Sheet material optimiser

[meccarroll]

Hi just working on a small project and at the stage of calculating and ordering the sheet materials. I want to optimise the cutting to reduce wastage and just wondered what free material calculators are out there?

PS I think this should be in the general section but don't know how to move/delete it?

 

[Dr.Al]

I've used this one quite a few times: https://www.opticutter.com/cut-list-optimizer

 

[Robert]

moved for you..

 

[meccarroll]

moved for you..

Thank you.

 

[meccarroll]

I've used this one quite a few times: https://www.opticutter.com/cut-list-optimizer

Looks good cheers

 

[9fingers]

I use Maxcut not that it is necessarily any better than others but I'm used to it and its free

Designed for sheet material but for projects working from boards of a similar thicknesses you can enter the random board widths that you have available too.

It also takes into account grain direction for veneered boards and saw blade kerf although I suspect most will do that as standard.

 

[Jonathan]

I use the free version of opticutter on a daily basis.

 

[meccarroll]

I use Maxcut not that it is necessarily any better than others but I'm used to it and its free

Designed for sheet material but for projects working from boards of a similar thicknesses you can enter the random board widths that you have available too.

It also takes into account grain direction for veneered boards and saw blade kerf although I suspect most will do that as standard.

Thank you looks like I should get on a bit faster now. Cheers

 

[Cabinetman]

Hi just working on a small project and at the stage of calculating and ordering the sheet materials. I want to optimise the cutting to reduce wastage and just wondered what free material calculators are out there?

PS I think this should be in the general section but don't know how to move/delete it?

I’ve always just drawn some rough rectangles on a piece of paper and sketched on it starting with the biggest pieces, can’t say I’ve ever had a problem or wasted any ply. Might be different if you have dozens of bits I suppose.

 

[meccarroll]

I’ve always just drawn some rough rectangles on a piece of paper and sketched on it starting with the biggest pieces, can’t say I’ve ever had a problem or wasted any ply. Might be different if you have dozens of bits I suppose.

I have had a dabble with the software and it can do in seconds what takes me about half an hour.

I think at a quick calculation there will be around 100 pieces at least, maybe 150 so enough to do you head in if you keep trying to figure it out yourself.

I'd really like to buy some cabinet software that will do everthing but I don't make enough cabinets at the present to justify the outlay.

Most of my work is on site carpentry, refurbishments and repairs and I only really dip in and out of joinery or cabinet work every now and then.

 

[AJB Temple]

The optimisers are good, but even with high grade ply such as B/BB patches have to be taken into account so that they are either avoided or appear in inconspicuous places. Also, from a stack of boards there will be some with slight edge or corner damage sometimes.

 

[Cabinetman]

I have had a dabble with the software and it can do in seconds what takes me about half an hour.

I think at a quick calculation there will be around 100 pieces at least, maybe 150 so enough to do you head in if you keep trying to figure it out yourself.

I'd really like to buy some cabinet software that will do everthing but I don't make enough cabinets at the present to justify the outlay.

Most of my work is on site carpentry, refurbishments and repairs and I only really dip in and out of joinery or cabinet work every now and then.

Well I can see your point asking, that is a lot of bits to keep track of, and Sod’s law says you would be one bit short!
Ian

 

[meccarroll]

Well I can see your point asking, that is a lot of bits to keep track of, and Sod’s law says you would be one bit short!
Ian

I have learnt from experience that if you are going to do repeat work then buy extra to save the cost of jumping in a van to get more materials should you run out.