This invention pertains to machinery and methods for cutting a workpiece utilizing a cutting tool into at least two parts having prescribed shapes from a metal plate comprising the steps of: identifying each of the parts by one or more contour lines; cutting a workpiece along one of the identifying contour lines into one of the parts; creating at least one path diversion, wherein the diversion has an associated bounded region or opportunity; cutting the workpiece along a contour line associated with the opportunity; resuming the cutting of the part along the identifying contour line with minimal damage to the part being cut; finishing the cutting of the part and then moving the cutting tool to the opportunity and thence to an associated adjacent identifying contour line and then repeating the process until all parts have been manufactured.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to and claims the benefit of the filing date, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119, of commonly assigned provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/543,744 entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELIMINATING EXTERNAL PIERCING IN NC CUTTING OF NESTED PARTS filed on Feb. 10, 2004, which is incorporated by reference herein.
