sheet goods layout program

[Packard]

One part of cabinet making that I dislike is trying to optimize the cutting layout of the plywood. 

Are any of you using a program for that?  Calculating the sizes of the panels does not bother me.  But figuring the optimal layout does.

 

[Bob D.]

I think you will find a couple threads on this subject if you look.

I have been using CutList Plus (Gold Edition) for many years and like it.

It works well for dimensional lumber too.
https://cutlistplus.com/

 

[Packard]

Thanks for that.  I mostly use my Ipad.  It seems to only work with windows.  I will try it out on my laptop, but I mostly leave my laptop in the office. 

 

[WillAdams]

Try:
http://svgnest.com/

which as a website should work on an iPad.

 

[twistsol]

I've been using Cutlist plus gold edition since 2005 and it works well, but I have to tweak the settings on the layouts to optimize them the way I want them. Normally I do the layouts in my office for a project before I buy materials and then create .PDF files of the material lists and cut layouts. I transfer the .PDF files to my iPad for use in the shop and when acquiring materials.

I've used the following in a pinch  when plans changed and I was too lazy to go back to my office. It is very simple, but seems to work ok.
https://www.cutlistoptimizer.com/

 

[Packard]

I usually make wood-grain cabinets, but these are painted.  So the direction of the grain is usually pre-set, but with paint I can lay it out in either direction.  It makes for many more choices.  Some that save material, but complicate the cuts. 

 

[Michael Kellough]

Attended a talk last night by the guy who fabricated this sculpture, Peter Ballantine. His layout program was a piece of graph paper with a simple diagram of the section he was working on at the time (it took over nine months to make this) and he shaded areas with green or red colored pencil to indicate if a perfect face was required or a defect could hide there.

The sculpture is 80 feet long, 12 feet high, and 4 feet deep. No finish. The material was special ordered marine grade old growth Douglas fir plywood at 1-3/8” thickness.

Interesting article has more about the artist and Peter.

 

[Bob D.]

I usually make wood-grain cabinets, but these are painted.  So the direction of the grain is usually pre-set, but with paint I can lay it out in either direction.  It makes for many more choices.  Some that save material, but complicate the cuts.

CutList Plus can deal with all those situations.

 

[Packard]

Before I could decide on the program, I finished laying it out on graph paper.  I have a graph paper journal where I sketch my designs and make my cut list. I have never worked from published plans, so I’ve gotten accustomed to working like this.

I will investigate those layout programs for future jobs.

I am buying the plywood in the morning. This will be the first time I’m going from the track saw directly to assembly. In the past I was making the finish cuts on the table saw. My confidence is up and I think this will work.

 

[fshanno]

I use eCabinet Systems from Thermwood.  It does a great job of nesting panels in sheet goods.  It's also a pretty powerful 3D modeling software for cabinetry.  And it's free.

You know the sizes of all the panels you need you just insert them in a job and it will nest them onto sheets of any size you desire.  It will optimize the nest for rips or for crosscuts.  You can print out the sheets and the individual panels and it does bills of materials.
The nests are very efficient.  You can have it produce labels from Avery label sheets for big jobs.  It will produce G code as well if you want to take it to a CNC. 

It's really sort of intended for you to model your cases in it's 3D modeler.  It does faceframe or frameless.  It does drawers and drawer fronts and doors.  You can place your modeled cases into a job, a kitchen for instance, and put counter tops on them add lights and other things and turn out a pretty good photorealistic rendering.  But it's not really a good drafting tool.  And it's not really for designing furniture, just cases for kitchens and so on.

You define your materials, lumber and sheet goods and edgebanding and so on.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Cutlist Optimizer has worked for me for quite some time. I started using it when I got my first tracksaw.
It works as an Ap for your phone, tablet, etc. or it can be done directly from their website w/o dowloading.

 

[Sparktrician]

MaxCut2 is another good option without the aggravation of having to deal with CutList's ownership.

 

[Packard]

I will look at these programs on my computer and play with them a while if they allow me. 

Thanks for the input.

Regards,

Packard

 

[todd_fuller]

I've used Optimalon online cut list generator. It's free with modest limitations. Generally, the results are pretty good. It doesn't optimize off cuts, so sometimes I reorder things so I get better off cuts from a sheet.
http://www.optimalon.com