Mixed-integer programming models for irregular strip packing based on vertical slices and feasibility cuts
针对不规则多边形在固定宽度条带上的非重叠放置问题，提出一种新的混合整数规划模型族，通过垂直切片分解和有效不等式，在1小时内首次最优求解了10个实例，包括含27个多边形的实例。
The irregular strip-packing problem, also known as nesting or marker making, is defined as the automatic computation of a non-overlapping placement of a set of non-convex polygons onto a rectangular strip of fixed width and unbounded length, such that the strip length is minimized. Nesting methods based on heuristics are a mature technology, and currently, the only practical solution to this problem. However, recent performance gains of the Mixed-Integer Programming (MIP) solvers, together with the known limitations of the heuristics methods, have encouraged the exploration of exact optimization models for nesting during the last decade. Despite the research effort, there is room to improve the efficiency of the current family of exact MIP models for nesting. In order to bridge this gap, this work introduces a new family of continuous MIP models based on a novel formulation of the NoFit-Polygon Covering Model (NFP-CM), called NFP-CM based on Vertical Slices (NFP-CM-VS). Our new family of MIP models is based on a new convex decomposition of the feasible space of relative placements between pieces into vertical slices, together with a new family of valid inequalities, symmetry breakings, and variable eliminations derived from the former convex decomposition. Our experiments show that our new NFP-CM-VS models outperform the current state-of-the-art MIP models. Ten instances are solved up to optimality within one hour for the first time, including one with 27 pieces. Finally, we provide a detailed reproducibility protocol and dataset as supplementary material to allow the exact replication of our models, experiments, and results.