Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q1. What is Cut 1D X / Optimization 1D X?
A1. Cut 1D X / Optimization 1D X is an Automation component - within a dll - used for obtaining optimal cutting layouts for one dimensional bars and parts.
Q2. What is a component?
A2. A component is a set of functions, which can be called by an application. A library cannot be used by an end-user. If you are an end-user customer (wood cutter, glass cutter, bars cutter) please use our Real Cut 1D application which can be downloaded from www.optimalprograms.com
Q3. I need some modifications to the component in order to use it within my application. Can you make these modifications for me?
A3. Probably we can. Please contact us to discuss details.
Q4. What languages can I use for building my application?
A4. All languages that supports Automation. We have tested it with VB6, VB .NET 2005, VC++ .NET 2005, VC# .NET 2005, VJ# .NET 2005, Borland Delphi 6,7, 2007, C++Builder 6, Code Gear Turbo C++ 2006 Profesional.
Licensing
Q1. How many licenses I need for deploying the component to my clients?
A1. First of all you need one license for the computer where you develop your application. Then you need licenses for each computer where you want to deploy your application. Each time you want to sell your application to a new client you have to contact us in order to provide a new Serial Number for the computer where you want to perform the registration.
Q2. What is the difference between the single license and royalty free distribution license?
A2. Single license can be used only on 1 computer whose code you will send us (see ComputerID property). Royalty free distribution allow you to deploy the component to any number of customers without asking for keys from us.
Q3. I need the source code for the components. How can I get them ?
A3. We DO NOT SELL the source code for the components.
Q4. Can I deploy the my application to my clients without asking for a Serial Number each time from Optimal Programs?
A4. Yes, you can. You may buy a special version of the component which can be deployed with your application without any additional costs. Check the Fees page.
Registration
Q1. I get "Class not registered" message. What does it mean?
A1. The component is not registered. To fix this problem you have to locate the optimal1dx.dll and then run the command "regsvr32 optimal1dx.dll" from the Windows Start|Run menu.
Q2. Can I register the component directly from the source code without calling the regsvr32 ?
A2. Yes, you can. See our example here.
Speed, quality and optimization types
Q1. Does Cut 1D X / Optimization 1D X produce the best possible layouts?
A1. No. Cut 1D X / Optimization 1D X gives you only an approximation. There is no guarantee that the solution is the best possible. If you increase the value of OptimizationLevel you might get better results. The cutting optimization is a NP-complete problem. There is no polynomial-time algorithm for solving them. This means that the only method which guarantee the best solution is generating all possible layouts. This can take years if you have 100 different parts. Read more details here.
Q2. How fast the component is?
A2. The speed depends on the number of demand pieces, number of repository pieces and the optimization level. If you increase the OptimizationLevel you will get a better optimization but the application will run longer.
Q3. What algorithm do you use for performing optimization ?
A3. Many. We use different heuristics for handling various cases. If you increase the optimization level, more heuristics will be used in the process.
Input / Output
Q1. What Cut 1D X / Optimization 1D X requires as input?
A1.
a) The parameters: blade thickness, optimization level, etc.
b) The parts to be cut (demand pieces).
c) The bars to cut from (repository pieces).
Q2. How the results is given?
A2. For each demand piece you will get the coordinates (inside the repository piece) from where this is cut. Also, the component will give you the coordinates for cuts and for waste parts.
Q3. How can I deal with real-valued length for the pieces to cut?
A3. You have to transform all lengths into integer values, by multiplying them with some powers of 10. For instance if you have two pieces to cut having the lengths: 9.2 and 11.37 you will have to multiply them with 100 in order to obtain integer values (920 and 1137).
Q4. How can I optimize multiple types of materials ?
A4. Just optimize them one by one. When you finish with one type move to the other and so on.
Q5. Can Cut 1D X / Optimization 1D X optimize more than one bar?
A5. Yes. Set the number of bars with the NumberOfRepositoryPieces method and then set each bar with SetRepositoryPiece.
Q6. How do I find if 2 or more layouts are identical ?
A6. Simply compare pairs of layouts to see which are identical (have the same size and contain the same pieces). The order of pieces is important when they have angles.
Miscellaneous
Q1. Can you give me a list of customers of Cut 1D X / Optimization 1D X?
A1. No. It is confidential. But we can tell you that we have several hundreds.
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