Metal fabrication
cutting optimizer
Steel sheets, aluminum profiles, copper tubing — 1D and 2D optimization for metal fabrication.
Start optimizingWhy is metal fabrication waste so expensive?
Metal stock is expensive, and recycling waste is costly too. Both 1D optimization for profiles and tubes, and 2D optimization for sheets are critical for cost-effective production.
How does dual-mode optimization save metal?
CutOptim handles both 1D (profiles, tubes, bars) and 2D (sheets, plates) optimization simultaneously. Manage multiple material types in a single project.
Industry at a glance
1D + 2D combined
Profiles and sheets in one project — no need for two software tools.
Cutting sequence
Precise cutting order and waste list for 1D optimization.
Cost calculation
Real-time material cost estimation per m² or linear meter.
Common use cases
Real-world scenarios where cutting optimization makes the biggest difference.
Sheet metal parts
Cutting brackets, panels, and enclosures from mild steel or stainless steel sheet. 2D optimization reduces the number of sheets needed.
Structural profiles
1D optimization for cutting steel tubes, angle iron, and C-profiles to length. Batch cutting of fence posts, framework, and support beams.
Roofing & cladding
Trapezoidal sheet and standing seam panels cut from coils or stock lengths. 1D optimization minimizes off-cuts.
Aluminum fabrication
Window frames, curtain walls, and decorative panels from aluminum sheets and extrusions. Both 1D profiles and 2D sheets in one project.
A metalworker fabricates railings from 40×20mm rectangular tubing and 2mm steel sheet. 15 profile lengths + 8 sheet pieces.
Common metal materials
| Material | Standard sizes | Kerf | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild steel sheet (S235/S275) | 2000×1000, 2500×1250, 3000×1500 mm | 1.5–3.0mm (saw), 0.2mm (laser) | Choose kerf based on cutting method: saw, plasma, or laser |
| Stainless steel sheet (304/316) | 2000×1000, 2500×1250 mm | 0.2–0.5mm (laser), 2.0mm (plasma) | Stainless is 3–5× more expensive — optimization has high ROI |
| Aluminum sheet (5052/6061) | 2000×1000, 2500×1250 mm | 0.2mm (laser), 3.0mm (saw) | Lightweight but costly — offcut management is essential |
| Steel profiles (tubes, angles) | Standard lengths: 6000, 6500, 12000 mm | 1.5–3.0mm (bandsaw/cold saw) | Use 1D mode for all linear profile cutting |
Automate it — the Engine API
Cutting steel bars, aluminium profiles and tube is a 1D problem, and the same engine that runs here in your browser is available over HTTP. Your ERP or estimating software sends the bar list and the stock lengths as JSON, and gets back the optimized cut plan — bar count, yield and total length sawn — with no browser and no clicks.
- ✓Deterministic — the same request always returns the same cut plan, so quotes and audits are reproducible.
- ✓Free validation: POST /v1/validate/1d checks a job with no key and no quota.
- ✓Attach a meta object (your article number, order line) and it comes back on every placed cut.
- ✓Cutting irregular shapes on laser, plasma or waterjet? True-shape nesting is a separate endpoint — POST /v1/optimize/nest — packing arbitrary polygons into each other’s pockets. See the sheet-metal nesting API on the Engine hub.
POST /v1/optimize/1d
{
"parts": [
{ "length": 1200, "qty": 8, "meta": { "sku": "RHS-40x20" } },
{ "length": 2450, "qty": 4 }
],
"stock": [{ "length": 6000, "qty": 50, "price": 18.4 }],
"options": { "kerf": 3 }
}