Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is Cut Optimizer?
Cut Optimizer is a web-based tool that helps you maximize material yield by generating optimized cutting plans for your projects.
Do I need an account to use Cut Optimizer?
Yes, creating an account allows you to save your projects, access your history, and unlock advanced features.
Can I try Cut Optimizer without creating an account?
Yes, you can explore fully functional demo projects without an account. This lets you test the features and see how Cut Optimizer works before signing up.
Is Cut Optimizer suitable for beginners?
Yes, Cut Optimizer is designed to be easy to use, with guided inputs and visual results that help beginners understand cutting optimization quickly.
Which types of materials can I optimize?
You can optimize any one-dimensional materials such as wood, metal, or plastic bars where length and quantity matter.
Can I use Cut Optimizer on mobile devices?
Yes, Cut Optimizer is fully responsive and works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Is there a limit to how many projects I can create?
The number of projects you can create depends on your subscription plan. Free and basic plans have limits, while the Pro plan allows unlimited projects.
Do I need to install any software to use Cut Optimizer?
No installation is required. Cut Optimizer runs entirely in your web browser.
Can I try Cut Optimizer for free?
Yes, we offer a free trial that lets you explore core features before subscribing to a premium plan.
Is my data saved securely?
Yes, all projects and user data are stored securely in the cloud with regular backups and encryption.
Where can I get help if I have questions?
You can visit our FAQ, check our documentation, or contact support through the help section on the website.
Features
Does Cut Optimizer support multiple input lengths?
Yes, multiple standard lengths can be entered in the format 214/252/288. The optimizer uses all specified lengths to achieve the best material yield. This feature is available in the Pro plan only.
Is miter cutting supported?
Yes, Cut Optimizer supports miter cutting. You can specify angles from 0° to 75° independently for both sides of the piece, allowing precise angled cuts and maximizing material yield.
Is material rotation supported?
Yes, materials can be configured as symmetrical along all three axes. The optimizer will rotate and nest items to achieve optimal material yield and reduce the number of cuts required.
What is Saw Blade Width in Cut Optimizer?
Saw Blade Width is the actual width of the cutting saw. This parameter is used for waste calculation and nesting. Real cut waste is calculated based on saw width and cutting angle.
What is Front & Tail Offcut?
Front & Tail Offcut is the amount reduced from both ends of a bar before optimization to account for machine restrictions and potential damage at the bar ends.
What is Miter Tip Offset?
For miter cuts requiring two cuts, Miter Tip Offset is the additional length needed for the proper second cut. This value is included in the waste calculation.
How is waste between two pieces calculated?
For single cuts, waste equals the saw width corrected by the cutting angle. For double cuts, waste is calculated as 2×saw width corrected by the angle plus the miter tip offset.
What is Width in material specification?
Width is the material’s width and is used to calculate the correct overlap between items for miter cuts, ensuring accurate cutting and nesting.
What does Reusable mean?
Reusable refers to the length of leftover material that can be used in other projects. It is considered in optimistic yield and price calculations.
Can I specify material weight?
Yes, you can specify weight calculation per piece or per unit length. Multiple lengths can have separate weights. The optimizer calculates the total material weight accordingly.
Can I calculate material price?
Yes, Cut Optimizer allows price calculation per piece, per length, or per weight. Values can be specified per input length or as a single value applied to all. The results show total material cost and optimistic price excluding reusable leftovers. You can also set a price effective date.
What item rotation (symmetry) can be defined?
You can define material symmetry by axis: Lengthwise, Side-to-side, or Top-to-bottom. The optimizer uses these settings to rotate items for optimal nesting and material yield.
Are different units supported in Cut Optimizer?
Yes, Cut Optimizer supports both metric and imperial units. Metric lengths are in millimeters, while imperial lengths can be in inches or feet. Units can be specified independently for input lengths and output results, with automatic conversion between them.
What unit formats are supported?
For inches and feet, both decimal and fractional input and output formats are available. For millimeters, only decimal input and output with rounding are supported.
What if the input or output format I’m using is not supported?
If your desired unit or format is not supported, contact us and we will add it for you.
How do I specify an input piece?
Each piece requires a length and quantity. Optionally, you can add a short description to indicate the piece’s position in the drawing. If no angles are specified, default angles are zero (straight cut).
Can I specify two pieces of the same length but with different descriptions?
Yes, pieces with the same length but different descriptions are treated independently, and the drawing will display the appropriate description for each piece.
How are angles specified for cuts?
Imagine the bar positioned against the saw fence. A zero angle means the saw is perpendicular to the bar (straight cut). Moving the saw to the right increases the angle positively, and moving it to the left is negative. In the UI, all angles are displayed as positive with the direction represented graphically. This convention is important for importing pieces correctly.
How can I edit an item in my project?
Click on the value you want to edit. A text box will appear where you can modify the value. Click outside the box to confirm your changes.
Can I use preset materials instead of entering configuration each time?
Yes, you can define commonly used materials on a separate materials page. Once predefined, you can simply select a material instead of entering its configuration each time.
Can I import predefined materials from Excel?
Not directly through the UI. If you have a list of materials in Excel or another format, contact us through the support form and we will help you import them.
Can I import pieces to cut from Excel?
Yes, pieces can be imported from an Excel file or by pasting selected Excel cells directly into the import dialog. CSV format is also supported, and sample files are provided to show the correct data format.
What is the Import All functionality?
Import All allows you to import multiple configurations at once using Excel or CSV files. Sample files are available directly in the import dialog. For automatic matching, material names in the file must match predefined material names in the app; otherwise, materials must be selected manually.
What does it mean when a project is ”out of sync”?
A project becomes out of sync when optimization has already been run and input parameters are later changed. This means you need to run the optimization again so results match the updated input data.
What is the difference between Effective Yield and Total Yield?
Total Yield assumes all leftover material is scrap. Effective Yield assumes some leftovers can be reused in future projects and are not considered scrap. The Reusable property determines whether leftovers are treated as reusable.
What is the difference between Non-reusable Waste and Total Waste?
Total Waste assumes all leftovers are scrap. Non-reusable Waste excludes leftovers marked as reusable, assuming they can be used in future projects. The Reusable property controls this behavior.
What is the difference between Effective Price and Total Price?
Total Price is calculated assuming all leftovers are scrap. Effective Price excludes reusable leftovers, assuming they will be used in future projects. The Reusable property determines which leftovers are excluded.
What is Total Weight?
Total Weight represents the weight of all stock bars required to complete a project.
What is Pieces Weight?
Pieces Weight is the total weight of all finished pieces after cutting.
What is Cutting Complexity?
Cutting Complexity limits the number of different piece lengths allowed in a single bar. Reducing complexity usually simplifies cutting operations but may reduce overall material yield.
How is input length specified for miter cutting?
For miter cutting, the input piece length is always the length measured on the saw fence side.
How are lengths shown in optimization results?
By default, output lengths are shown as lengths on the saw fence side, same as the input. You can also choose to display the original input length or the total piece length from the leftmost to the rightmost edge.
The results look cluttered with angles drawn. Can I hide them?
Yes, you can hide the most common angles, such as 0° and 45°, to make the results easier to read.
How are optimization results organized?
Results are displayed as graphical bars ordered by bar length in descending order. Each bar shows all pieces with their angles, lengths, and descriptions, along with bar-specific statistics such as used length, waste, and offcut.
Are piece proportions shown in real scale?
No, pieces are intentionally drawn wider than in reality to make cut angles and orientation easier to see in the graphical representation.
How can yield be above 100% and waste be negative?
When using symmetrical materials with significant overlapping, the optimizer may achieve negative waste and yield above 100%. This indicates highly efficient nesting rather than an error.
What is the purpose of the Review Stock Quantities section?
This section shows all stock items with their quantities and allows you to quickly exclude stock from optimization or set quantities to unlimited. Unlimited quantity applies only to raw material.
What is Joins Configuration?
Some materials allow stock bars to be joined before cutting to create longer lengths. Joins Configuration lets you define how many joins are allowed and the minimum length of joined pieces after cutting.
What is Reverse Optimization?
Reverse optimization is used when manufacturers can produce custom bar lengths within a specified range. Instead of using predefined stock lengths, the optimizer finds the best custom lengths to achieve maximum material yield. This feature ignores stock and join configurations but respects other material parameters.
How is price calculated in reverse optimization?
Price in reverse optimization is calculated using linear approximation based on the closest configured bar length and its specified price.
What export formats are supported?
Supported export formats are PDF, Excel, CSV, and plain text.
What types of export are available?
You can export a single material or the entire project at once.
What PDF export formats are supported?
There are three PDF formats available: a graphical format matching the UI results (available in A4 and A3), an A3 layout that can be scaled down to A4 for printing when many pieces are present, and a tabular format where pieces are listed one below another.
What does the exported document include when exporting all materials?
The exported document includes the material specification on the first page, followed by optimization results for all materials on subsequent pages.
Can I export material specification only?
Yes, there is an option to export the material specification without optimization results.
What does the exported Excel file look like?
You can choose to export material specifications and all results into a single Excel sheet or split them into multiple sheets, one per material.
I get an error preventing me from exporting all materials. Why?
All materials must be in sync to export the entire project. If any optimization is out of sync, export is disabled.
Why is the predefined material dropdown shown in yellow with a sync button?
This indicates that the predefined material has changed since the optimization was run. The project remains in sync, but you are given the option to review and sync the material configuration to reflect the latest changes.
What happens if I sync the material changes?
Syncing the material changes will put the project out of sync, requiring the optimization to be run again.
Can I delete a predefined material that is used in existing projects?
Yes. When opening affected projects, the Use Preset Material option will be automatically unchecked and the material configuration will be preserved. Before deletion, you will receive a warning that the material is in use.
Pricing & Billing
What subscription plans does Cut Optimizer offer?
Cut Optimizer offers three plans: Starter (free), Core, and Pro. Each plan differs in features and project limits, with Pro providing unlimited projects.
Can I change my subscription plan later?
Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade your subscription at any time. Billing will be adjusted automatically based on your new plan.
Do I need to provide payment information for the free trial?
Yes, payment information is required to start the free trial. If you cancel before the trial ends, you will not be charged.
What payment methods are accepted?
Payments are processed through Paddle and currently support credit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and PayPal where applicable. Additional providers may be added in the future as supported by Paddle.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time with no commitment. You will continue to have access until the end of your current billing period.
How are taxes handled?
Paddle automatically calculates taxes depending on your country. Tax amounts are clearly visible and transparent during checkout. Prices listed on the website are before tax.
Can I get an invoice for my subscription?
Currently, invoice downloading depends on the payment provider. For questions about invoices or past payments, please contact us.
Are there any hidden fees?
No, all fees are transparent. The subscription fee and applicable taxes are clearly displayed during checkout.
Is there a limit on the number of projects per plan?
Yes, the Starter and Core plans have limits on the number of projects you can create, while the Pro plan allows unlimited projects.
How do I update my payment information?
To update billing details or payment information, please contact us for assistance.
Account & Access
Do I need an account to use Cut Optimizer?
Yes, an account is required to save projects, access advanced features, and manage your subscription.
How do I create a new account?
You can create a new account by clicking Sign Up on the main menu and following the registration process. You will need to provide an email and set a password.
Can I log in with multiple devices?
Yes, you can access your account from multiple devices. Your projects and settings will stay synchronized across all devices.
What should I do if I forget my password?
Click the Forgotten Password? link on the login page. You will receive instructions via email to reset your password.
Can I use a third-party login like Google or Microsoft?
Yes, you can sign up and log in using Google or Microsoft accounts. Standard email/password registration is also available.
Can I share my account with others?
No, accounts are per user according to our policy. Each user needs their own subscription and login.
How do I update my email or account details?
Currently, account details cannot be updated directly in the app. Please contact support to update your account information.
How do I delete my account?
If you wish to delete your account, please contact us and we will assist you with the process.
Is my account data secure?
Yes, all user data is stored securely in the cloud with encryption and regular backups to ensure privacy and safety.
Can I recover my account if I lose access to my email?
If you lose access to your email, please contact our support team. They can help verify your identity and restore access to your account.
Technical / Troubleshooting
Why is Cut Optimizer not loading correctly?
If Cut Optimizer isn’t loading, try refreshing your browser or clearing the cache. Ensure you are using a supported browser and that JavaScript is enabled.
Why does my browser show a security warning?
Cut Optimizer uses HTTPS for secure connections. Make sure you are accessing the site through the official URL and that your browser is up to date.
The app is slow or freezing, what can I do?
Performance can vary depending on your device and the size of your project. For better results, close other browser tabs and make sure you are using a modern, up-to-date browser.
Why can’t I save my project?
Make sure you are logged in and that your subscription plan allows saving projects. Check your internet connection and try again.
I am seeing unexpected errors, what should I do?
Try refreshing the page and clearing your browser cache. If the issue persists, contact our support team with a description of the problem.
Can I use Cut Optimizer offline?
No, Cut Optimizer requires an active internet connection to work properly, as all calculations and project storage happen in the cloud.
Why are my projects not syncing across devices?
Projects only sync if you are logged into the same account on all devices and have an active internet connection.
How do I report a bug or issue?
Please contact our support team through the support section, providing details about your device, browser, and steps to reproduce the issue.
Limits & Usage
Is there a limit on the number of projects I can create?
Yes, the number of projects depends on your subscription plan. Starter allows single project, Core allows up to five projects, and Pro allows unlimited projects.
Are there limits on the number of materials per project?
Yes, Starter and Core plans have limits on the number of materials per project, while the Pro plan allows unlimited number of materials.
Are there limits on the number of different stock lengths per bar?
Yes, depending on your plan, you can enter a certain number of different lengths. Starter and Core plans allow only a single standard length per bar, while Pro allows up to 9 standard lengths and 50 leftover lengths. This limit can be increased on demand for specific users.
Can I create very large projects with many items?
Yes, but the number of items is limited by your plan. Starter allows up to 10 items per material, Core up to 100, and Pro up to 10,000, with the possibility to extend for specific users.
What happens if a project exceeds plan limits?
Projects can always be saved, but if they exceed your plan limits, optimization may not run. This can happen if you downgrade your subscription after creating a project. The app validates project limits to prevent entering too many items or lengths beyond your plan.
Can I reuse leftover material from past projects?
Yes, the app allows you to join leftover bars to new projects to maximize material yield.
Can I use cut angles or miter cutting?
Miter cutting is available only in the Pro plan. There are no limits on the number of cut angles, and nesting supports rotating symmetrical materials to maximize material yield.
Are usage limits applied per user or per account?
Usage limits are applied per user. Each user needs their own subscription to access projects and features.
Data & Security
Is my data stored securely?
Yes, all user data is stored securely in the cloud using encryption and regular backups to ensure privacy and protection against data loss.
Who can access my projects and data?
Only you and authorized support staff can access your projects. Accounts are private and not shared between users.
Are backups available in case of data loss?
Yes, projects and user data are regularly backed up to prevent data loss. In case of issues, our support team can help restore your projects.
Is data transferred securely between my device and the server?
Yes, all communication between your device and Cut Optimizer servers uses HTTPS with encryption to protect your data during transfer.
Can other users see my data?
No, your data is private to your account. Each user needs their own subscription and login to access the app.
Does Cut Optimizer comply with data privacy regulations?
Yes, Cut Optimizer follows standard data privacy practices and complies with applicable regulations to ensure your personal information is protected.
Can I request deletion of my data?
Yes, you can contact support to request deletion of your account and all associated data.
Is my login information stored securely?
Yes, passwords are securely hashed and stored following industry best practices to ensure your account remains safe.
How long is my project data retained?
Project data is retained as long as your account is active. If you delete your account or request data removal, all associated projects are permanently deleted.
Where is my data stored?
All project and account data is securely stored in a data center in San Francisco, United States. Your data is protected with strict security measures and regular backups.