Board Cutting software.

[DiscoStu]

I'm sure you guys are probably aware of this, but I just came across it and found it to be quite exciting!

I was looking for some software that would help calculate the best way to cut boards to optimize the use of materials.

I came across this site:

http://www.optimalon.com/online_cut_optimizer.htm

It worked brilliantly

The only very minor issue I had was that I had to set up two boards, one with 2440mm as the length and one with it as the width and then it calculated the cuts. It takes into account the Kerf and even wastage on edges etc. etc. It even gives you a list of all the off cuts you'll end up with!

Very easy to use.

Here is an example:

 

[Woodmonkey]

Thanks for posting, that does look useful.

 

[Jacob]

Could you not work that out with a pencil?

 

[DiscoStu]

Well Of course you can work it out with a pencil, but on more complex projects it's nice to know you've been as efficient as possible and got the least waste. I thought it was useful.

 

[RobinBHM]

Ive used optimsation software and it can be really useful, especially when using the jumbo mfc sheets, about 2070 x 2800.

I used to use cutlistplus. You can select grain or no grain direction, board trim and kerf sizes. It also tells you the head cuts to make first.

 

[Baldhead]

Wish I knew about this a few years back, it would have saved me a lot of time, thanks for posting.

Baldhead

 

[Charlie Woody]

Another option is Maxcut. I find it handy to cut up the paper print out to tape to the parts once cut to avoid confusion at assembly, easier to read than pencil and to clean off before applying the finish.

 

[Jacob]

The rule of thumb (in case anybody doesn't already know this) is to cut out from your list starting with largest sizes and taking them from smallest pieces of stock. Requires no thought at all and is usually going to be as efficient as a programme - sometimes more efficient as it's self correcting - if you find a piece of stock unsuitable you just move on, following the rule.

 

[PAC1]

I do not agree that the "rule of thumb" is efficient. Say you are cutting 2 no 1000mm and 4no 700mm out of sheets 2.44m long. It would be a mistake to cut the two 1000 out of the first sheet leaving 400mm waste and then need two further sheets for the 700mm pieces. The efficient way is to cut 1 of the 1000mm and two of the 700mm from each sheet.
I know the maths on this example is easy but on more complicated cuts I often find that the rule of thumb is wasteful and thereby expensive.

 

[Jacob]

It's a rule of thumb so it doesn't always work - but the probability is that it will be more efficient than a more random way of cutting out. I think in your example you'd see the problem and not fall into the trap.
Another common trap you can caught out by not following the rule is if for example you want 5no pieces @600mm and you cut them from one piece 3m this gives you no waste at all, which seems a good idea, but you might find that you can't now get the 2.4m length you want, from the rest of the stock.

 

[bugbear]

I do not agree that the "rule of thumb" is efficient. Say you are cutting 2 no 1000mm and 4no 700mm out of sheets 2.44m long. It would be a mistake to cut the two 1000 out of the first sheet leaving 400mm waste and then need two further sheets for the 700mm pieces. The efficient way is to cut 1 of the 1000mm and two of the 700mm from each sheet.
I know the maths on this example is easy but on more complicated cuts I often find that the rule of thumb is wasteful and thereby expensive.

It's obvious (nigh on definitive) that a full analysis of the whole cutting list will always be more accurate than a rule of thumb applied as you go. And the computer makes it easy to do; it's what they're good at.

In any case, I think the old rule applies to simply cutting lengths; the problem is much trickier when applied to sheet goods, where both the stock and the required pieces have both length and width.

BugBear

 

[DiscoStu]

ok how about cutting a 20mm hole in a piece of wood, how would you do that.

Auger bit, fostner bit, spade bit,
Use a router
Hole saw
Fret saw
Jig saw
Scroll saw

Etc

There are lots of ways of doing the same thing to get the same result. The board cutting software is just another tool, you can choose to use it or not. I just posted it because I wanted to find something that would help me with cutting boards for a project and found it and thought I'd share it.

Each to their own!

 

[Jacob]

Yes nowt wrong with it.
I've got a bit of a prejudice towards low-tech simple solutions myself. Many cutting jobs you'd could have over and done with before you had finished inputting info to the computer and the little bit of waste (if any) worth a lot less than the time saved.
Horses for courses etc.