The Sail Consultancy web site

LM Sails have found this website with some interesting information and articles as:

Spinnaker design

Auto nesting - Prosail vs NestFab

Finally I found time to test Prosail auto-nesting module. I took Nestfab results as reference for performance judgment.

I have done three tests. The longest time I left auto-nesting to run was 10min but in practice I believe nobody will wait more then 5 mins. So below results are the best within 5 min. Only 180 degrees rotation was allowed. Test where done with 1mm (for just plotting) and 10mm (for cutting) gap between panels

First test was tri-radial genoa with fun-cut patches (66 items):

	Prosail		Prosail (pair)		Nestfab standard		Nestfab Ultra
Panel Gap	Time	Percent	Time	Percent	Time	Percent	Time	Percent
1mm	4:34	86.7%	2:09	89.7%	1:39	76.39%	1:10	90.26%
10mm	4:48	84.2%	3:51	87.3%	2:00	76.39%	1:30	87.17%

Second test was true radial gennaker with plain patches.

	Prosail		Prosail (pair)		Nestfab standard		Nestfab Ultra
Panel Gap	Time	Percent	Time	Percent	Time	Percent	Time	Percent
1mm	4:50	85%	4.19	86.2%	2:08	75.67%	1:30	90.14%
10mm	3:08	83.4%	4:28	85.8%	2:14	77.63%	1:32	88.89%

Third test was small radial patches for 36 foot mainsail (72 items).

	Prosail		Prosail (pair)		Nestfab standard		Nestfab Ultra
Panel Gap	Time	Percent	Time	Percent	Time	Percent	Time	Percent
1mm	2:26	78%	3.11	81.7%	1:00	74.65%	1:39	86.87%
10mm	2:18	70.1%	1:14	74.1%	4:32	63.6%	1:39	78.9%

Nestfab ultra is performance winner. The fastest and with the best utilization. It is well connected to modern software (SailPack and Smar-Azure) so there is no need for import/export.

Nestfab standard is not useful at all. I think that creators of Nestfab use standard version just to give you comparison dialog with ultra version. They use that as marketing tool to convince you to buy ultra option. You should take their numbers with reserve because they do not show you other calculations. For example most of the time you will manually nest panels with much better utilization then standard option within 3-5 min.

Prosail auto-nesting is sometimes performs very good (almost as Nestfab ultra) and sometimes not so good. Anyway it will always have better utilization then manual nesting within 3-4 min (and often much quicker). Pair option usually give you better results quicker but for some jobs it is not suitable as utilization will not be so good. So if you do not get 85% utilization within 3 min with pair option try without it. Maybe you will get better utilization but be aware that it will need more time.

Added on 16.05.2016:

I forgot to write that Prosail auto nesting is quite simple with just tree options:

1) Rotate panels 180 deg

2) Pair similar panels

3) Panel gap

So there are not possibility to set size of sheets (fabric), more detailed rotation, priority, ... All those options are available in Nestfab and that gives you much more flexibility with your nesting.

saildesigner.net - one more sailmaker comunnity website

saildesigner.net is new sailmaker community effort. It has started few weeks before METS 2014. I have heard about it from BSG Developments.

There is forum for colaboration. Here is what they say about it:

The SailDesigner Forum is a global meeting place for sailmakers and suppliers from around the world to discuss software, hardware, materials & machinery etc.

 Currently there are around 30 members which are not very active but I hope this will change.

There is also something like webshop implemented.

The SailDesigner Shop is a truly international sailmaker's trading warehouse. Users can browse, buy AND SELL sail designs, cut files, services, surplus stock, & materials etc.

And news publishing area

The SailDesigner News portal aims to provide the latest industry news from suppliers, manufacturers and innovators from around the world, all in a single community space

All in all nice effort and I hope it will stimulate sailmakers collaboration.

D4 membranes production transfered to Incidences Technologies

From 1.1.2014. D4 membranes can be bought from Incidences Technologies instead Dimension-Polyant. This is not really news as there were rumors about this acquisition for more then year ago. More info can be found on following links:

http://www.incidences-technologies.com/

http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=122723

sailprint.eu

I have just received newsletter from Lundstrom Design creators of TouchCAD. In that news they are mentioning sailprint.eu company for specialized in printing on sails. So if you do no have solution for printing on sails you can try with them.