1. About Hypertherm
At Hypertherm, we believe in doing things right. We strive for honesty, integrity, and excellence throughout our business, and you can see it in the reputation that we’ve built.
Across the globe, Hypertherm products are known for quality, consistency, and reliability, and it’s no different with ProNest, our advanced CAD/CAM nesting software.
More leading experts, including OEMs and distributors of cutting machines, choose ProNest than any other software brand. These professionals expect a lot from us, and it’s a challenge we’ve embraced from the start.
Our roots date back to 1968, with the invention of water injection plasma cutting. And today, we’re an international, associate owned company, with expertise in plasma, laser, and waterjet cutting technologies, with over 120 patents to our name.

2. About ProNest
ProNest is an industry leading CAD/CAM nesting software designed for advanced mechanized cutting. It provides a single solution for all of your profile cutting needs, including plasma, laser, waterjet, and oxyfuel.

3. ProNest Standard Features and Process Flow
Part Design & Development
CAD import & Conversion
Job Set-up
SureCut™ Technology
Manual Nesting
Output
The ProNest standard features and process flow will take you quickly from “CAD to Code” with everything you need to execute your jobs.
Part design & development includes an integrated 2D CAD program and variable shape library.
CAD import & conversion automatically prepares the part for nesting.
Job set-up gives you control over materials, customers, plates, parts, and more.
SureCut technology refers to ProNest’s built-in process parameters and delivers breakthrough technologies like True Hole, Rapid Part, and True Bevel.
Interactive manual nesting makes it quick and easy to achieve your best nest.
And output delivers the optimal NC code for virtually any machine.

4. Your Cutting and Fabricating Ecosystem
ProNest not only drives your machines, it’s also a key component of your entire cutting and fabricating ecosystem, with everything from quoting, to work order processing, to costing, reporting, and managing inventory. ProNest even connects to ERP/MRP for real time data exchange.

5. Optional Modules 1 Optional Module
In addition to the standard feature set, ProNest offers a variety of optional modules. This modular structure means that you only purchase the tools you need.

6. Chain and Bridge Cutting Skeleton Cut-up
Optional Modules
Productivity
Automatic Nesting
Common Line Cutting
Collision Avoidance
Chain and Bridge Cutting
Skeleton Cut-up
Productivity Modules can directly impact your bottom line. These include Automatic Nesting, Common Line Cutting, Collision Avoidance, Chain and Bridge Cutting, and Skeleton Cut-Up.

7. Nesting System Optimization Plate Inventory ERP/MRP Integration
Optional Modules
Enterprise
Nesting System Optimization
Plate Inventory
ERP/MRP Integration
Enterprise Modules are designed to provide the ultimate in nesting optimization, plate management, and ERP/MRP integration.

8. 3D Process Pipe and Fittings 3D CAD Import Rotary Tube Pro™
Optional Modules
3D Process
Pipe and Fittings
3D CAD Import
Rotary Tube Pro™
Other options include 3D Process modules like Pipe and Fittings, and 3D CAD import modules.

9. Machine Interfaces Bevel Drill Reposition Plate Rotary Tube Pro™
Optional Modules
Machine Interfaces
Bevel
Drill
Reposition
Plate
Rotary Tube Pro™
There are also modules for secondary machine processes like bevel machine, drill machine, reposition machine (for combination punch machines), and plate machine (for plate combination machines like Peddinghaus).
In addition, Rotary Tube Pro is a stand alone product for pipe and tube cutting that can be used with or without ProNest.

10. Product Details www.hyperthermCAM.com
For a more detailed list of standard features and optional modules available in ProNest, please visit the website at

11. Product Details Data Sheet
You can also request a copy of the ProNest Data Sheet from your Hypertherm representative.

12. Helping Fabricators and Manufacturers
Increase Material Savings
Boost Productivity
Lower Operating Costs
Improve Part Quality
Ultimately, ProNest helps fabricators and manufacturers increase material savings, boost productivity, lower operating costs, and improve part quality by offering the highest level of cutting expertise.

13. SureCut™ Technology Rapid Part™ True Hole® True Bevel™
One way that ProNest offers such a high level of cutting expertise is through SureCut™ technology.
ProNest is the only software with full support for Hypertherm SureCut™ technology, including True Hole®, Rapid Part®, and True Bevel™.
True Hole®
True Bevel™

14. SureCut™ Technology
With SureCut, you also receive the same easy setup and optimized process parameters that have always been a core part of Hypertherm software products, and set ProNest apart from other advanced nesting products on the market.

15. ProNest 2017 v.12.1
April 2017
The Hypertherm CAD/CAM software team is pleased to announce that a new version update, ProNest 2017 v.12.1, will officially be released in April 2017.
ProNest 2017 v.12.1 offers significant improvements designed to make the software more efficient and easier to use. Free access to this upgrade will be available to all active Software Subscribers. Upon release, the download will be available in the Hypertherm CAM Knowledge Base.
Let’s take a look at some of the specific new features and enhancements that you should know about.

16. XPR
Hypertherm® recently announced the new XPR300™ plasma system; which is probably the most significant advancement ever in mechanized plasma cutting due to unmatched cut quality, increased cut speeds, and 50% lower operating costs.
ProNest® now has full support for the XPR system, and users can begin using it by updating their software to the latest version and by installing a new XPR-capable setup that includes a dedicated XPR Advanced Plasma Post Processor.
For more information you can contact technical support.

17. XPR
Class Selection
For certain Hypertherm plasma setups that support it, including the XPR, the Class selector (that appears when you click the Class box for a material) now shows a cut quality indicator. This indicates the predicted cut quality for each choice.
This is related to the release of XPR because with the latest equipment, quality and speed may not always be linked to one another in an obvious way, so the indicators will be especially helpful for those using the new XPR plasma system.

18. Dynamic Align
Create a connected column or row of rectangular parts, aligned on one side. Aligned parts can be connected with a common line or bridge. This feature requires the Chain and Bridge Cutting or Common Line Cutting module.
Parts can be quickly bumped together manually on the nest into dynamic align columns or rows. Dynamic align parts can also be created during automatic nesting.
Additional user benefits:
Parts drop with a single cut pass down the aligned edge.
Avoids collisions as parts are freed as head moves away from part. (Laser/WJ)
For Plate Machines all aligned parts drop together for removal with single axis motion (Peddinghaus).

19. Dynamic Align For Common Line Cutting
Dynamic align for common line cut parts is fast and easy, reducing programming time needed to create CLC nests.
Benefits include:
Manually bump parts together to create dynamic align CLC groups, without the intermediate step of creating working CLC clusters.
Unlike CLC array, dissimilar parts can be combined in dynamic align CLC rows and/or columns.
Dynamic align CLC parts created during automatic nesting can have sub-columns of parts (rows of smaller parts common line cut in the same column as a larger part).
Additional user benefits (of CLC in general):
CLC reduces Production time by making a single pass between parts
CLC can increase utilization by reducing part spacing
CLC reduces Skeleton Cut-up time and skeleton handling time

20. Dynamic Align For Bridge Cutting
Dynamic align can also be used with Bridge Cutting.
Bridging Spacing can increase utilization by reducing part spacing
Reducing Bridge part spacing removes 1.5 x kerf plate skeleton between parts.
Reduces skeleton Cut-up time and skeleton handling.

21. Dynamic Align
Bridge cutting with dynamic align is a special bridging technique designed to do several things:
Move bridged parts very close together, to maximize material utilization. The kerf typically overlaps partially into previously cut kerf.
Extend a negative bridge past the aligned part edges. Negative bridges that extend past the part edge reduce blemishes left by bridge tabs.
Complete the final cut along the alignment edge to drop all parts. The negative bridge is consumed by the kerf on the final cut. This final cut also ensures that parts will drop as the cutting head moves away from them, reducing the chance of collisions.
Additionally, plate processor machines (such as Peddinghaus) can complete the final cut across multiple parts on the alignment edge. Parts are completed in vertical zones on the nest.

22. Negative Bridge Extensions
Negative bridges applied at the corners of parts can overlap the part edge. This reduces blemishes on part edges left by bridge tabs. Negative bridge extensions can be used for dynamic align bridges and bridges created in Bridge mode, when the bridge is snapped to the corners of parts.

23. Common Line Cut Paths Continuous pass
A new cut path approach is available for common line cut parts. Designed especially for large grids of CLC parts, the sequence can be set so that straight lines spanning multiple parts are cut in continuous passes instead of part-by-part.
Parts are completed as the continuous pass is cut. The cutting head moves away from the parts as they drop, reducing the chance of collisions. This technique can be used for common line cut groups created via advanced CLC, dynamic align, or CLC array.
Plate processor machines (such as Peddinghaus) can complete the final cut across multiple parts on the alignment edge. Parts are completed in vertical zones on the nest.

24. Common Line Cut Paths Sequencing of surrounded CLC parts
In CLC groups where parts are surrounded by other parts, the cut sequence now starts with the innermost parts and moves outward. This reduces traverse distance and production time, while ensuring the correct drop order.

25. Output for Multiple Machines
You can create NC output files for one or more additional machines at the same time you create output for the current ProNest machine. This is useful in cases where the current real-world machine is down or unavailable but there are other machines in your operation with similar processes that can cut the nest. You can quickly shift jobs between similar machines to remain agile and maximize production, without having to rebuild the part list and nest again.

26. Data Sync
Export data
Export ProNest job data in the format needed by your ERP system as nests are completed. Data Sync Manager now includes export tasks, which can be configured to send nest history data from ProNest back to the ERP system via XLS, XLSX, CSV, or XML file.
Benefits include:
Create and configure Export tasks
Customize data reported using SQL query builder
Schedule export
Send nest data about work orders, inventory consumed, and remnants/skeletons created
Browser-based viewer shows import and export logs by date
View database connection on main screen of Data Sync Manager

27. Data Sync
Import XML
Work order and plate inventory import tasks can now use XML files for source data.

28. STRUMIS
Support for StruMIS v10.1 has been added. Previously-created nests can be recalled through StruMIS to be re-nested with part list changes or be filled with additional parts.

29. SureCut™ Technology and Built-in Process Expertise
Cutting Techniques: Kerf Crossing
New cutting techniques are available to control what happens when the cutting head crosses a previously-cut kerf width during common line cutting, bridge cutting, and skeleton cut-up. This can be used to disable automatic height control at kerf crossings, in order to prevent the cutting head from diving. For oxyfuel machines, it can be used to perform a dwell prior to crossing the kerf width, in order to pre-heat the opposite side for cutting. For waterjet machines, ramping down the feedrate prior to crossing the kerf is used when cutting thicker material to prevent the jet from skipping, leaving uncut material behind.

30. SureCut™ Technology and Built-in Process Expertise
Cut Sequence by Part
Waterjet
Plasma
Previously, users could create rules to govern their cut sequence, for example, you might set up a rule to cut all waterjet profiles on the nest first, then all plasma profiles on the nest.
Now, users can do this on a part-by-part basis, so that you’re completing all waterjet profiles on a given part, then all plasma profiles on the same part, before moving on to the next part.
This is particularly useful for machines with multiple cut processes, giving you full control over the sequencing.

31. 3D Process Modules SOLIDWORKS and Inventor Bevel Detection
For the SOLIDWORKS and Inventor interfaces, you can now identify beveled edges on 3D parts and automatically assign ProNest beveling to them during import. This method doesn't require any special bevel layer naming in CAD, simply import the part and ProNest will apply beveling instructions to the part’s edges. Single and multi-pass beveling is supported for SOLIDWORKS and single-pass beveling is supported for Inventor.

32. Drill Machine Interface
Advanced Edit
Change drill tool assignment
Change profile to any process
More tool attributes now displayed
Change drill tool assignment You can change the drill tool assigned to any hole, regardless of the hole’s size. If the intended tool was not matched to a hole during part import, the correct drill tool can now be assigned in Advanced Edit after the part is imported.
Change profile to any process Any round interior cut or scribe profile can be converted to a drill hole. If the interior was originally imported as a cut or scribe profile, you can change it to a drill hole in Advanced Edit. Likewise, drill profiles can be converted to the cut, scribe or punch process. Additionally, as part of this feature, cut profiles of any shape can be converted to scribes or punches. Scribe profiles can be converted to cut or punch profiles.
More tool attributes now displayed When a drilled interior profile is selected in Advanced Edit, additional tool information is now displayed in the Properties pane. This includes tool diameter, whether the tool has a pilot tool and whether it is a compound or missing tool. You can also use Select Profiles mode to view all the individual tool hits for compound tools.

33. Drill Machine Interface
Countersinking
For machines that support countersink drilling (enlarging a hole at an angle to accommodate the conical head of a bolt or screw), ProNest can bring in countersinking information from a CAD drawing, assign countersinking tools from the tool library at the required depth and include countersink instructions in output code.

34. Drill Machine Interface
Turret
A new setting is available which automatically sorts tools in the turret from smallest to largest, so that the smallest diameter tool hits are sequenced first, followed by the next smallest tool hits, and so on. This can be set nest-by-nest on the Turret pane. A default value for all nests can also be set on the Turret settings page.

35. Drill Machine Interface
Tool matching
If there are multiple tools of the same diameter, a default tool in a station (specified on the Turret settings page) will be selected before any other tool of that diameter. This helps resolve situations where more than one tool may qualify to drill a hole.

36. Job Setup
Assembly
From the part list, you can quickly add one or more parts to an existing assembly or create a new assembly from them.

37. Job Setup Jobs and machines
Significant speed improvements have been made for starting new jobs, opening existing jobs, changing machines, and saving settings. Larger ProNest setups often contain several different settings spreadsheets with thousands of records. Loading settings spreadsheets has been optimized, making job and settings-related operations faster than in previous versions.