# Things

In Phoenix, a 'Thing' (or plural 'things') is a physical object or process that is used in a production flow when transforming a product part and/or component into a final product. A 'Thing' could be a piece of equipment such as a digital press or a die-cutting device, or it could be a manual resource that would perform a task such as diemaking or hemming/sewing a banner.

# Presses

A Press represents the physical press. For most types of work in Phoenix, Presses are technically optional as Sheets and Plates can be used directly, but they are strongly recommended, especially for use with Imposition AI. Presses consist of the following:

• Speed and cost information used by estimation + ganging
• Min/max sheet constraints used by ganging
• Media template (optional)
• Gripper, sheet placement, content and image margins
• Press-specific marks (optional)

There are different types of Presses available within Phoenix:

• Digital, both Sheet-fed and Web-fed
• Offset, both Sheet-fed and Web-fed
• Wide Format, both Flatbed and Roll-fed

To add a new press, click the dropdown in the top left of the Things panel, and select the type of press you want to add.

Once you select a press type, the Press Configuration window will appear. The settings vary slightly based on what press type you select, but they all consist of the following tabs:

• General
• Costing
• Operation
• Capabilities
• Media Rules
• Placement
• Workflow
• Script

# General Properties

---

Field	Description
Name	Name of the press
Folder	Folder to organize the press in Phoenix. You can click the folder icon to choose from existing folders, or drag and drop in the Devices panel after creation.
Description	Press Description
Manufacturer	Press Manufacturer
Process	What this device does. For Presses, this will always be “Printing”
Process Type	What type of Printing Press this press is, based on the type of press you selected.
Feed Type	How stocks are fed into the press
Number of Units	Total number of printing units on the press
Coatings	Max number of coatings on the press
Foils	Max number of foils possible on the press
Sheet Turn	Workstyle of the press. Either turn or tumble. *Only available for sheet-based presses
Single pass double-sided	Checkbox to enable whether this press can perform single pass double-sided printing
Number of Units	If Single pass double-sided is enabled, the number of printing units for the backside. See Note below.
Coatings	If Single pass double-sided is enabled, the number of coatings possible for the backside
Foils	If Single pass double-sided is enabled, the number of foils possible for the backside
Speed Reduction	Percentage of speed reduction when doing single-pass double sided printing
Gripper	Gripper distance from the bottom of sheet

# Costing Properties

---

Field	Description
Rate	Cost to operate this press, per time unit specified
Setup Time	How long it takes to setup the device, per time unit specified
Setup Layouts	How many layouts (sheets) the device requires for make-ready
Setup / Color Time	Per-color make ready time
Setup / Color Layouts	How many layouts (sheets) per color are required for make-ready
Minimum Cost Per Layout	Minimum cost required per layout
Minimum Run Length	Minimum run length allowed for layouts
Running Waste	Percentage of project assumed to be waste. Phoenix will compensate for this value.

# Operation Properties

---

Field	Description
Modes	Some devices can run in a specific mode, such as high quality print mode, or efficiency modes. The Modes option allows you to choose the operating costs and speeds for each mode. Modes are described in more detail under the Estimating section of the Preferences page.
Ink Cost	Define how inks are costed. Choose between click count or ink coverage per area and percent coverage
Speed Type	Define whether the press runs at a fixed speed, or a stepped speed
Speed Units	Choose the units and time for the press speed
Value	Set the speed value

# Capabilities Properties

---

Field	Description
Width	Set the min and max stock width for the press
Height	Set the min and max stock height for the press
Caliper	Set the min and max stock caliper for the press
Weight	Set the min and max stock weight for the press
Units	Choose which weight to use for the stock weight
Sheet Handling	Set how the press handles sheets, either Long Edge Horizontal, Long Edge Vertical, or None
Limit allowed Stocks	Enable if the press should limit which stocks can be run on this press, either Exclusively or Inclusively
Stock Types	Define entire types of stocks to be excluded or included from this press
Specific Stocks	Define specific stocks to be excluded or included from this press

# Media Rules Properties

---

Media Rules allows you to define press settings based on the stock used. The rules column on the left side of the window allows you to select a stock (or the default), and then define the settings for that stock. To set the parameters for your press and media, first add or select the desired stock on the left side, and then define the settings for that stock.

Field	Description
Rules	Add or remove a media rule based on the stocks in your stocks library
Marks	Define marks to be used on this press when the selected stock is used. Once a mark is selected, you can choose which side(s) of the layout it should be applied to - Front, Back, or Both.
Regions	Define regions on the stock where items won't be placed. Regions are defined by Direction (Vertical or Horizontal), Position (Left, Right, or Center), Offset, Size, and when they are Applied (Always or only for Perfecting layouts). These regions can be shown in a layout by enabling the option "Show Regions"
Speed Reduction	Define any possible speed reduction for this media rule
Ink Adjustment	If the selected media requires an adjustment of ink, set it here. For example, a particular stock may require 25% more ink then a different stock based on it's ink absorbing qualities.
Margins	Define the margin where for the media. Margin is the area along the edge of the sheet or roll where no product dieline can be placed. Note that product bleed can extend into the margin, depending on the Image Margins defined.
Image Margins	Define the image margins. Image Margins are the area around the sheet or roll where no image can be printed, regardless of whether or not it is bleed. The Image Margin should always be less than or equal to the Margin value.

# Placement Properties

---

Field	Description
9-Point Selector	The 9-Point Selector is an easy way to visually define placement. The smaller box with the "R" represents the corners and center of the bounds of the sheet, while the outer box represents the corners and bounds of the context area. Click and drag the smaller box to set one of the anchor points of the sheet to an anchor point on the context area. This anchor point is where the sheet will be placed relative to the context area.
Context	Dropdown selection for where the placement is based off of - the Plate, the Sheet, or Content Area (default)
X, Y	Define an x & y offset from the selected location
Use die template specification for sheet size and placement	Option to use the sheet and placement saved in a die template to specify the location of the sheet (if available) instead of manually setting it. The template needs to have a sheet defined in it for this feature to work.
Sheet	Optionally select a default sheet for the press. This will automatically assign the selected sheet when the press is brought into a new layout.
Plate	Optionally select a default plate for the press. This will automatically assign the selected plate when the press is brought into a new layout.
Sheet Position	For offset presses, define the sheet alignment and offset

# Workflow Properties

---

Workflow properties per device can be used to emulate your production workflow within Phoenix. Every process in the print production workflow requires input resources starting with the client’s files or artwork and ending with the final bound, packaged and labeled print product. For example, before you can print, you need paper, ink and plates, and before you can send a document to a die cutter line, you need printed sheets and physical die (or the creation of a die).

Field	Description
Direct Inputs	Displays all 'Things' which have this particular 'Thing' defined as a 'Direct Output'. This field is read-only.
Direct Outputs	Specify a list of valid ouputs to be used after a product/component has finished this proccessing step. For example, a direct output for a 'Die Making Process' thing is a Flatbed Die Cutter thing. Defining specific Direct Outputs forces Phoenix to evaluate many routing options when printing/finishing a product.
Allow pass through	Allow passthrough means a thing can be part of a workflow but does not have to take part in it's cost/time/etc. Example: Attaching a coater to a press inline. If allow passthrough is on then coater would be ignored if there wasn't any coating process on the products going through it.

# Script Properties

---

# Finishing Devices

In Phoenix, a 'Finishing Device' is a physical object which performs activities on printed material after printing. This includes binding, the fastening of individual sheets together, die-cutting, and decorative processes such as die-stamping, embossing, foiling or laminating.

There are currently three different types of Finishing Devices available within Phoenix:

• Digital Cutting Table
• Guillotine Cutter
• Flatbed Die Cutter Cutter

To add a new finishing device, click the dropdown in the top left of the Things panel, and select the type of finishing device you want to add.

Once you select a finishing device, the Finishing Device Configuration window will appear. The settings vary slightly based on what device is selected.

# Digital Cutting Table

A digital cutting table is a CAD/CAM device such as a Zund or Kongsberg digital cutting table that uses a moving head to drive a tool across a substrate in multiple dimensions (typically x, y, and z). It has the following settings:

# Digital Cutting Table - General

---

Field	Description
Estimating Engine	Select the estimating engine for costing. You can choose from Tilia Labs estimating engine, or Zund Cut Center. If using Zund Cut Center, you will also need to specify the hostname and port of the computer running Zund Cut Center. In addition, you can specify a timeout if no connection is established with Zund Cut Center.

# Digital Cutting Table - Operation

---

# General

Field	Description
Clearing Distance	The full lifting height of the tool when the traverse is moving between disconnected path segments.
Auto Lift Angle	For most CAD/CAM tables, you can set the angle for automatic corner lifting for a tool (typically around 40 degrees). If a direction change of more than the specified value is detected during the cutting process, the table will raise the tool, turn the tool into the cutting direction, and lower again to finish cutting.
Auto Lift Distance	This is the total amount of z-axis lift when the tool is lifting during the auto lift activity.

# Additional Settings

# Guillotine Cutter

A guillotine cutter is used to make a single guillotine cut at a time.

# Guillotine Cutter - Costing

---

Field	Description
Setup Time	General setup time per layout
Setup Time / Cut	Setup time for each cut
Average Time / Cut	Average amount of time per cut through the stack of material
Average Time / Turn	Average amount of time to turn the stack of material

# Flatbed Die Cutter

A Flatbed Die Cutter is used (in conjuction with a die template) to cut or perforate products of a desired shape out of material using a hydraulic flatbed press.

# Flatbed Die Cutter - Costing

---

Field	Description
Minimum Run Length	Sets the minimum run length needed to use this Die Cutter
Speed	Speed of the die cutter
Speed Units	Speed units

# Other Settings

---

The remaining device configuration tabs are the same as the press tabs defined above

# Die Making

The Die Making Process describes the production of tools for a die cutter (e.g., in a die maker shop).

Field	Description
Type	Specify the type of die - Steel Rule, Solid, or Flexible
Cost	Define the cost of each die
Area Cost	If the die is costed by area, specify the cost here.
Cost Per 1up	If the die is costed per 1-up, specify that cost here.
Steel Rules	For Steel Rule dies, define a linear cost per tool type, or specify a default cost.

Field	Description
Width and Height	Specify the max and min width and height for dies created with this device
Limit Allowed Devices	Optionally limit what process types or devices can or cannot be used with this device. Inclusively means that only selected process types or devices below can be used with this device. Exclusively means that this device will not work with any selected process types or devices selected below.

# Importing Things from Tilia Cloud

You can import things that have been preconfigured via Tilia Cloud. Click the dropdown in the top left of the Things panel, and choose "Import from Tilia Cloud". This will bring up the dialog shown above, which allows you to search the Tilia Cloud library for hundreds of common devices.

This is a good place to start to add things to your library. Keep in mind that the things in Tilia Cloud have been configured to the manufacturer's specifications and do not include costs, so you may need to adjust the capabilities and parameters to suit your exact environment.