ProNest is an entire cutting and fabricating ecosystem, with everything from quoting and part design to reporting and managing inventory. (Image courtesy of Hypertherm.)
As a designer and manufacturer of advanced cutting products for use in a variety of manufacturing industries, New Hampshire-based Hypertherm has been on the (literal) cutting edge of fabrication since introducing the water injection plasma cutting process in 1968. The company's product line has since expanded to include other manufacturing productivity tools including laser cutting systems, CNC motion and height controls, CAM nesting software, robotic software and consumables.
More recently, the company expanded its support for the next generation of fabrication professionals by offering free licenses of its ProNest CAD/CAM software to North American schools, trade unions and other technical training facilities. Institutions that qualify for the free licenses will receive a 30-seat network license for the current version of ProNest as well as a curriculum package that includes an instructor guide and student workbook.
ProNest is CAD/CAM nesting software designed for advanced mechanized cutting, including plasma, laser, waterjet and oxyfuel material cutting processes.
“I have been teaching and using ProNest software for more than 25 years as it is a great package," explained Steve Hower of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Pennsylvania. "The curriculum will help me maximize the capabilities of ProNest. I am looking forward to using it this coming semester.”
Students who take advantage of their free seat of the ProNest software will further learn how to bring CAD drawings into production, define part lists, determine material utilization, schedule production, establish accurate costing and understand material requirements planning (MRP), among other technical skills.
Additionally, students who are also learning 3D software platforms including SOLIDWORKS and Inventor will be able to import their parts directly using the included software interfaces for seamless importing of native CAD files into ProNest.
Other features in the latest ProNest 2017 release available to students and educators include color-by-part properties, drag array, anchor part to cursor, improved automatic bumping and a redesigned Drill Machine Interface. (Image courtesy of Hypertherm.)
“We want to ensure schools have the tools they need to teach the next generation of fabricators,” added Betsy Van Duyne, Hypertherm’s educational program manager. “The right hardware and curriculum are critical but so is software. Getting ProNest advanced CAD/CAM software into schools is one step toward preparing students for a successful career.”
Instructors interested in obtaining ProNest for their classroom can download an application from the Hypertherm website.