SolidWorks Automated Nesting Add-in

I want to build an in-house SolidWorks add-in that automatically nests flat sheet metal parts for our Amada laser cutters and turret punch presses—matching the ease of Metalix without its licensing costs.

The add-in must read the native SolidWorks part and assembly files, group everything by material, thickness, grain direction, and required quantity, then create the most efficient sheet layouts. From a single command I expect three outputs: the optimized layout, Amada-ready machine programs, and clear setup reports our operators can take straight to the shop floor.

Key capabilities I need to see: automatic kerf and tool offset handling, material utilization statistics, remnant tracking, and the option to tweak layouts manually before posting code. A simple ribbon interface inside SolidWorks will keep the workflow familiar for our designers.

Deliverables
• Compiled add-in installer compatible with the current SolidWorks release we use
• Full source code (C# or C++ preferred) with clear documentation
• Sample project showing the add-in generating sheet layouts, NC programs, and setup reports for an Amada laser and turret punch job
• Quick-start user guide

Acceptance criteria
• Parts are always batched by material/thickness/grain/quantity as specified
• Nesting efficiency meets or exceeds 90 % material utilization on our test pack
• Generated NC files run on our Amada machines without manual editing
• Setup report lists sheet count, run time, tooling, and remnant size accurately

If you have previous experience writing SolidWorks add-ins or CAM post-processors, let’s discuss how you would approach the nesting algorithm and Amada post.