Quick Start


The quickest way to get started is by diving into one of our pre-configured Demo projects. Each project is fully set up, allowing you to simply select one and initiate the optimization process immediately. You can access these Demo projects either from the dashboard page or through a dropdown menu on the optimization page. This streamlined approach ensures you can effortlessly explore and utilize our software's capabilities right from the start.

Notice: To go through the Quick Start example, please apply for our 7-day free trial. This will provide you with full access to all features necessary to complete the example.

Try Basic Start Trial
Step 1

Configuration


Specify material properties:

  • Material: A label that best describes this material.
  • Bar Lengths: The lengths of raw material bars provided by the manufacturer from which pieces will be cut. One or more lengths can be specified, and if there are multiple lengths, they are separated by a slash (/). For example, "3000/6000" indicates that bars of 3000mm and 6000mm lengths are available for cutting.
  • Saw Blade Width: When cutting one-dimensional materials (like metal rods, wooden planks, or plastic pipes), the width of the saw blade, known as the kerf, must be considered. This kerf results in material loss, which is the waste generated during the cutting process. Accounting for this waste is crucial to ensure that the desired number of cut pieces can be accurately cut from a single bar or length of material.
  • Front & Tail Offcut: The portions of material that need to be removed from both ends of a bar. This is done to account for potential damage, meet the requirements of the cutting machine, or to ensure a clean and precise cut. These offcuts are typically considered waste and should be factored into the overall material planning and cutting process.
  • Miter Tip Offset: The additional length needed between two miter cuts to ensure a clear and precise cut. This offset accounts for the angular nature of miter cuts, requiring extra material to achieve the desired cut quality and accuracy.
  • Width: The width of the material, which is used to calculate waste, overlap between cut pieces for miter cuts, and the total piece length needed during optimization. Input lengths are always measured over the top edge, and for miter cuts, the total length may differ from the input length depending on the cutting angles.
  • Reusable: The minimum length of leftover material that can potentially be used in other projects as scrap material. This parameter influences two measures of overall yield:
    • Utilization: Excludes leftovers longer than the reusable length from being considered waste.
    • Pessimistic Utilization: Counts all leftovers as waste, regardless of their length.
  • Symmetrical: Indicates that the material is symmetrical, allowing the optimizer to rotate cut pieces in order to find the best fit.
  • First Bar Price: When multiple raw material lengths are specified, this is the price of the first specified bar. The price of other bars is calculated based on their length, assuming a linear relationship between length and price. When a single raw material length is specified, the price is simply the given price for that length.
  • Note: Any additional information related to this material.
  • Units: Choose between millimeters, inches, or feet. All input lengths (configuration, stock, and cut pieces) will use the selected unit uniformly. With millimeters (mm), only integer and decimal inputs are allowed. With inches and feet, integer, decimal, and fractional inputs are allowed.
Step 2

Cut Pieces

  • Len (Piece Length): The length of the cut piece. For miter cutting, the length is measured over the top edge.
  • Qty (Quantity): The number of cut pieces.
  • Descr (Description): An optional field used to identify the position of the cut piece on a drawing or provide any additional details.
  • Left Angle: The cutting angle on the left side of the cut piece. Angles are always displayed as positive numbers with a maximum precision of one decimal place. A graphical sign indicates the direction of the cut. Zero degrees means a straight cut.
  • Right Angle: The cutting angle on the right side of the cut piece. Angles are always displayed as positive numbers with a maximum precision of one decimal place. A graphical sign indicates the direction of the cut. Zero degrees means a straight cut.
Step 3

Optimization Results

Upon pressing Run and completing the optimization process, our cutting optimization software provides a detailed and intuitive output that helps you understand and implement the most efficient cutting plans. Here's what you can expect:

Cutting Scheme

The cutting scheme is a visual representation of how your materials should be cut to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. It shows the arrangement of cut pieces on each bar, allowing you to see the precise cutting order and layout at a glance.

Key Statistics

Alongside the visual cutting scheme, you will receive valuable statistics to further enhance your planning and decision-making:

  • Utilization: Measures how effectively the material is used, showing the percentage of the material that becomes part of the final cut pieces compared to the total available material.
  • Number of Bars Required: Indicates the total number of bars needed to fulfill your cutting plan.
  • Number of Bars to Order: Provides a recommendation for the number of bars to order, considering current stock quantities.
  • Number of Input and Output Cut Pieces: Displays the count of original planned cuts versus the actual cuts made, helping you track accuracy.
  • Calculated Cost: Offers an estimated cost based on the material used, cutting operations, and waste management, enabling better budgeting and cost control.

This section is designed to give you a quick overview of what to expect from the optimization output. For a deeper understanding of each component, please refer to the detailed pages dedicated to each topic.