Abstract:
A method for controlling a bar processing mill having an exit and a cooling bed to produce bars of a predetermined cold length. The method includes, for a first bar in a processing order, calculating a long hot cut length based, at least in part upon a predetermined cold length. In addition, the method includes adjusting the long hot cut length based on a total length of bar exiting the exit, if the long hot cut length is greater than a minimum cooling bed length, and if a number of layers of bars to be processed on the cooling bed is less than a predetermined number.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a system and method for controlling a bar processing mill. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for determining an optimized hot cut length so as to minimize the number of cold saw cuts when processing bars.  
           [0002]    In typical bar processing mills, a customer will order bars of a predetermined cold length (i.e., the finished length of the bar). A typical bar processing mill has a crop and divide shear for cutting a bar when it is hot coming from bar mill stands, and a cold saw to make the final cut to length after the bars have cooled on a cooling bed.  
           [0003]    In a specialty bar mill such as a Special Quality Steel (SBQ) Mill where many of the customer&#39;s orders are for relatively small batches of bars. It is usually not economical to run the mill for a single small order, thus, multiple small orders must be processed together. It is imperative that the customer get the steel type ordered, however, in order to reduce post processing steps, it is advantageous to keep the orders separate during the process. In existing systems, keeping the orders separate has the effect of increasing the number of cold saw cuts, which, in turn, increases processing time. Existing systems for large batch processing typically optimize hot cut lengths to fill a cooling bed. This processing technique may cause a sizable difference between the longest bar and shortest bar on the cooling bed. On small orders this difference can cause handling problems at the cold saw which lead to delays in mill operation.  
           [0004]    In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a technique for processing bars which overcomes the above-described inadequacies and shortcomings. More particularly, it is desirable to provide a technique for optimizing the number of cold saw cuts to enable bar processing in an efficient and cost effective manner.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0005]    According to the present invention, a technique for controlling a bar processing mill, having an exit and a cooling bed, to produce bars of a predetermined cold length, is provided. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by identifying a first bar in a processing order, and calculating a long hot cut length based, at least in part, upon a predetermined cold length. Next, the technique is realized by adjusting the long hot cut length, based on a total length of bar at the exit. Preferably, adjusting the long hot cut length is carried out if the long hot cut length is greater than a minimum cooling bed length, and if a number of layers of bars to be processed on the cooling bed is less than a predetermined number.  
           [0006]    In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, a system is provided for controlling a bar processing mill, having an exit and a cooling bed, to produce bars of a predetermined cold length. In one embodiment the system may comprise a first bar identifier for identifying a first bar in a processing order. The system may further comprise a hot cut length calculator for calculating a long hot cut length and short cut length based, at least in part upon a predetermined cold length, such that the long and short cut length are different by the length of one cold cut, and a total billet will be cut into these two parts. In addition, the system may comprise a long hot cut length adjuster for adjusting the long hot cut length, based on a minimum cooling bed length, if the long cold shear length is greater than a minimum cooling bed length, and if a number of layers of bars to be processed on the cooling bed is less than a predetermined number.  
           [0007]    The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof as shown in the appended drawings. While the present invention is described below with reference to preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fields of use, which are within the scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed herein, and with respect to which the present invention could be of significant utility. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a bar processing mill according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an optimization routine for bar processing using a cooling bed according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating a cooling bed width calculation according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a bar processing mill  8  according to one embodiment of the invention. Other types of bar processing mills are possible and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein.  
         [0012]    As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of a bar processing mill  8  may comprise roughing mill  10 , pendulum shear  11 , pinch roll  12 , and measuring roll  13 , intermediate mill  14 , and shear  15 , finishing mill  16 , crop and divide shear  18 , a cooling bed  20 , a cold saw  22 .  
         [0013]    Bar mill items  10 - 18  may be used for reducing a bloom, or billets, into bars of different size depending on the customer&#39;s order. Any suitable bar mill may be used to accomplish a reduction of a bloom or billet to a round or square shape, for example, by reducing the area and increasing the length. In some embodiments, a bar mill  8  may comprise a number of stands to assist in bar processing. For example, ten to twenty-three stands, each stand driven by a single motor or a group of stands driven by one motor may be used. Similarly, an additional three to four shears may be used. Other types of mills stands may be used. For example, finishing mill  16  may comprise Kocks reduction blocks.  
         [0014]    As noted above, some embodiments of processing mill  8  may comprise a crop and divide shear  18 . Any suitable crop and divide shear may be used to accomplish the dividing of the bar into a hot cut length that will fit on a cooling bed (e.g., cooling bed  20 ) and preferably in some multiple of the cold cut length. In some embodiments, crop and divide shear  18  may comprise a drum shear. Other crop and divide shears may be used. For example, crop and divide shears may comprise a crank shear or a pendulum shear.  
         [0015]    Processing mill  8  may also comprise a cooling bed  20 . Any suitable cooling bed may be used to accomplish the function of cooling the hot bar and transporting it to the next processing step (e.g., cold saw  22 ). In some embodiments, multiple cooling beds may be used. For example, processing mill  8  may comprise a large cooling bed and a small cooling bed. In some embodiments, cooling bed  20  may comprise a fixed rake and moving rake type cooling bed, or a walking beam type rake on a cooling bed with separate motors for traverse and lift. Other cooling beds  20  may be used. For example, a cooling bed employing a fixed rake and movable rake driven by one motor may be used.  
         [0016]    Processing mill  8  may also comprise a cold saw  22 . Any suitable cold saw  22  may be used to accomplish cutting layers of bars into their final length. Other methods of cutting the layers may be used, such as a cold shear may be used.  
         [0017]    In some embodiments, process control  24  may enable automatic control of processing mill  8  and its associated components. Process control  24  may comprise any suitable control device capable of enabling control over processing mill  8  and its components. For example, process control may comprise a computer or other microprocessor based device, a distributed system of microprocessor based devices, or other suitable information processing device. In addition, some embodiments of process control  24  may include processor controllable devices. For example, valves, saws, material handlers, and other bar mill processing components may be controlled by a processor based device or system of processor based devices.  
         [0018]    In FIG. 1 the connection between process Control  24  and other system components is indicated in dashed lines to indicate that the connection may be something other than a direct connection. For example, process Control  24  may not be in actual physical connection with cooling bed  20 , but may communicate with other controllers which connect to sensors or other associated devices that affect the operation of cooling bed  20 .  
         [0019]    In some embodiments, process control  24  may receive input from various sources. For example, process control  24  may receive input indicating physical attributes (e.g., length, width, temperature, etc.) of the bars being processed.  
         [0020]    Process control  24  input may be collected by various data collection devices and other detectors in the system. For example, a measured bar length may be input from measuring roll  13  between roughing mill  10  and intermediate mill  14 .  
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the measured bar length may be used to calculate a bar exit length. Alternatively, an exit length may be derived from a billet or bloom weight initially put into roughing mill  10 .  
         [0022]    Other data may also serve as input to process control  24 . For example, the head and tail of the bar may be cut by a determinable amount as it goes through the mill (e.g., by pendulum shear  11 , shear  15 , or shear  18 ). The length of bar removed may serve as input to control process  24  for use in other parts of the process as discussed below.  
         [0023]    The following definitions are provided to simplify the description of some embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments the following data may be input to an appropriate device (e.g., process control  24 ) prior to the start of a process order: 
         [0024]    csl=Cold Saw Cut Length,  
         [0025]    ON blooms =The number of blooms in an heat  
         [0026]    first blooms =The first bloom of a heat  
         [0027]    Where the cold saw cut length is the ultimate finished product length the customer has ordered, the number of blooms is the number of pre-process bars from a caster, and a heat is the total amount of steel to be processed for a given customer order.  
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the following information may be stored in an appropriate device (e.g., process control  24 ):  
         [0029]    A rhl =The area of bar from the roughing mill,  
         [0030]    A ski =The area of bar from the intermediate stand before shear  15 ,  
         [0031]    A exit =The area of bar at mill exit  
         [0032]    D bar =The diameter of the bar exiting the mill  
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the following information may be measured and input into an appropriate device (e.g., process control  24 ):  
         [0034]    l rhmill =The length of bar from the roughing mill,  
         [0035]    pd hl =The pendulum shear head cut length,  
         [0036]    pd tl =The pendulum shear tail cut length,  
         [0037]    shrl hl =The shear  15  head cut length,  
         [0038]    shrl hl =The shear  15  tail cut length,  
         [0039]    shr 2   hl =The shear  18  head cut length;  
         [0040]    shr 2   tl =The shear  18  tail cut length,  
         [0041]    [0041] 1   min =Minimum cut length cooling bed can handle (although, in some embodiments, this quantity may be calculated from other parameters for the small cooling bed)  
         [0042]    In some embodiments, information that is fixed information (e.g., information pertaining to the physical capabilities of system components) may be stored in an appropriate device (e.g., process control  24 ). In some embodiments, fixed information includes:  
         [0043]    [0043] 1   cmix =Maximum hot cut length cooling bed can handle,  
         [0044]    t min =Minimum KICKOFF cycle time,  
         [0045]    CB length =Cooling bed length,  
         [0046]    CB maxwidth =Cold Saw maximum cut width,  
         [0047]    [0047] 1   exitmin =The Minimum long that will be allowed on the cooling bed  
         [0048]    Table 1 shows correction factors for one embodiment of the invention. The correction factors may be determined in any suitable manner. For example, the correction factors may be derived empirically from experimental data, calculated from formulas, or other appropriate method. Other values of correction factors may be used.  
                                                           TABLE 1                           Length tolerances for hot rolled steel bars            SIZE   13 TO 20 ft   20 TO 30 ft   30 TO 40 ft   40 TO 50 ft                    TO 1 IN   .75   1.25   1.75   2.25       1 TO 2   1   1.5   2   2.5       2 TO 5   1.5   1.75   2.25   2.75       5 TO 8   2.5   2.75   3   3.25                  
 
         [0049]    In some embodiments, the following information may be input by a process operator into an appropriate device (e.g., process Control  24 ):  
         [0050]    SCRAP=Length for head and tail crops at cold saws,  
         [0051]    Temp=Temperature for expansion calculation of hot bar length,  
         [0052]    | cor =Vernier correction to bar length as entered by an operator  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an optimization routine for bar processing according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown, certain initial data may be input at  100 . In some embodiments, initial data may comprise a cold cut length, which, in turn, may be converted to a hot cut length (e.g., by process control  24 ), the bar temperature, the amount of scrap, etc. At step  102  a determination of whether the bar exiting the mill (e.g., finishing mill  16 ) is the first bar in a heat. If the result of the determination at step  102  is that the bar is not a first bar, then the process may proceed at step  104 .  
         [0054]    In some embodiments, other data may be input as indicated at steps  112  and  114 . This data may include the area of the bar exiting the roughing mill  10 , the area of the bar at an intermediate stand (e.g., a stand before shear  15 ), the head and tail cut lengths at intermediate shears (e.g., shear  15  and shear  18 ), and other data.  
         [0055]    At step  104  a total length of bar at mill exit may be calculated. This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, total length of bar at mill exit may be calculated according to:  
         l   exit     =         (       l   rhmill     -     pd   lg     -     pd   g       )     ×       A   rhmill       A   exit         -       (       shr1   lg     +     shr1   g       )     ×       A   std9       A   exit         -       shr2   lg     .                             
 
         [0056]    Otherwise, if a first bar is determined at step  102 , the processed may proceed as indicated at step  106 .  
         [0057]    In some embodiments, step  106  may comprise a calculation of a cold cut hot length. This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, the cold cut hot length may be calculated according to:  
       cslh   =     csl   +     csl   ×     (       .00675   ×     [       TEMP   -   32     1000     ]       +     .001636   ×       [       TEMP   -   32     1000     ]     2         )       +     .75   ×   1        ntol   .                               
 
         [0058]    Next, at step  108 , a calculation of the number of cold cuts in the cooling bed length may be calculated. This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, the number of cold cuts may be calculated according to:  
         n   bcslk     =     INT                         CB   length     -   SCRAP     cslh     .                             
 
         [0059]    Next, at step  110 , a calculation of the maximum hot cut length that will fit on the cooling bed (e.g., cooling bed  20 ) may be calculated. This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, maximum hot cut length that will fit on the cooling bed may be calculated according to: 
         
       hcl=n 
       bcsth 
       ×cslh+SCRAP 
     
         [0060]    In some embodiments, at step  116  a calculation of a minimum length of bar that can be placed on the cooling bed may be performed. This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, minimum length bar that will fit on the cooling bed may be calculated according to:  
         l     c                 min       =       ROUNDUP          (       sbar   *   ts                 min     -   SCRAP     )     cslh     *   cslh     +     SCRAP   .                             
 
         [0061]    Check if l cmin &gt;l coolmin .  
         [0062]    If Yes, use calculated value,  
         [0063]    If no, l cmin =l coolmin .  
         [0064]    At step  118  a total length of bar at mill exit may be calculated. This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, total length of bar at mill exit may be calculated according to:  
         l   exit     =         (       l   rhmill     -     pd   hl     -     pd   il       )     ×       A   rhmill       A   exit         -       (       shr1   hl     +     shr1   il       )     ×       A   std9       A   exit         -       shr2   hl     .                             
 
         [0065]    At step  120  a number of hot cuts in the total bar, as measured coming from the roughing mill  10 , may be calculated. This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of hot cuts in the total bar at mill exit may be calculated according to:  
         n   thcl     =     ROUNDUP                       l   exit     hcl     .                             
 
         [0066]    At step  122  a number of cold cuts in the total bar, as measured coming from the roughing mill, may be calculated. This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of cold cuts in the total bar at mill exit may be calculated according to:  
         n   tcslk        ROUNDDOWN                         l   exit     -       n   thcl     ×   SCRAP       cslh     .                           
 
         [0067]    At step  1   24  the long cooling bed cut length may be calculated in order to determine the longer of the two cut lengths which are placed on cooling bed  20 . This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a long cooling bed cut length may be calculated according to:  
         hcl   i     =       chlh   ×     ROUNDUP        (       n   tclsk       n   thcl       )         +     SCRAP   .                             
 
         [0068]    At step  126  a determination of whether the long cooling bed cut length is greater than a minimum cooling bed length may be determined. This determination may be performed by an appropriate determiner routine (e.g., stored in process control  24 ). For example, the long cooling bed cut length may be compared according to: 
           hcl   l   −cslh&gt;l   cmin . 
         [0069]    In some embodiments, if the long cooling bed cut length is greater than the minimum cooling bed length, the process may move to a width calculation routine (e.g., FIG. 3). If the long cooling bed cut length is not greater than the minimum cooling bed length, the process may move to calculate a new long cooling bed cut length as indicated at step  128 .  
         [0070]    At step  128  a new long hot cut length may be calculated. This calculation may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a new long hot cut length may be calculated according to:  
         hcl   l     =       cslh   ×     ROUNDUP        (       l     c                 min       cslh     )         +   cslh   +     SCRAP   .                             
 
         [0071]    At step  130  a hot cut length for the current processing heat is stored until the next first bar of a heat comes along. As indicated in FIG. 2, the hot cut length comes from using the long hot cut length calculated in step  128  or using the hot cut length calculated in the width routine (e.g., as in FIG. 3).  
         [0072]    At step  132 , a calculation of the number of hot cuts in a bar may be made. As indicated, step  132  may be a point to which the process may advance after step  104  if a bar is determined not to be a first bar at step  102 . The calculation of the number of hot cuts in a bar may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of hot cuts in a bar may be calculated according to:  
         n   thcl     =     ROUNDUP                     l   exit       hcl   i                               
 
         [0073]    At step  134  a n umber of cold cuts in a bar may be calculated. The calculation of the number of cold cuts in a bar may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process Control  24 ). For example, a number of cold cuts in a bar may be calculated according to:  
         n   tclsh     =     ROUNDDOWN              l   exit     -       n   thcl     ×   SCRAP       cslh     .                             
 
         [0074]    At step  136  a number of long cut pieces may be calculated. The calculation of the number of long cut pieces may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number long cut pieces may be calculated according to:  
         n   hl     =       (         n   tclsh       n   thcl       -     ROUNDDOWN        (       n   tclsh       n   thcl       )         )     ×     n   thcl                             
 
         [0075]    In some embodiments of the invention, a calculation of the short length which is to be put on the cooling bed (i.e., short cut length) may also be performed. For example, at step  138  a short cut length may be calculated. The calculation of the short cut length may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a short cut length may be calculated according to:  
         hcl   3     =       cslh   ×     ROUNDDOWN        (       n   tclsh       n   thcl       )         +   SCRAP                           
 
         [0076]    At step  140  a calculation of a number of short pieces may be performed. The calculation of the number of short pieces may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of short pieces may be calculated according to: 
         
       n 
       hl 
       =n 
       tl 
       −n 
       hl 
     
         [0077]    At step  142 , calculation for an amount of tail scrap may be performed. The calculation of the number of short pieces may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process Control  24 ). For example, a tail scrap calculation may be calculated according to: 
           l   tml   =l   exit −( n   h3   ×hcl   3   +n   kl   ×hcl   g ) 
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating a cooling bed width calculation according to one embodiment of the invention. As indicated above, in some embodiments of the processing routine, it may be advantageous to calculate a width maximum  
         [0079]    (e g., at step  126 , if hcl l &gt;l hcl )  
         [0080]    At step  200  certain initial data entered with each new heat may be accessed. For example, a stored schedule, a bar diameter, and other data may be accessed. In addition, the bloom number in the heat  
         [0081]    ON blooms    
         [0082]    may be accessed as indicated at step  202 .  
         [0083]    At step  204  a calculation of a number of hot cuts in the total bar as measured coming from the roughing mill  10  may be performed using the new hot cut length as calculated from step  124 . The calculation of the number of hot cuts may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of hot cuts calculation may be calculated according to:  
         n   thcl     =     ROUNDUP          l   exit       hcl   i                               
 
         [0084]    At step  206  a calculation of a number of bars that will be placed on the large cooling bed may be performed. The calculation of the number of bars on the large cooling bed may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of bars to be placed on the large cooling bed calculation may be calculated according to: 
           CB   tder   =ON   blooms   ×n   thcl . 
         [0085]    At step  208  a number of bars per layer for a given bar diameter (e.g., the diameter input at step  200 ) may be calculated. The calculation of the number of bars per layer may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of bars per layer calculation may be calculated according to:  
         nl   bars     =     INT          CS     bar                 width         D   bar                               
 
         [0086]    At step  210 , a calculation of the number of layers in the heat may be performed. The calculation of the number of layers in the heat may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of layer in the heat calculation may be calculated according to:  
         nl     o                 γ                 d       =       CB     γ                 b                 a                 r         x                   δ   org                               
 
         [0087]    At step  212  a determination is made as to whether the number of layers (e.g., as calculated at step  210 ) is greater than a predetermined number. For example, a determination may be made whether the number of layers is equal to one, or greater than or equal to two  
         [0088]    (e g, nl ord ≧2 or=1)  
         [0089]    , or the like. The determination may be made by any appropriate determiner (e.g., a determining routine stored in process control  24 ).  
         [0090]    In some embodiments, for any heat that is larger then two layers, no change to length is made to increase the width. For example, at step  214 , after a determination that the number of layers is equal to one or greater than or equal to two, the long hot cut length may be set to the long hot cut length  
         [0091]    hcl l    
         [0092]    (e.g., as calculated from step  124 ).  
         [0093]    At step  216 , after a determination that the number of layers is not equal to one or grater than or equal to two, the maximum hot cut length may be adjusted. For example, the maximum hot cut length may be lessened by subtracting one cold cut length from the hot cut length  
         [0094]    (e g,  l   max   =hcl   l   −cslh )  
         [0095]    . The adjustment of the maximum hot cut length may be performed by any suitable adjuster (e.g., an adjuster module stored in process control  24 ).  
         [0096]    At step  218  a determination may be made whether the maximum hot cut length is greater than a predetermined value. For example, the maximum hot cut length may be checked against the minimum cooling bed length  
         [0097]    (e g,  l   cmax   −cslh&gt;l   l )  
         [0098]    The determination may be performed by any suitable determiner (e.g., a determination module stored in process control  24 ).  
         [0099]    If, after step  218 , the maximum hot cut length is determined to be less than the predetermined value, the long hot cut length may be set to the long hot cut length  
         [0100]    hcl l   
         [0101]    , as indicated at step  214 . If the maximum hot cut length is determined to be greater than the predetermined value, the process may advance to step  220 .  
         [0102]    At step  220  a calculation of the number of hot cuts in a bloom may be performed. The calculation of the number of hot cuts in a bloom may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of hot cuts in a bloom calculation may be calculated according to:  
         nl   thcl     =     ROUNDUP          l   exit       l   σmax                               
 
         [0103]    At step  222  a calculation of the number of bars that will be placed on the cooling bed may be performed. The calculation of the number of bars to be placed on the cooling bed may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of bars to be placed on the cooling bed calculation may be calculated according to: 
         
       CB 
       1 
       tbar 
       =ON 
       blooms 
       ×n 
       1 
       thcl 
     
         [0104]    At step  224  a calculation of the number of layers in the heat may be performed. The calculation of the number of layers in the heat may be performed by an appropriate calculator (e.g., a calculator routine stored in process control  24 ). For example, a number of layers in the heat calculation may be calculated according to:  
         n11     o                 γ                 d       =         CB1     γ                 b                 a                 r         nl   bars       .                           
 
         [0105]    At step  226  a determination is made whether any more layers are to be cut. The determination may be performed by any suitable determiner (e.g., a determination module stored in process control  24 ). For example, a determination of whether 
           nl   1   ord   &gt;ROUNDUP ( nl   ord ) 
         [0106]    may be made. In some embodiments, if  
         [0107]    nl 1   ord   
         [0108]    is greater than  
         [0109]    ROUNDUP(nl ord )  
         [0110]    , the process may set the hot cut length (e.g., as indicated at step  214 ). In some embodiments, if  
         [0111]    nl 1   ord   
         [0112]    is not greater than  
         [0113]    ROUNDUP(nl ord )  
         [0114]    , the process may create a new maximum cut length according to  
         [0115]    hcl l =l cmax    
         [0116]    as indicated at step  228  and proceed to step  216  for another iteration.  
         [0117]    The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the present invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the following appended claims. Further, although the present invention has been described herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present invention can be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breath and spirit of the present invention as disclosed herein.