Has anyone used software to help get the most out a sheet of plywood? I can kind of do this with using the "colorforms" method. Rather try with software. Thanks
sheet goods software
Nov 15, 2007
23 Replies
I use TurboCad for this. You can also use Photoshop.
Cut List Plus -
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has a demo version that lets you specify the upto 5 shapes at a time I used it to cut the panels to make my a set of kitchen cabinets. I like it. There is another called Sheet layout 9 -
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I have looked at it only briefly and have not spent enough time to form an opinion. Matt
A free, no frills, CutList program is available at
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no.spam. to email
goaway wrote:
Tried several and settled on the "Sheet Cutting Suite" from these folks:
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free version is full featured except that the layouts cannot be printed. No real hindrance for hobby type work, but would be a pain to use in a production shop. I like the ability to import profiles and nest non-rectangular parts. Works just as well for board stock as it does for sheet stock (Just treat the board as if it were a sheet).
Tom Veatch Wichita, KS USA
I used the Sheet Layout from Drummond - freeware version and later an evaluation version. It allowed me to determine how best to use a sheet of plywood to get the most out of a sheet. Worked fine for me.
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Wed, Nov 14, 2007, 8:24pm snipped-for-privacy@optonline.net (goaway) doth queryeth: Has anyone used software to help get the most out a sheet of plywood? I can kind of do this with using the "colorforms" method. Rather try with software. Thanks
Just my brain. Works just fine. My dau-in-law got me to make some of those pukey white yard art reindeer for her. Copied some pictures off the web, figured out the scale using my trusty engineer ruler, and
1/4" graph paper, and sketched them out on the graph paper. Made an extra copy of everything, cut 'em out, laid 'em out on a page of graph paper, moved them around until I optimized the cut pattern. No prob. I sincerely doubt I'd use computer software for anything, worked with computers for years, and for me, that'd turn something fun nto work. I'd rather just figure it all out my self. Only took me about 3-4 hours as it was.JOAT The whole of life is a learning process.
- John Keel
LOL, I am working on a project, well 2 identical projects that have 240 pieces total and 28 different sized pieces. Would you like to graph that out for me? It all needs to come out of 12, 1x6x10' and a 5'x5' piece of Baltic Birch. This is where Cutlist Plus shines. ;~)
pictures
prob. I
I'm with you except I like 8x8 paper.
For a one off job, takes more time to learn the software, then load the data, than it does to sketch out the job and get busy with the scissors.
Lew
Awh, and like it takes no time to learn to use those "scissors". ;~)
DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT RUN WITH SCISSORS!
Learn it once, you never forget.
Just like a slide rule or a bicycle.
Lew
They don't let me have the pointy ones.
Lew
Fri, Nov 16, 2007, 12:50am (EST+5) snipped-for-privacy@swbell.net (Leon) doth sayeth: LOL, I am working on a project, well 2 identical projects that have 240 pieces total and 28 different sized pieces. Would you like to graph that out for me? It all needs to come out of 12, 1x6x10' and a 5'x5' piece of Baltic Birch. This is where Cutlist Plus shines. ;~)
Hey, no prob. Send the plywood, and I'll take care of it.
Cutlist Plus. Electric sissors, right?
JOAT The whole of life is a learning process.
- John Keel
Thu, Nov 15, 2007, 5:37pm (EST-3) snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net (Lew=A0Hodgett) doth sayeth: I'm with you except I like 8x8 paper. For a one off job, takes more time to learn the software, then load the data, than it does to sketch out the job and get busy with the scissors.
Actually that was the first time I've used graph paper in I don't know how long. Most stuff I just design in my head, with "maybe" a rough sketch or two, and a batch of measurements. Works so far.
JOAT The whole of life is a learning process.
- John Keel
Cutlist is my vote. But if you like graph paper. Here is a link to print may types of graph paper on your printer (even customizable):
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Count me in for Cutlist Plus.
It'll even make part labels. The program knows which way the grain runs, or that it doesn't matter, you can choose either for each material and part. It can keep track of offcuts and partial sheets and use them first.
I also find the program extremely useful for trim and molding. Put in the parts, and you can play "what-if?" with different selections of lengths. This is useful both for creating an order, and when the supplier delivers a different make-up of lengths.
Try it free @ cutlistplus.com. The free version allows something like 25 parts, and as far as I remember is fully functional, except for a few features unlikely to be of interest to a casual woodworker.
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Is CutList Plus available for the Mac?
Sorry, but CutList Plus is only available for Windows XP and later.
Not worth it to me to have to use windoze.
BadAndy
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