“Economically speaking, Alma act/cut software is much more profitable (than the previous software we used),” says Sylvain Vouligny, president of MetalTek.

MetalTek, which began operations in 2007, specializes in laser cutting on a sub-contract basis for a variety of customers in a number of industries including agricultural, forestry, general industrial, and more. 

In addition to laser cutting, MetalTek offers a variety of other services including bending, rolling, threading, polishing, assembly, embossing and welding. The firm employs a Mitsubishi 3015 LV Plus laser cutting system. The Mitsubishi laser is 4,000 watts and can handle a sheet size of 60 in. x 120 in. and up to one in. in thickness. The firm has five employees at its 8,000 sq. ft. facility. However, Vouligny says that MetalTek will undergo an expansion in the near future that will double the size of the facility. 

The firm processes both metalsheet and metal plate. According to Vouligny, MetalTek’s business involves processing approximately 60% metal plates and 40% metalsheet. The company will purchase over two million pounds of metal product this year alone. “In our manufacturing process, we typically concentrate on one in. thick plates,” he says.

According to Vouligny, MetalTek was previously using a different programming software for its laser cutting operations but found that it was too slow. As a result, the company switched to act/cut from Alma Industrial Software of France. act/cut is universal software for the programming of CNC cutting machines following contours such as laser systems, plasma systems, oxyfuel machines, waterjet systems, and routers as well as punch presses and combination laser/punch machines. The Alma act/cut software was supplied by the Designfusion Group, Tornoto, ON (www. designfusion.com). Designfusion is a leading technology solutions provider with offices in all of Canada’s major manufacturing markets. Designfusion’s unique approach throughout the implementation process and support enabled MetalTek to achieve their business requirements and become more productive almost immediately.

act/cut software controls all machine brands and optimally takes into account each technology at every step of programming from part preparation to NC code generation, from nesting to tool path optimization. act/cut, which is Windows native and compliant with Microsoft standards, is a user-friendly software. It integrates a Visual-Basic compatible language which enables total customization of menus, macros, creation of parameterised parts, and more. The software operates automatically whenever possible but allows the user to select the optimal solution depending on the application.

Vouligny says that a major advantage of the Alma act/cut software package is that it is so simple and user-friendly. “The simplicity of the act/cut program allows us to have one programmer doing the work of two people,” he says.

Another positive feature of the software is the speed of the nesting process, adds Vouligny. “The nesting process is extremely fast. Even if there are size differences (of components) everything is very compact. We estimate that the act/cut software has saved us approximately 30% on material costs alone.”

act/cut provides a variety of powerful functions for nesting including nesting of parts to exact profile; operation in batch or interactive modes; automatic control of minimum gaps between parts and of the anti-collision system (with punching/nibbling tools); choice between several automatic nesting strategies; the possibility of part rotation to any kind of angle; and simultaneous display of all metal sheets of a start-up while allowing the user to interactively shift parts from one metal sheet to another.

As a result of the significant material cost savings, MetalTek is confident that it will recoup its return on investment within the next few months, he says.

Training on the act/cut software was a simple and straightforward process, says Vouligny, adding that the software has definitely met his expectations in terms of performance.

designfusion.com