MetalOpt^8.1

A new version of the ASCE 7-22 windload calculator is released

MetalOpt 8.1 has a new brake metal sheet where the user will enter the length, girth and quantity. After clicking the copy button MetalOpt will optimize in one direction and copy the data to an original MetalOpt fab sheet. Once on the new fab sheet the user will run the MetalOpt optimizer in its normal fashion to determine the number of sheets required.

This is a short-term solution. My goal is to incorporate this routine into one operation.

MetalOpt 8 has a new optimizing engine that attempts to find the best cutting to obtain the minimum number of stock lengths. After four years of development the redesigned optimizer is ready to use with significant improvements to the original linear optimizer which ended up four times faster than the previous version. The new Max optimize will attempt to find a better outcome with the goal of reducing stock lengths or in some cases increases the drop length which improves the material to be reused. Due to the time required to find every outcome the program has a time limitation and finds the absolute best outcomes about 90% of the time.

My opinion on MetalOpt 8 is I will continue to use the original linear optimizer due to the fact my work cuts material manually. Depending on the size of the project and time I will review the new Max cut list output, but the additional cut transitions work better with the use of automatic saw stops.

MetalOpt 7.6 has a user requested update for the RazorGage saw stop routine.

MetalOpt 7.5 has an update with a few user requests to update the FOM saw stop tools.

MetalOpt 7.4 and 7.3 accommodate new programing for the FOM XML format. The program converts the fab sheet data or cut list data to an XML file the FOM saw stop program can read.

A new version of the ASCE 7-16 windload calculator is released

MetalOpt 7.2 has a small update to the eluCad routine per a customers request. I think the change accommodates the needs of the eluCad users.

also see: elusoft.de/en/products/elucad/ for information on their product.

MetalOpt 7.1 has an update adding a new fab sheet for the eluCad and elumatec saw stop and programing to create the eluCad DGX native file to be used directly on their software.

Thanks to the eluCad support for helping me with their formatting options.

See elusoft.de/en/products/elucad/ for information on their product.

This is the introduction of a Mac compatible version of MetalOpt. This release includes a new recap sheet routine for both the PC and Mac versions. The Mac version of Excel 2016 must be version 15.17 or newer. Older versions of Excel for Mac are not compatible. Customers can request a Beta version of MetalOpt 6.4m which is compatible with Excel 2011 for Mac although this version has mixed reviews. The PC version of MetalOpt must be used to utilize the AutoCAD material Tag data feature and the CSV export feature due to the use of activeX programing.

A new version of the CADDtools Data Exchange program has two additions to the program, a glazing insert routine and a table creation routine. Along with these additions there are more layer filter options to use on all of the routines. MetalOpt 6.4 includes the new layer filters.

MetalOpt 6.4 has an update increasing the number of layers filtered from AutoCAD. This addition will accommodate a future release of the CADDtools Data Exchange program. In addition the website has been updated to accommodate new security features PayPal is instituting.

MetalOpt 6.3 has an update adding a new fab sheet for the RazorGage saw stop and programing to create the RazorGage native file to be used directly on their software.

Thanks to the RazorGage folks for helping me with their formating options.

RazorGage.com

This version of the CADDtools Data Exchange program utilizes the vb.net programing and eliminates the need to install the AutoCAD visual basic module. There are two versions for AutoCAD 2013 through 2015 and a version for AutoCAD 2012. Both versions work on 32 bit and 64 bit AutoCAD installs. To download the program go to CADDtools.com Data Exchange

After 23 automatic updates were installed the other day I discovered the sheet buttons in MetalOpt and other spread sheets were disabled. The VBA macros are still working in the ribbon, the sheet buttons were the only ones affected. I found a fix by deleting three temporary Excel files. Delete the file MSForms.exd from the following Temp subfolder in the user's profile.

To be safe I moved the files to an auxiliary temp folder so I could restore the file if necessary. After moving the files I closed and reopened Excel and the sheet buttons are working again. Problem Solved.

I solved the problem with Excel 64 bit installs which give a compile error. This error is caused by an internal reference "Microsoft Windows Common Control 6.0 (SP6). The 64 bit versions of Excel 2010 and 2013, use VBA7 so the VB6 reference which is missing throws an error. Thanks to all of the customers who patiently waited for a fix. A special thanks to Ken who was the first to find the problem and reinstalled his Excel as 32 bit until I could find a solution. This release fixes only 64bit installs and does not affect any of the functions on MetalOpt 6.1, thank you.

A note to Mac users due to limitations incorporated into the Mac office 2011, the optimizer is not compatible. MetalOpt utilizes xml programming to load a custom menu ribbon when you open the workbook. Due to limitations incorporated into the Mac office 2011, the menu ribbon is not loaded. This limitation inhibits your ability to execute the visual basic macros and run the optimizer or cut list programs. At this time there is no solution to this issue. I admit my knowledge on the Mac operating system and Mac office 2011 is limited although I will continue to pursue a solution. Thank you.

I have created an online version of MetalOpt for you to try. It has similar operations as the main MetalOpt optimizer. The limitations are the online version will only let you optimize up to five different lengths. You have the option to run the optimizer only to get the number of stock lengths you require or you can run the cut list routine to get your results in a list form to print and use to cut from. The main features include:

The long awaited new version of MetalOpt is here. I have been working on this big project for many months and here it is. The main new features include:

This is the introduction of a new MetalOpt website. I have been working on many projects which kept me from updating this site for quite a few years. I have updated the site to the new web site standards while keeping a minimal structure so the site will load quickly. My goal was to make the site easier to navigate and read. Please feel free to comment below, it may get included in the next blog.

A popular feature created a few years ago is the data import export routine. This feature allows you to import data from AutoCAD into Excel and export Tag information back to AutoCAD. This is a multistep process to create the data in AutoCAD then extract the data using a visual basic program designed to use with AutoCAD. Once the data is extracted MetalOpt can use its visual basic program to import the data and make Fab sheets along with combining like sizes in one step. After you manipulate the data as you require, i.e. add tag information, you use the MetalOpt program to export the Tag information directly to AutoCAD. Please refer to the Instruction Video page for detailed video instructions for more information.

This will be new content.