Planit Solutions

3800 Palisades Drive

Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

33001 = dimension
33002 = mode
33007 = standard units
33008 = large unit
33009 = number of standard units that make a large unit
33016 = overmake %
33019 = strip kerf
33020 = cross kerf
33021 = left trim
33022 = right trim
33024 = top trim
33025 = bottom trim
33030 = max strip length
33031 = min strip length
33036 = max z-cut without penalty
33037 = max z-cut
33040 = max t-cuts in a rip strip
33041 = penalty per mm against t-cuts in a rip strip
33042 = (see 33041)
33044 = largest number of t-cuts that define a strip
33057 = min strip width
33058 = max strip width
33064 = maximum book
33065 = maximum book height
33066 = minimum book
33068 = maximum number of changes of strip direction
33072 = speed
33082 = complexity
33083 = offcut length
33084 = offcut width
33086 = strip sort within a pattern (CU, WD, WB, HR, LR, NO) (default CU>WD>)
33087 = part sort within a strip (RN, LN, WD, LB) (default WD>)
33135 = waste value
33136 = returns table
33152 = automatic material valuation table

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 Planit Solutions
3800 Palisades Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

Dimension
Set the control to 1 for bar cutting and to 2 for sheet cutting.
DEFAULT = 2.

Mode
Set this control to s if the Material field in the cutting list is for information only
and any item in the cutting list can be cut from any stock sheet in the stock file.
Set this control to q if each item in the cutting list may only be cut from those
stocks where either the whole or first part of the Identifier of the stock matches
the Material of the cut item.
DEFAULT = s.

Standard Units
The S2M Center optimizer will accept dimensions expressed in either imperial or
metric units but NOT a mixture of the two. Choose imperial or metric as the
units to be used for the job. The program documentation refers only to metric
units but in all cases imperial units may be substituted.
DEFAULT = metric.

Percentage Overmake
The Overmake field in the cutting list gives the maximum number of that piece
that may be produced in excess of its requirement if by so doing the yield can be
improved. However, if it is more convenient then the Overmake field may be left
blank and a percentage overmake figure given here. For any panel with a blank
Overmake the permitted overmake is then determined by multiplying the strict
requirement for the piece by the overmake percentage.
DEFAULT = 0.

Kerfs
The kerf is the amount of material lost by the saw blade. Different kerfs may be
specified for the blade that cuts the material into strips (Rip kerf) and for the blade
that cuts the strips down into finished pieces (Cross kerf). Note that the S2M
Center optimizer will assume that a smaller kerf is possible when cutting the
waste from a strip or the falling piece from a sheet if the remnant is less than the
kerf. This is done by pressing the saw blade against the edge to be cut until the
necessary amount is worn away and is sometimes referred to as a Dust Cut.

DEFAULT = the rip kerf defaults to 0 and the cross kerf defaults to the rip
kerf.

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 Planit Solutions
3800 Palisades Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

Minimum and maximum strip length

It may be undesirable for operational reasons to cut strips that are either too long
or too short. If there is a limit on the reach of the saw it may be necessary to cut
several head strips from a sheet before it is physically possible to cut rip strips
lengthwise. Similarly changing the direction of a strip late in the pattern may give
rise to very short strips that are inefficient to cut. The S2M Center optimizer
allows you to place minimum and maximum limits on the length of a strip. This
control may take different values for the different phases of the pattern. For
example the maximum length of a rip strip may be different from the maximum
length of a head strip.
DEFAULT = unrestricted strip lengths.

Clean edge trims

A sheet may require trimming to create a clean edge before panel cutting can
begin. The S2M Center optimizer allows you to specify different trims for the
front, the back, the top and the bottom of the sheet. The trim is given as the total
material lost through trimming and includes any kerf loss Do not enter any value
for these controls if clean edge trims are not to be taken. If a zero value is entered
then a small dust trim is assumed. This will have the affect of preventing a piece
from being cut from a sheet whose dimensions are identical to that of the piece.
Some saws support the automatic adjustment of trims to give equal front and back
trims. This practice is called trim balancing. Note that in such cases a zero trim
will allow trim balancing while a blank trim will not.

Both the trim reports and the timing calculations assume the following practice. A
single clean edge trim is taken from the full sheet before the sheet is cut into
strips. This trim (either left or top) is in the same direction as that of the first set of
strips to be cut. A second trim (either left or top) is taken off the front of each
strip as that strip is cut down into panels. Right edge and bottom edge trims are
not cut but are left attached to the strip waste and to the falling piece (i.e. the
remnant of the sheet remaining when all strips have been cut).
DEFAULT = no trims are made.

Z-cutting
A Z-cut is a third cut that follows the rip and the cross cuts and reduces a piece
down to its finished size.
Z cut length

Z cut width

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 Planit Solutions
3800 Palisades Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

Z-cutting may be performed automatically by the rip saw up to some maximum

width of re-cut. Beyond this limit it becomes necessary to feed the unfinished
piece back through the saw. The former is clearly preferable to the latter. The
S2M Center optimizer therefore provides two limits, a Maximum Z-cut and a
Maximum Z-cut without penalty. A Z-cut Penalty is imposed when the lower of
the two limits is violated. The penalty is expressed as an equivalent number of
square mms of material per mm of the Z-cut width. The Minimum Z-cut width
control specifies the width of the smallest Z-cut that can be made on the saw. The
controls described above all constrain the width of a Z-cut. The Maximum Z-cut
Length control limits the length of a single Z-cut. Different values of these
controls may be given for the different phases of the pattern .
DEFAULT = unrestricted Z-cutting with no penalty.

T-cutting
A T-cut is a cut that divides a piece that has been cross cut from a strip into two or
more identical pieces.

T cut

The T-cut controls allow the user to restrict the number of identical pieces that
can be plotted across a strip and also to impose a penalty on the use of T-cutting.
When building a strip we refer to the piece that fits exactly across the strip (either
singly or as a repeated T-cut) as the defining piece. In normal operation the S2M
Center optimizer will not build strips whose defining piece is T-cut more than
three times across the strip. Although it is unlikely to impose any restriction on
the patterns that can be built, this restriction can be relaxed.
Maximum T-cut
DEFAULT = unlimited T-cutting.
T-cut Penalty
DEFAULT = 0.

Minimum and maximum strip widths

Restrictions on strip widths normally arise from the limitations of the saw. A saw
may have a limited mouth in the feed to the cross cut blade implying a maximum
width of strip that can be cut. In addition cutting very narrow strips may cause the
material to distort. The S2M Center optimizer allows you to place minimum and
maximum limits on the width of a strip. Values of this control may be given for
the different phases of the pattern.
DEFAULT = unrestricted strip widths.

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 Planit Solutions
3800 Palisades Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

Booking
It may be possible to cut more than one sheet at a time. A group of sheets being
cut simultaneously to the same pattern is called a book. Clearly there are
efficiency advantages in planning patterns that can be cut to the maximum book
that the cutting device can handle. The S2M Center optimizer provides four
controls related to the book.
Maximum number of sheets in a book.
DEFAULT = 999.
Maximum book height.
DEFAULT = 0.
Note that this control is only active if the Maximum number of sheets in a book is
inactive. Setting a book limit by book height is to be preferred if a range of sheets
with different thicknesses are being used. The maximum number of sheets in a
book is then calculated by dividing the book height by the gauge of the sheet.
Minimum number of sheets in a book.
DEFAULT = 1.

Each pattern produced by the S2M Center optimizer will have a repetition greater
than or equal to the Minimum book. If a Minimum book is specified then the S2M
Center optimizer may exceed the permitted overmake if it needs to do so to meet
the minimum book requirement. As a general rule the number of books will
decrease as the Penalty per book is increased.

Turns and Phases

The general complexity of a pattern is set using the COMPLEXITY control.
However it can be more convenient on occasions to allow a broader complexity
than is permissible but to further restrict the number of turns or phases in a
pattern. For example a COMPLEXITY of 1-2-1 and a MAXIMUM NUMBER
OF PHASES of 2 allows a rip phase followed by a head phase, a head phase
followed by a rip phase or two rip phases. It will not allow the full complexity of
a rip phase followed by a head phase followed by a rip phase. It is also possible to
penalize turns or phases rather than make an absolute restriction. The penalties
can be used even if no phase or turn limit is given.
Number of turns in a pattern.
DEFAULT = 99.

Speed
The speed with which patterns are generated is generally proportional to the size
of the cutting list, the number of materials in the stock file and the complexity of
the patterns being cut. The SPEED control sets the depth to which the pattern
generation algorithm will search in forming patterns. The control should be given
a value of between 1 and 7. In general the higher the number the slower the

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 Planit Solutions
3800 Palisades Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

pattern generator will run but the better will be the results. A speed setting of 7
causes a very thorough search of possibilities in multi-turn patterns. This setting
will cause very slow pattern generation for large or complex jobs.
DEFAULT = 6

Complexity
The S2M Center optimizer can generate many forms of pattern from simple long
rip strips (horizontal strips) to patterns with a number of turns and phases. The
S2M Center optimizer patterns can be made of up to four phases and each phase
can be given specific properties such as minimum or maximum strip lengths.
Phases 1 and 3 represent groups of rip strips and phases 2 and 4 represent groups
of head strips. The complexity of a pattern is expressed as a series of phase
numbers separated by hyphens. For example, 2-1 describes the complexity shown
below when a group of head strips are followed by a group of rip strips.

A complexity of 1-2-1 describes the pattern below where a group of rip strips are
followed by a group of head strips and then a second group of rip strips.

If a set of restrictions is to be imposed on a second group of rip strips that is

different to those imposed on the first then use the second rip phase number (3)
for the second group of rips. Consider the case where a pattern is to be made up of
two rip phases, the first phase containing a single repeated strip to a maximum of
1000 mm and the second phase to contain any number of different strips but with
no strip to contain more than one piece identifier. The COMPLEXITY would be
set to 1-3 and the MAXIMUM PIECE IDENTIFIERS PER STRIP control would
be set to 1 for phase 3, the MAXIMUM DIFFERENT STRIPS PER PHASE
control would be set to 1 for phase 1 and the MAXIMUM CHECKERBOARD
WIDTH control would be set to 1000 for phase 1. In a similar situation phase 4
could be used to specify different restrictions for a second head phase.
A complexity includes all the cases where one or more of the phases are empty
(contain no strips) so a complexity of 1-2 would include all simple rip patterns (1)
and also all simple head patterns (2). If the S2M Center optimizer is to consider a

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 Planit Solutions
3800 Palisades Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

combination of complexities then the individual complexities should be joined

together using a forward slash symbol. Hence a complexity of 1-2/ 2-1 means all
patterns with a head phase followed by a rip phase plus all patterns with a rip
phase followed by a head phase.

Offcuts
The MINIMUM OFFCUT LENGTH and the MINIMUM OFFCUT WIDTH
controls are used to classify unused material as either waste or offcut for reporting
and when displayed the cutting diagrams. The classification of a piece of material
as an offcut does not automatically alter its valuation by the optimizer. Unless
offcuts are given a value by the OFFCUT RETURNS TABLE control all waste
and all offcuts are considered to be valueless. If the ORIENTED OFFCUT flag is
not set then the orientation of the waste is not significant and a waste piece
qualifies as an offcut if it meets the minimum and maximum requirements in
either orientation. If the ORIENTED OFFCUT FLAG is set (=1) then the
orientation of the waste is significant and the length of the waste piece must be no
smaller than the MINIMUM OFFCUT LENGTH and the width of the waste piece
must be no smaller than the MINIMUM OFFCUT WIDTH before it will be
classified as an offcut.
DEFAULT = no waste piece is classified as an offcut.

Sorting strips within a pattern

The strip sort control specifies the order in which the strips of a pattern are to
appear within the diagram when printed, when viewed at the screen or when
downloaded to the saw. Strips are sorted within each phase of the pattern. Strips
may not be sorted across phases. The sort control is defined as one or more sort
keys followed by the > symbol for a sort in decreasing order or the < symbol for
a sort in an increasing order.

The sort keys are:

CU - sort by cross cut position (the position of the first cut is considered first and
then where this is the same for two strips, the position of the second cut is
considered and so on).
WD- sort by the strip width.
WB - sort on the width of the blocks of identical strips.
HR - sort on the highest numbered panel record in the strip.
LR - sort on the lowest numbered panel record in the strip.
NO - no sort

A panel record number is the line number of the panel in the cutting list.
DEFAULT = CU>WD>
This default sorts on cross cut position (largest first). If two strips are identical in
all cross cut positions (i.e. checkerboard) then the widest strip is shown first. As

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 Planit Solutions
3800 Palisades Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

the strips are sorted by default it is ESSENTIAL when using the CD FEEDLINE
FLAG that this sort is set to NO. If not the patterns may not satisfy the maximum
feedline limit.

Sorting pieces within a strip

The piece sort control specifies how the panels within a strip are to appear in the
diagram when printed, when viewed at the screen or when downloaded to the
saw. The sort control is defined as one or more sort keys followed by the >
symbol for a sort in decreasing order or the < symbol for a sort in an increasing
order.

The sort keys are:

RN - sort on the panel record number (i.e. the line number in the cutting
list).
LN - sort on the piece length.
WD - sort on the piece width.
LB - sort on the length of blocks of the same piece.

DEFAULT = WD>
This default sorts pieces within a strip by width (largest first).

Valuation of returned offcuts

The S2M Center optimizer produces patterns for a job that minimize the value of
the material used. A job is credited with the value of any material remaining after
the panels have been cut. The value per unit area of waste material is given by the
VALUE OF WASTE control. The value per unit area of an offcut is determined
from the OFFCUT RETURNS TABLE. The control is a Multi-Value control and
will accept a table of values. Make entries into the table for a range of offcut
sizes. The value of an offcut whose size lies between two given sizes is calculated
by interpolation. Be sure to give sufficient values in the offcut table to cover all
offcut sizes that might be generated.
Number the offcuts by entering 1, 2, 3 etc. in the Phase column of the table. In
the Value column enter for each offcut both the value of the offcut and the area of
the offcut. The two figures are separated by a comma. The value of the offcut is
expressed as a fraction of the value of a full sheet and should be between 0 and 1.
The area is expressed in square meters. A waste piece that does not satisfy the
MINIMUM OFFCUT LENGTH and MINIMUM OFFCUT WIDTH limits is
valued as waste even if its area lies within the range specified in the table. The
Material column may be used to enter different tables for different materials. The
Piece column should be ignored.

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 Planit Solutions
3800 Palisades Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

For example,
Phase Value
1 0.10, 0.01
2 0.45, 0.5
3 0.99, 5.0

This table values an offcut of one hundredth of a square meter at 10% of the value
of a full sheet, an offcut of one half a square meter at 45% and an offcut of 5 sq.
meters at 99%.

As the offcut size increases the value per unit area of an offcut would normally
grow gradually for small offcuts, then increase rapidly and then increase gradually
again as the offcut nears the full sheet size. This simply reflects the expected
opportunities for efficient cutting.

For the purpose of this control the full sheet value is the value per unit area of the
largest stock sheet. This value is given in the stock file but will normally be
overridden by the STOCK VALUATION TABLE.
DEFAULTS = all offcuts and waste have zero value.

Valuation of stocks
The valuation of stock material for the purposes of cutting optimization should
reflect the expected return in saleable product from cutting up that stock item.
Recovering a 75% yield from a small offcut may be attractive whereas the same
yield from a large offcut would be disappointing. The STOCK VALUATION
TABLE control values stock items according to their size. Both offcuts and full
sheets are valued. If this control is used then the values given in the stock file
are ignored.
The control is a Multi-Value control and will accept a table of values. Make
entries into the table for a range of stock item sizes. The value of an item whose
size lies between two given sizes is calculated by interpolation. Be sure to give
sufficient values in the table to cover all stock sizes that might be available.
Number the items by entering 1, 2, 3 etc. in the Phase column of the table. For
each item enter both the value of the item and the area of the item into the Value
column. The two figures are separated by a comma. The value of the item may be
expressed in any convenient units. The area is expressed in square meters. The
Material column may be used to enter different tables for different materials. The
Piece column should be ignored.
For example,
Phase Value
1 0.15, 0.01
2 0.50, 0.5
3 1.0, 5.0

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 Planit Solutions
3800 Palisades Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone (205) 556-9199
Toll Free (800) 280-6932
Planit.ctl File Code Definitions Fax (205) 556-9210

This table values an item whose area is one hundredth of a square meter at 0.15
per square meter, an item with an area of one half a square meter at 0.50 and an
item with an area of 5 square meters at 1.0.
The OFFCUT RETURNS TABLE control and the STOCK VALUE TABLE
control are normally used together. The return value of an offcut should always be
less that its value in stock. The difference reflects the handling costs and capital
tied up in a returning offcut before it is finally used and its value realized. The
user may specify this difference as a single figure as an alternative to entering a
STOCK VALUE TABLE. This is done using the OFFCUT VALUE GAP control.
Where a value is given for this control the value per unit area of an item taken
from stock is calculated as its return value plus the OFFCUT VALUE GAP. Any
OFFCUT VALUE TABLE is ignored.

DEFAULT = stock values are taken from the stock file.

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