Optimization Problems in a Semi-Automatic Device for Cutting Leather

Cutting large leather skins is a two step process, a “decision step” and a “cutting step”. In the decision step, it has to be decided which piece is cut from which part of the skin. This is called nesting. After the nesting process the actual cutting takes place. The cooperation company HUMANTEC GmbH in Wemding (Germany, Bavaria) has developed a machine where the nesting is done by a person and not by a computer. The machine just assists the worker and helps her to find a good nesting. Only the cutting process is basically fully automatic. In both parts, the nesting and the cutting process, mathematical problems related to the travelling salesman problem occur.