Program/app for maximizing plywood sheets?

[ear3]

Got a new project to build a bunch of boxes.  I can certainly figure out the cut list on my own with pencil and paper -- as I've always done -- but I just realized that someone may have made a program/app that does it automatically once you punch in the numbers, and thus help minimize number of offcuts.

 

[live4ever]

There are a bunch out there, but one of the most popular ones is CutList Plus.  It comes in different editions/prices depending on your needs...the $90 silver version takes care of all of my needs.  It has a free companion iPhone/iPad app.  The downside is that it is Windows-only for some unfathomable reason.

 

[CrazyLarry]

I largely design in sketchup and have recently moved from a free plugin (cutlist) to cutlist bridge + cutlist plus fx both commercial.

It's a lot more efficient but it does impose a lot of restrictions / changes on workflow and there are sadly numerous poor software / ergonomic / programming choices to negotiate, particularly in cutlist fx, which is a pity given its cost.

All that moaning aside ... it paid for itself inside 2 decent sized projects I reckon, largely through less sheets needed, and partly by improving workflow because I had to analyse it to minimise the impact of adapting to the software ... so there is a silver lining!

One thing it can't do is tessalate non standard shapes so optimisation goes out the window if you go beyond squares and rectangles...

I've made it sound awful when it's not it's just not polished / finished software IMO.

No doubt there are many other options if you don't use sketchup as the starting point.

 

[neeleman]

Look at MaxCut.
Download the free version and it works marvellous!
Already used it dozens of times and they are constantly improving the program.
BTW it's from South Africa.

 

[andyman]

Got a new project to build a bunch of boxes.  I can certainly figure out the cut list on my own with pencil and paper -- as I've always done -- but I just realized that someone may have made a program/app that does it automatically once you punch in the numbers, and thus help minimize number of offcuts.

Google Optimalon they have a free 1 I use

 

[tjbnwi]

I just use my head, visualize the pieces and lay them out. I can keep track of an entire kitchen build in my head.

Tom

 

[Gjarman12]

I found this worth $5 to break down sheets. It can keep the grain for you or not.

 

[Max Fracas]

I use "Cut Calculator" on my iPad.  It's available on the Apple app store.  Not sure if this is what the previous poster uses, but it does allow you to account for grain direction.  It does both sheet goods and lumber.  Great job aid.

 

[tiralie]

I just use my head, visualize the pieces and lay them out. I can keep track of an entire kitchen build in my head.

I would never be able to do that without a lot of waste.
Tim

 

[tjbnwi]

I just use my head, visualize the pieces and lay them out. I can keep track of an entire kitchen build in my head.

I would never be able to do that without a lot of waste.
Tim

I was working on a kitchen build for another contractor, came time to cut the pieces for the door and drawer fronts. By the time he entered the parameters into his spread sheet I have the pieces for 32 door and draw fronts cut and stacked in order. Did all the math for the rails and panels in my head. His only questions was--how do we keep track of them? That question confused me.

Tom

 

[Wuffles]

Look at MaxCut.
Download the free version and it works marvellous!
Already used it dozens of times and they are constantly improving the program.
BTW it's from South Africa.

Seconded. I use Maxcut Community Edition all the time, works well on VMWare if you're on OSX. I export the cut list and pictures ('cos I am thick) to my dropbox folder and then open them up on my phone as a reminder to what it is I am cutting when in the workshop.

 

[Sparktrician]

There are a bunch out there, but one of the most popular ones is CutList Plus.  It comes in different editions/prices depending on your needs...the $90 silver version takes care of all of my needs.  It has a free companion iPhone/iPad app.  The downside is that it is Windows-only for some unfathomable reason.

I've been using Cutlist Plus since '09.  Seems to work well for me, but it's a royal pain-in-the-arse if you want to have it running on more than two computers due to licensing issues.  If you ever have a hard drive failure and need to reinstall it, you will have to deal with what appears to be a one-man-band developer to get a fresh start.  I think I'll likely switch over to MaxCut rather than upgrade to a newer version of Cutlist Plus. 

 

[tiralie]

His only questions was--how do we keep track of them? That question confused me.

Well that's one way to be completely indispensable.
He didn't know, but you did.
Tim

 

[tiralie]

I've been using Cutlist Plus since '09.

I haven't used Cutlist Plus that long but it does save me time, material waste and money.

I am looking for a good cutlist application with nesting capabilities.
Tim

 

[bkharman]

I do my plywood cut list from an online program. It is called optimalonhttp://optimalon.com

It is very flexible and free. I have used it for years.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[ear3]

Thanks for all the replies and resources.

 

[ben_r_]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I have been looking into purchasing the Silver edition of Cutlist Plus and was browsing the net for reviews and what people actually using it thought about it.

I've been using Cutlist Plus since '09.  Seems to work well for me, but it's a royal pain-in-the-arse if you want to have it running on more than two computers due to licensing issues.  If you ever have a hard drive failure and need to reinstall it, you will have to deal with what appears to be a one-man-band developer to get a fresh start.  I think I'll likely switch over to MaxCut rather than upgrade to a newer version of Cutlist Plus. 

Really glad you mentioned this as it didnt make sense to me how they handled using it on multiple computers. I actually sent an email to them questioning this a few moments before seeing this post. I dont think the software would be useful to me if I couldnt use it on all my computers. I own and work on several depending on where I am and would want to be able to access the softwares features on all of them without having to pay for a site license from them or multiple copies, etc.

 

[Bob D.]

There are a bunch out there, but one of the most popular ones is CutList Plus.  It comes in different editions/prices depending on your needs...the $90 silver version takes care of all of my needs.  It has a free companion iPhone/iPad app.  The downside is that it is Windows-only for some unfathomable reason.

I've been using Cutlist Plus since '09.  Seems to work well for me, but it's a royal pain-in-the-arse if you want to have it running on more than two computers due to licensing issues.  If you ever have a hard drive failure and need to reinstall it, you will have to deal with what appears to be a one-man-band developer to get a fresh start.  I think I'll likely switch over to MaxCut rather than upgrade to a newer version of Cutlist Plus.

I too have been using CutList Plus for years and it's been great. You can print labels for pieces and track inventory. Well worth the money and updates have been free all these years. there is even an app for your phone that will let you view your cutlist.

 

[oberkorn]

Resurrecting this thread to say thathttps://cutlistoptimizer.com is pretty great and free.

 

[MaineShop]

For those that do a lot of case goods, Mozaik is an excellent program that I have used for years and have gotten many of the shops that I work in and for converted over too. It is an excellent kitchen design software and is used industry wide. It can generate gcode for CNC processing of sheet good and also has an optimizer function that can lay out all your pieces on sheet goods based on parameters you give it. I know in one shop I do a lot of work in we cut their typical sheet good use on kitchens by roughly 25 percent over two jobs by getting them to use the software. The only downside is it requires accuracy, If you tell it to allow for 1/8" of waste on a sheet then your cuts need to be perfect or else pieces won't fit. Not to hard with big horizontal sliders but can be tricky with sliders that can't take a full sheet lengthwise.

Adam