1. SigmaNest and Tekla PowerFab Setup

Tekla PowerFab
Not version-specific
Tekla PowerFab Tekla PowerFab GO

SigmaNest Setup

Download these two reports

Place these reports in your SNData folder, under Reports/English-USA or Reports90/English-USA

[Note: This report is not required if you're using the Tekla PowerFab Plugin for SigmaNest] To add the Tekla PowerFab Layout Detail report to Nesting, open the Nesting tab, then click Report, then Print. Note that you may need to open a workspace for the Report button to be active.

Click Setup, then Add.

Choose "Tekla PowerFab Layout Detail.fr3" (for Tekla PowerFab 2022i and previous) or "Tekla PowerFab Layout Detail.fr3" (for Tekla PowerFab 2023 and newer) in the File list, then click Open and Okay.

Close the task report, then Re-open it, click Print again. "Tekla PowerFab Layout Detail" should now be in the list of Reports:

 

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To automatically generate this report when you post: On the "Tools Help" tab, click Configuration.

Select eReports on the left and check "Save eReports when you post"
Add the Tekla PowerFab Layout Detail report, with a File Name Type of "Task Name" and an eReport Type of "HTML":

 

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To generate an inventory or remnants report to send to FabSuite, open sheet List on the Work-space tab:

 

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Click Print, then Setup, then Add:

 

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Choose "Tekla PowerFab Inventory Detail.fr3" from the list, and click okay.

Close the Sheet List and re-open it, then click Print again. "Tekla PowerFab Inventory Detail" should now be in the list of Reports.

Tekla PowerFab Setup

ENABLE SIGMANEST INTEGRATION IN Tekla PowerFab

On the Tekla PowerFab Maintenance Menu, select Integration Settings, then SigmaNest

Check Enable SigmaNest for Plate Nesting. This adds the option to send the inventory to SigmaNest, and adds SigmaNest as a choice of nesting software for a combining run.

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enable sigmanest

SET UP SIGMANEST DATABASE CONNNECTION

Open SigmaNest "Tools Help" tab, then SQL Manager and click Connect.

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Copy information from each field so that the information on Tekla PowerFab SigmaNest Database tab matches SigmaNest.

 

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sigmanest database tab


Click "Test Connection" to verify that it's set up correctly.

SET UP SIMTRANS CONNNECTION

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simtrans_tab


To Use SimTrans, first Enable it on the SimTrans Tab.

Enter the District number this instance of Tekla PowerFab will be using.

Open SimTrans Configuration (Options > Preferences, with the Service Stopped).

Copy information from each field so that the information on Tekla PowerFab SimTrans tab matches SimTrans.

Click "Test Connection" to verify that it's set up correctly.

INVENTORY TRANSFER SETTINGS

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SigmaNest Settings: Inventory Transfer Settings


Enter Reports Directory to point to the "eReports" directory in your SNData folder. This should be a UNC file path, and NOT to a mapped drive.

Select your Dimension Units to match Units in SigmaNest ("Tools Help" Tab, then Configuration, under System)

Select your choice of Cost Calculated Units. This will affect the cost field when data is sent through SimTrans.

If you wish to enable Automatic Take From Stock (which will attempt a Take From Stock based on Program Updates performed in SigmaNest), check the "Automatically TFS" box.


If you wish to include material that's "on Order" as inventory in SigmaNest, check the "Sync material on order" box.

Check "Sync Combined Material" if you want stock synced with SigmaNest even if it's combined with other software.

FIELD MAPPING

In Tekla PowerFab, at the bottom of the Transfer Settings tab are field mappings:

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field_mapping


Five fields from Tekla PowerFab can be mapped in to SigmaNest. Any of these five fields that you use in FabSuite should be mapped in SigmaNest in order to perform a Take-From-Stock automatically.

The fields are:

  • Heat Serial Number Field: The Heat Number of an inventory item automatically maps across to SigmaNest. If you also use the Heat Serial Number field, map it here.
  • PO Number Field: This allows you to see what PO an inventory item is on from SigmaNest.
  • Bill of Lading Field: If you use this field in FabSuite, you may also want to see it's contents in SigmaNest.
  • Secondary Location Field: The Location of an inventory item automatically maps across to SigmaNest. If you also use Secondary Location, map it here.
  • Job Reserve Field: This shows what job inventory is reserved to in Tekla PowerFab. If you wish to automatically Take From Stock, the mapped field in SigmaNest must have the same data in it as this field in Tekla PowerFab.

WORK ORDER SETTINGS

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SigmaNest Settings: Work Order Settings

 

For CNC Files Directory, enter a directory that both the computer with Tekla PowerFab and the computer with SimTrans have access to in CNC Files Directory. Use the UNC file path (NOT a mapped drive) so that the path will be the same from the computer with SimTrans and the computer with Tekla PowerFab.

  • Part Name: Determines how the CNC file is named in the export.
  • Include Drawing Number: Populates the Drawing field in SigmaNest with the Drawing Number from Tekla PowerFab.
  • Material: Needs to match the SigmaNest material field, either Grade, Shape, or Shape Grade.
  • Allow Custom Work Order Number: If checked allows adding a custom work order number when exporting the combining run.
  • Part Data fields: These populate the matching fields in SigmaNest. If using the Tekla PowerFab Plugin in SigmaNest, these settings need to be configured to match. 


WHEN THE SETTINGS ARE TO YOUR SATISFACTION, CLICK SAVE TO SAVE AND EXIT.

 

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