Why you’re here
Leather is beautiful. Also stubborn.
Hides aren’t rectangles. Humans get tired. Waste happens.
My job at AMOR CNC is to make waste… not happen.
What works today: vision-guided nesting.
A camera scans the hide. Software finds the outline and defects.
Rules do the thinking. The cutter does the work.
You get more pairs, fewer headaches.
The problem (in plain words)
- Irregular contours.
- Scars, holes, veins, brands.
- Shade and grain rules.
- Left/right pairs.
- Friday 4pm decisions.
Result: low yield, slow approvals, and “why is this panel scarred?” emails.
What we mean by “vision-guided nesting”
- Overhead camera + even lighting.
- Auto trace of the full hide.
- Auto detection of defects (small ones too).
- Rules for grain, shade, mirror pairs, and no-go zones.
- One click: auto nest.
- You review. The table cuts. Labels print. ERP gets the report.
It’s still your craftsmanship. We just remove the guesswork.
Quick comparison
| Capability | Manual templating | Projector-only | AMOR Vision-guided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto contour of full hide | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Defect mapping | ✗ | △ (by eye) | ✓ (rule-based) |
| Auto nesting for yield | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shade/grain rules | △ | △ | ✓ |
| Consistency | Low | Medium | High |
| Operator dependence | High | Medium | Low |
If you like consistent results on busy days, you’ll like the right column.
The workflow (the way we teach it)
- Load and flatten the hide.
- Tap Scan.
- Check defects. Add or remove if needed.
- Choose the SKU. Rules apply.
- Auto nest. Approve.
- Cut, label, export report.
- Drink water. Not more coffee.
Tools that keep edges clean (and operators happy)
| Task | Best tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Long straights, liners | Active rotary | Fast and smooth |
| Tight curves, uppers | High-frequency oscillating | Clean corners |
| Thin splits, simple shapes | Drag knife | Quiet and quick |
| Stitch lines, IDs | Pen/marker | Traceable kits |
| Holding odd shapes | Vacuum zoning | No creeping parts |
You don’t need every tool on day one. But options are nice.
What the camera must “see”
| Spec | Good target | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Min. defect size | ≈ 2–3 mm | Small holes still matter |
| Edge detection | ≤ ±0.3 mm | Accurate contour = accurate nest |
| Lighting uniformity | Stable & even | Shade decisions stay consistent |
| Calibration | Daily quick, weekly full | Trust the numbers |
We include a simple calibration routine. It takes minutes.
Rules that lift yield
- Grain direction per part.
- Shade zones (A/B/C) per product line.
- No-go distance around defects (mm).
- Mirror pair logic (L/R).
- Priority by due date and leather grade.
Once rules live in software, results stop drifting with mood and weather.
KPIs I track from day one
| KPI | Before | After Vision (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Hide utilization | 70–78% | 76–85% |
| Operator time / hide | 12–18 min | 6–10 min |
| Rework / defect escapes | 3–6% | 1–3% |
| Parts per hour | Baseline | +20–35% |
Real plants vary. The direction doesn’t.
ROI in simple math
- Leather is expensive.
- +4–9 points of utilization adds up fast.
- Less rework. Faster approvals.
- Payback for most shops: 6–12 months.
If you send two weeks of logs, I’ll send a one-page ROI you can show your boss.
What we actually install (AMOR CNC stack)
- Hardware: calibrated camera + lens, uniform lights, vacuum-zoned table, oscillating/rotary knife, pen/labeler, optional projector.
- Software: contour + defect tools, grading zones, grain/shade rules, pair logic, rule-based nesting, labels, ERP/MES export, audit logs.
- Service: on-site training, remote diagnostics, spare parts, upgrade path.
We build production cells, not demo rooms.
Buyer’s checklist (print this)
| Area | Must-haves |
|---|---|
| Camera & light | Resolution, lens quality, even lighting, easy calibration |
| Table | Strong vacuum, zoned hold-down, reliable conveyance |
| Tools | Rotary + HF oscillating + pen (drag knife optional) |
| Software | Auto contour, defect tagging, shade/grain rules, mirror pairs, auto nesting |
| Integration | DXF import, labels, ERP/MES export, reports |
| Support | Local spares, training, remote help, roadmap |
If any item is “coming soon,” I assume it isn’t.
Risks—and how we neutralize them
| Risk | What it looks like | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Missed micro-defects | Surprises in visible panels | Lower defect threshold; keep operator confirm step |
| Lighting drift | Shade calls change by shift | Run weekly calibration; replace weak bulbs |
| Stretchy hides | Parts don’t align after cut | Rollers, short dwell, light tack (if permitted) |
| Change resistance | “We’ve always done it this way” | Start with 3 SKUs; show before/after KPIs |
Small habits. Big stability.
30/60/90 day plan
- Day 0–30: install, calibrate, import SKUs, train operators, run manual + vision in parallel.
- Day 31–60: switch your top 3 programs to auto; start KPI dashboard.
- Day 61–90: scale to ~80% of SKUs; lock the ROI; finalize SOPs.
The goal isn’t a fancy demo. The goal is quiet, repeatable production.
Final word
I love leather. I dislike waste.
Vision-guided nesting lets us keep the first and beat the second.
Send me three DXFs and two hide photos.
I’ll reply with a vision map, a nested layout, and a yield preview.
Then you can decide with data, not hope.
