Cutting list optimisation software

[Welderpaul]

I'm trying to sort myself some software which helps with cutting lists.....
Tell it how many lengths of whatever you require cutting, lengths available, how many to be cut etc, and it works it all out for you. With some of the big section that is Lots £/m i want to be sure we are getting the best out of each length.
Also works for plate/sheet - although the ones i have had a mess around with are not too good as it won't acknowledge that stuff is cut on a guillotine and therefore every cut has to be straight across the sheet.

There's a few trial versions that are good at crashing my computer. Can anyone recommend? Free would be good of course, but i realise not eveything in life is free

 

[astro_al]

Paul. I'm only aware of software that tessellates multiple objects for plasma / laser cutting of a sheet (but I'm by no means an expert!)

If its just for calculating how to cut lengths of bar / angle / flat / whatever it seems like it'd be pretty easy to write a tool in excel to do that.

All it needs is a list of what you've got (so probably a table of standard stock sizes with adjacent cells containing the quantity in stock, and a list of what you need on another sheet.

Cutting lengths efficiently is much easier to calculate than cutting multiple shapes arranged on a sheet.

...but ignore all that as someone will be along to tell you about a great free piece of software in a tick...

Cheers, Al.

 

[Drains]

Yo boys. Al, I think the pallet turned up today but I'm not there till the 'morra, will let you know.
Paul, Excel is indeed an obvious start but it won't work out the most efficient/ least waste options. It wouldn't be too hard to write a script that shuffles through the various configurations till it finds the best one. About 25 years ago I'd have cracked one off in Basic for you. Wouldn't know where to start now

 

[bigbadbugga]

just looked on the app store (apple)

there is an app called 'cutter list' for cutting rectangles from flat sheets, its £33.50.

there might be a similar app for android or windows too.

 

[Shedendman]

i use this for sheet cutting
http://maxcut.soft32.com/
you can figure it for both wood and metal,also its free,easy to use

 

[Shedendman]

i use this for sheet cutting
http://maxcut.soft32.com/
you can figure it for both wood and metal,also its free,easy to use

Opps perhaps that might be a bit to basic for your needs WP

 

[alanrob]

I wrote one in access years ago, its realtivly simple.
If i remember rightly it starts with the longest lengths and then works out what else fits in the leftovers. It depends how complicated you want to get.

I will have a look and see if I can find it.

 

[astro_al]

Exactly, for a 1 dimensional problem it is quite straightforward.

Al.

 

[Welderpaul]

After downloading a few junk trial versions, found this which seems to do thetrick, quite basic but enough to tell us what bits need cutting from what lengths. Handy when there is a few tonne to chop up and mistakes are costly.
Set it up to give me some post lengths out of stainless tube, quite handy.

 

[astro_al]

Cool, is that downloadable? If so, what is it?

Al

 

[Welderpaul]

Cutting Optimisation Pro. Downloadable and free for 45 days. About 60 quid to upgrade to full version, Demo version fully functions, can print etc.