3. Sending a Work Order
A work order is a request for nesting and/or multing that includes the CNC files to be cut, as well as the available and orderable stock on which to nest or mult. To have Steel Projects perform the Nest or Mult, export your Combining run to XML and import it in to Steel Projects.
To create this work order from Tekla PowerFab, open Combining from the Combining, Estimating, Production Control Requisition or Purchase Order Modules. Then Choose "Combine" from the Module drop-down menu. Here it is shown from Production Control.
Choose "Mult" for bars or "Nest" for plates (PLM can do both) then click "Optimizations" on the bottom left of the Filters screen.
Set the Multing Software (on the Mult Settings tab) or the Nesting Software (on the Plate Nesting tab) to "Steel Projects".
When the Combining run is created, all parts will show as "Not Combined". Save the combining run.
Export these parts, and the stock available for combining to Steel Projects by choosing Combining Run > Export Parts for Nesting > Export to Steel Projects.
In Steel Projects PLM, to import the XML WorkOrder file:
First, from the Project tab select Fabrication Job.
From the Fabrication Job tab click Import and select the nest request import option you set up previously.
Find and select the file generated by Tekla PowerFab.
Perform the Nesting/Multing in PLM.
Once nesting is complete, click "Save" to export results from PLM back to Tekla PowerFab. If required material is not in inventory PLM will prompt you to create a Tekla PowerFab requisition:
If a requisition was created, you can now view it in Tekla PowerFab:
Tekla PowerFab has received the results from the Steel Projects nest, including information on what inventory to use or order. When it is time to cut these pieces, Steel Projects PLM can use the job it's already created for these pieces and inventory.
If you choose you can continue by creating a cut list. SP-PLM will feed back successfully with or without the cut list, but this can make the feedback more visible with cut list reports.