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CutOptim

Woodworking
cutting optimizer

Oak, pine, plywood, MDF — reduce waste and maximize yield on every woodworking project.

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Why do woodworkers waste 15–25% of material?

Woodworkers typically waste 15–25% of material due to suboptimal cutting plans. On a 50 m² furniture project, that means up to 12 m² of wasted material — money straight from your pocket.

How can you cut wood waste to under 10%?

Our algorithm accounts for grain direction, blade kerf, and available stock sizes. 2D panel optimization with guillotine cuts ensures every plan is immediately executable in the workshop.

Industry at a glance

15–25%
Average material waste in woodworking
FAO Forestry Statistics
Up to 70%
Potential waste reduction with optimization
CutOptim user data
53 million m³
EU wood-based panel production (2023)
European Panel Federation
€25–60 per sheet
Average plywood sheet cost (Europe)
Industry average
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Grain direction

Decide per-part whether rotation is allowed. Essential for oak and walnut veneers.

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Offcut inventory

Store usable offcuts and automatically reuse them in the next project.

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PDF cutting plan

Printable, workshop-ready cutting plan with a single click.

Common use cases

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

Kitchen cabinets

Optimizing melamine-faced MDF panels for upper and lower cabinets, drawer fronts, and shelves. Grain direction matters for visible surfaces.

MATERIALMelamine MDF 2800×2070mm, 18mm thick
SAVINGSSave 1–2 sheets per kitchen ($50–120)

Shelving systems

Cutting plywood for adjustable shelving units and bookcases. Multiple identical parts make optimization especially effective.

MATERIALBirch plywood 2500×1250mm, 18mm thick
SAVINGSReduce waste from 20% to under 8%

Flooring installation

Solid hardwood or engineered boards for floor fitting. 1D optimization along the length with stagger patterns.

MATERIALOak boards, various lengths 1800–3600mm
SAVINGSSave 10–15% on flooring material

Built-in wardrobes

Complex projects with 40–50 parts: sides, tops, bottoms, dividers, and back panels. CSV import from design software is essential.

MATERIALLaminated chipboard 2800×2070mm, 18mm
SAVINGSCut planning time from 1 hour to 30 seconds
📊 Real example: Kitchen cabinet project

A joiner cuts 23 different-sized pieces from 18mm plywood for kitchen cabinets, using 2800×2070mm stock sheets.

Before
Manual planning5 sheets needed
Waste22%
Planning time45 minutes
After
CutOptim4 sheets sufficient
Waste8%
Planning time30 seconds

Common woodworking materials

MaterialStandard sizesKerfTip
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard)2800×2070, 2440×1220, 3050×1220 mm3.0–3.5 mm (circular saw)No grain direction — rotation always allowed for maximum yield
Plywood (Birch/Pine)2500×1250, 2440×1220, 1525×1525 mm3.0–3.5 mmFace grain runs along the length — set rotation constraints per part
Melamine-faced chipboard2800×2070, 2620×2070 mm3.5–4.0 mm (scoring saw)Edge banding adds 1–2mm per sided edge — account in part dimensions
Solid hardwood (Oak, Walnut)Boards: 2000–3000mm × 100–300mm wide2.5–3.5 mmUse 1D mode for board optimization along the length
2D panel guillotine cutting
Grain direction per part
Plywood, MDF, solid wood
Offcut inventory
CSV parts list import
PDF & SVG export
Engine API

Automate it — the Engine API

Panel cutting is a 2D problem, and the same engine that runs here in your browser is available over HTTP. Your software sends the parts and the sheet stock as JSON and gets back the full layout, the guillotine cut plan and the yield — and, if you ask, an SVG or DXF of the drawing inline in the response.

  • The cut plan is a real guillotine sequence — executable on a panel saw, not just a picture.
  • Ask for include: ["svg","dxf"] and the drawing comes back inline — no storage, no second call.
  • Deterministic: the same request always returns the same layout, so quotes and re-orders are reproducible.
POST /v1/optimize/2d
POST /v1/optimize/2d
{
  "parts": [{ "w": 600, "h": 400, "qty": 8 }],
  "stock": [{ "w": 2440, "h": 1220, "qty": 20 }],
  "options": { "kerf": 3 },
  "include": ["svg"]
}

Frequently asked questions

How does CutOptim handle grain direction in woodworking?+
You can set grain direction per individual part. When a part is marked as "no rotation", the optimizer will only place it in its original orientation, ensuring wood grain alignment on visible furniture surfaces.
What kerf value should I use for my table saw?+
Standard circular saw blades typically have a kerf of 3.0–3.5mm. Thin-kerf blades are 2.2–2.5mm. CNC routers with straight bits usually have 6–8mm kerf. Always measure your actual blade width for accurate results.
Can I reuse leftover material from previous projects?+
Yes. CutOptim's offcut inventory lets you store usable remnants with their exact dimensions. On the next project, add them as additional stock sheets alongside new full-size sheets for optimal utilization.
How do I import my parts list from a design program?+
Export your parts list as a CSV file with columns for width, height, quantity, and optionally a label and grain direction. CutOptim accepts CSV imports directly — no manual data entry needed.
What is guillotine cutting and why does it matter?+
Guillotine cutting means every cut runs completely from one edge of the sheet to the other. This is how real workshop saws operate — you cannot cut a shape out of the middle of a panel. CutOptim ensures all plans are guillotine-compatible and workshop-ready.
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