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CutOptim

Glass cutting
optimization software

Float glass, tempered glass, mirrors, laminated glass — precise cutting plans with minimal waste, free and in your browser.

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In short

CutOptim is glass cutting optimization software that runs in your browser and plans every pane as a straight edge-to-edge cut. Mixing pane sizes on each sheet leaves less glass over, kerf can be set to 0 mm for score-and-snap, and rotation can be locked on coated or patterned panes.

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Why is glass cutting waste so costly?

Glass is expensive, and every sheet you open is also one more sheet to handle, store and risk breaking. When panes are cut one size at a time, the leftovers are strips nobody can reuse; mixing sizes on each sheet is what saves glass, and it is exactly the arithmetic that is hard to do by hand.

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How does CutOptim minimize glass waste?

CutOptim is glass cutting optimization software that runs in the browser — nothing to install, and no account needed to try it. Its guillotine cutting algorithm ensures every cut runs in a straight line from edge to edge, exactly as glass cutting physically requires, and kerf can be set to 0 mm for score-and-snap work. For glass processors and glaziers it covers the cutting step of glass processing: the pane list goes in, a cut plan per stock sheet — split sizes or 6000×3210 jumbos — comes out.

Industry at a glance

6000×3210 and 3210×2250 mm
Common float glass sheet sizes (jumbo and split)
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Guillotine cuts

Only straight, through-cuts — the only physically possible method for glass.

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Zero kerf

Set 0mm blade kerf for score-and-snap glass cutting.

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Visual verification

SVG visualization for every stock sheet — see the cutting plan instantly.

How does it work?

  1. 1

    List the panes and the sheets

    Enter the pane sizes and quantities and the float glass sheet size, or import the list from CSV. Set kerf to 0 mm for score-and-snap.

  2. 2

    Run the optimizer

    Panes of different sizes are mixed on each sheet, every cut running edge to edge. Lock rotation on panes with a coating or pattern direction.

  3. 3

    Cut and keep the remainder

    Print the plan for the cutting table and save usable offcuts to the inventory, so the next job places panes on them before it opens a new sheet.

Common use cases

Real-world scenarios where cutting optimization makes the biggest difference.

Window panels

Cutting IGU (Insulated Glass Unit) panes for residential and commercial windows. Multiple identical sizes grouped for batch processing.

MaterialFloat glass 3210×2250mm, 4–6mm thick
TipMix pane sizes on every sheet instead of cutting size by size

Shower enclosures

Custom shower screens require precise dimensions. Tempered glass cannot be cut after treatment — optimize before tempering.

MaterialClear float 3210×2250mm, 8–10mm (pre-tempering)
TipPlan the whole batch before tempering, when cutting is still possible

Mirrors

Bathroom mirrors, wardrobe doors, and decorative mirrors from mirrored float glass. Standard sheet sizes vary by supplier.

MaterialSilver-coated float 2550×1605mm, 4mm thick
TipLock rotation on panes whose coating or pattern has a direction

Glass railings & balustrades

Structural glass balustrades for balconies and staircases. Exact tolerances required for hardware fittings.

MaterialLaminated safety glass 3210×2250mm, 10+10mm
TipSet a small kerf for laminated glass and keep usable offcuts in the inventory
📊 Measured example: office glass partitions

An office fit-out needs 32 panes in 6 sizes (partition panels 1000×2100 and 900×2100, side lights 450×2100, upper glazing 1200×1000, cabinet and shelf glass) cut from 3210×2250 float glass before tempering, kerf 0 mm. "Before" is the same job cut one size at a time; "After" is CutOptim mixing the sizes on each sheet. Both results come from the optimizer itself.

Before
Cut one size at a time9 sheets
Glass used by the panes62.4%
Glass area of the panes40.56 m²
After
CutOptim, sizes mixed7 sheets
Glass used by the panes80.2%
Area lower bound (no plan can use fewer)6 sheets

One job, not an average. Measured results across many jobs:Benchmarks

Common glass types and sizes

MaterialStandard sizesKerfTip
Float glass (clear)3210×2250, 3210×2550, 6000×3210 mm0 mm (score-and-snap)Set kerf to 0mm — glass is scored and snapped, not sawed
Tempered (toughened) glassCut from float BEFORE tempering0 mmCannot be cut after tempering — optimize and cut from float first
Laminated glass3210×2250, 3210×2550 mm2–3 mm (diamond wheel)Laminated glass requires diamond wheel cutting — set appropriate kerf
Mirror glass2550×1605, 3210×2250 mm0 mmCut from the glass side (not mirror side). Score-and-snap method.
✓Guillotine-only cutting plans
✓Zero kerf setting
✓Per-pane rotation lock (coating direction)
✓Offcut inventory
✓Cost estimation
✓PDF, CSV and DXF export

What does CutOptim not do?

  • Rectangular panes get a guillotine plan. Shaped panes belong to the Nesting mode, and drilling, notching and polishing are not part of the plan.
  • Tempering, lamination and coatings are your rules: thickness is a separate run, and a tempering or polishing allowance goes into the pane sizes you enter.
  • The plan is for the cutting table, not a machine program: DXF holds the outlines, with no toolpaths or G-code.
Engine API

Automate it — the Engine API

Glass is scored and snapped edge to edge — a 2D guillotine problem the engine solves exactly, and the same engine is available over HTTP. Your software sends the panels and the stock sheets as JSON and gets back a guillotine-valid cut plan, the yield, and an inline SVG drawing for the cutting table.

  • ✓Every plan is guillotine-valid — the straight edge-to-edge cuts a glass table can actually make.
  • ✓Ask for include: ["svg"] and the layout comes back as a drawing inline in the response.
  • ✓Free validation: POST /v1/validate/2d checks a job with no key and no quota.
Engine API reference →Glass cutting API →See the Engine API
POST /v1/optimize/2d
POST /v1/optimize/2d
{
  "parts": [{ "w": 800, "h": 600, "qty": 6 }],
  "stock": [{ "w": 3210, "h": 2250, "qty": 10 }],
  "options": { "kerf": 0 },
  "include": ["svg"]
}

Frequently asked questions

Why should I set kerf to 0mm for glass cutting?+
Unlike wood or metal, glass is cut by scoring a line on the surface and then snapping along that line. There is no material removed during the cut, so the blade kerf (cut width) is effectively 0mm.
Can CutOptim handle tempered glass projects?+
Yes, but remember that tempered glass must be cut from float glass BEFORE the tempering process. Use CutOptim to optimize the cutting plan from raw float glass stock sheets, then send the cut pieces for tempering.
How do I handle different glass thicknesses in one project?+
Create separate optimization runs for each thickness. CutOptim supports saving multiple cuts within a single project, each with its own stock size and settings.
Does CutOptim account for edge polishing?+
Edge polishing typically removes 1–2mm per edge. If your glass pieces require polished edges, add this allowance to each part dimension before optimization.
What is the minimum practical glass piece size?+
It depends on the glass thickness and on your cutting table, so there is no single number. Set the minimum offcut size in CutOptim to the smallest piece your shop can safely snap and reuse, and smaller leftovers are treated as waste rather than kept.
What is the best free glass cutting software?+
For rectangular panes, look for three things: guillotine-only plans (every cut edge to edge, as a glass table works), a 0 mm kerf setting for score-and-snap, and a per-pane rotation lock for coated or patterned glass. CutOptim has all three, runs free in the browser, and does not limit how many panes a job contains; the free plan is limited by the number of optimizations per month.
Do I need to download glass optimization software?+
No. CutOptim runs in any browser on Windows, Mac, Linux or a tablet, and can also be installed from the browser as an app so it opens like a program. It is not a native Windows program, so if your cutting table PC must work without a browser, a desktop tool is the better fit.
Can it keep the coating direction of Low-E or mirror glass?+
Yes. Untick rotation on the panes whose coating, pattern or wire direction must stay as ordered, and the optimizer turns only the panes that are allowed to rotate.
Can I reuse glass offcuts?+
Yes. Save usable offcuts to the offcut inventory with a free account and add them back as stock for the next job, so the optimizer places panes on them before opening a new sheet.
Is there an API for glass cutting optimization?+
Yes. If you want your own quoting or production software to produce the cut plan, the same engine is available over HTTP — see the glass cutting API page.
Is CutOptim glass processing software for fabricators?+
It covers the cutting step of glass processing: you enter the panes and the stock sheets, and it returns a guillotine cut plan per sheet with a PDF, CSV or DXF export and an offcut inventory. It does not manage orders, schedule tempering or drive a cutting table directly, so a processor uses it next to their order system or calls the same engine through the API.
Can it optimize jumbo glass sheets (6000 × 3210 mm)?+
Yes — enter the jumbo as a stock sheet like any other size. In a measured job of 60 window and door panes (83.6 m² of glass, kerf 0), CutOptim fitted everything on 5 jumbo sheets, which is the area minimum, using 86.8% of the glass; cutting the same panes one size at a time took 8 jumbos. On 3210 × 2250 split sizes the same job needed 14 sheets at 82.7%.

Related

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2 free runs without an account, then 3 a month with a free account

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