-ins extend range of functions of the host program.

OptiScout plug-ins export data from host program's desktop to the OptiScout desktop simply by clicking on their respective toolbar icon.

The settings are independently configurable for the individual file formats. In particular, macros can be executed before and after the import, duplicate lines can already be removed during import, axes can be mirrored or the size factor can be changed.

OptiScout has a wide variety of file import filters - vector and bitmap formats. That means nearly all data can be imported and given out.

Vector / CAD:

*.PDF, *.AI, *.EPS, *.WMF, *.EMF, *.DXF, *.IK, *.GTP, *.JTP, *.JOB, *.HPGL, *.CMX, *.GBR, *.ISO (Gerber), *.SVG

Bitmap / Photo:

*.PCX, *.TIF, *.BMP, *.GIF, *.JPG, *.CMP

Special Filters:

*.DMPL Summa DMPL files with OPOS markers

These filters are necessary for data exchange with other Finishing Systems:

*.CUT    I-Cut Vision (up to Version 6)
*.ZCC    Zünd Cut Center
*.ACM   Esko
*.OXF    OptiScout

Special features: When importing, special operations such as Mirroring and Insert at position can be set.

Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is an XML-based vector image format for two-dimensional graphics with support for interactivity and animation. The SVG specification is an open standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) since 1999.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Note: The free non-portable vector graphics software Inkscape must be installed for this filter.

OptiScout 8 has 2 new import filters: * .GBR, * .ISO.

The Gerber format is a standard file structure in ASCII format that allows data exchange between CAD (development) and CAM (production).

(Source: Wikipedia)

This function removes double lines that lie one above the other and merges them to one curve. The required tolerance can be defined.

It is needed to prevent that a tool follows the same path twice (milling, lasering).

This function can also be activated directly via the object menu..

This function converts an array of adjacent rectangles in a sorted line grid without double lines.

Initial situation:

A grid of rectangles that are exactly on top of each other. This has the consequence that each two lines are superimposed. This results in the problem that every line would be processed twice. To fix this, the "Convert to gridlines" function has been implemented in OptiScout 8.

This function inserts cuts in the X axis - at a definable distance to the cutting objects -; Distance, length and variant (1 cut, 2 cuts outwards) can be set individually.

A separating cut can be inserted automatically or manually.

Assignment to Layer and Tool

When inserting a separating cut, a so-called "Cut Off Layer" is automatically appended. If the layer already exists, then the cut off line is placed into the already existing layer.

Step 1: Select cut off tool for the cut.
Step 2: Start output when output device is ready

Weeding lines serve for the better processing of big jobs. Material lengths of several meters in length or width are difficult to handle, so you can insert weeding lines when cutting the film into smaller, handier parts.

Important note: When using so-called weeding lines, the object contours are not cut when given out - they are spared.

Interactive

Any change in tool diameter and rotation is performed immediately and shown on the working area. The milling objects are displayed with transparent fill and full-colored radius correction.

Dynamic

At every scaling of the milling objects a recalculation is performed.

Optimal Workflow

If the data are prepared in a way, so that the color matches that of the corresponding milling layer, then immediately after the data import an output-capable job is created automatically. Tool, tool diameter and material are predefined in the Quick Layer.

Automatic Bridges

Bridges prevent falling out of milled parts. Parameters such as length, distance and number can be specified individually. With manual bridges, the position can also be changed.

Lead-in and lead-out flags are indispensable for high-quality results when milling. In OptiScout, you can use manually or dynamically set flags. The dynamic flags change with each change to the object, eg when moving individually object nodes - in particular the object start point (see figure).

This function can be assigned to a layer in conjunction with a suitable device driver. The flags are then assigned dynamically to all objects located in this layer and are adapted to changes to the object.

The cleaning path is an important function in high-quality milling. When the individual milling depths are executed, ridges or clearly visible traces are formed at the milling object.

In order to optimize this, a so-called cleaning run is carried out, which trims and smoothes at the end of the process.

This function can be assigned in OptiScout to a layer in conjunction with the device driver. The cleaning run is then carried out automatically for all objects located in this layer.

Start animation

With this function, you can display the order of the objects first, and then interactively change them by clicking the object contours one after the other, in the desired order.

Note: This manual form of sorting is particularly useful when milling.

With this option, pre-sorted jobs are not sorted again before output. This can prevent the sorting sequence from being changed during the import of external data.

"True-Shape" nesting places and nests objects saving material before output - on rolls or plates.

What is new is that the whole part spacing can be defined as a minimum distance or exact distance. In addition, the handling of residual panels has been improved.

The quick-layer control element has been extended by a device switch, which allows a fast machine change. All connected devices can be directly selected from a list.

Each released OptiScout version contains new and optimized device drivers.

For example, the alignment methods (Best Fit, Fit to Job, ...) can now be directly selected in the output dialog.

Overview of available device drivers

The figure on the right shows which output device, which mode, which tool / material, and which settings - during the output - are used.

New is the direct access to the Sorting settings.

Note: For a simplified machine operation this dialog can be skipped with the help of presets!

This feature extends the classic Smartfeed. It takes into account the segment boundaries calculated using printed video marks as well as the segment boundaries based on object sizes that exceed the table length. Smartfeed ensures that - except in exceptional cases - no cutting object is separated.

The red-bordered object will not be considered in Phase 1 (First Cut) because it exceeds the maximum table length.

The QR code production profile allows fully automatic cutting / milling / lasering of materials printed with QR code. The camera recognizes the appropriate job files using the QR codes. This allows mixed jobs to be processed on any material.

Note: The QR code module is included with the OptiScout Roll Cutter Edition.

What is the Benefit of this Feature?

A so-called overcut elongates the cutting contours.

As a result, it facilitates the weeding of vinyl. For thicker or flexible materials, a burr at the start point is avoided.

Important note: Only if Module Material Database is available and licensed / activated.

Logging is the automatic creation of a log from the output of a finishing process. The PDA data can now be written independently of one another in a CSV file or in the material database.

For each cutting job data such as start time, machine operator, status, machine name, material name, cutting length, cutting time and material consumption are recorded.

For the evaluation of the production data our Production Information System (PIS) is responsible.

In connection with the Material Database the following technical operating data is provided in a database: runtimes, interruptions, jobs, devices, worker, material, material thickness, cutting path length, empty runs, cutting time, material consumption.

A connection to Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) is possible.

A message interface in OptiScout ensures that the user is informed about new software versions and live updates. This function can be disabled if required.