Documentation
Run your first nest in under five minutes.
Sheet setup, DXF import, optimization settings and exports — the whole workflow explained.
Getting started
Create an account, then open the nesting workspace. Everything runs in your browser — there is nothing to install and no licence key to manage.
A job has three parts: the sheet you are cutting from, the parts you want to nest, and the optimization settings. Set the sheet first, add parts, then run.
Defining the sheet
Enter sheet width and height in millimetres, plus the margin you want to keep clear at the edges. Margin protects clamps, edge damage and thermal distortion zones.
Set the spacing (kerf allowance) between parts to at least the width of your cutting beam plus any heat-affected zone you want to avoid.
Your plan sets the maximum sheet dimensions and how many sheets a single job may span.
Adding parts
Add primitive shapes directly, or upload a DXF exported from your CAD system. Polylines, arcs, circles and splines are converted into nestable outlines.
Make sure outlines are closed and in the correct units before exporting from CAD — open contours and duplicate edges are the two most common causes of a bad import.
Set a quantity per part. The nester treats each copy independently, so mixed quantities nest naturally.
Optimization settings
Greedy mode places parts in a single fast pass — good for a quick check. Genetic mode (paid plans) searches many orderings and rotations and typically recovers several percent more material.
The rotation step controls how many orientations each part may try. A smaller step finds tighter layouts but takes longer; your plan sets the smallest step available.
Utilization, sheets used and waste area are reported after every run so you can compare configurations.
Exporting results
Export the layout as SVG for import into your CAM software or laser controller. Free-tier exports carry a watermark; all paid plans export clean files.
Pro plans can also export a cut-list report with quantities, sheet assignment and remaining offcut area — useful for quoting and for the shop floor.
Troubleshooting
Parts not placing: the part may be larger than the usable sheet area once margin and spacing are applied. Reduce spacing or increase sheet size.
DXF imports as nothing: the file likely contains only open contours, or uses inches while the workspace expects millimetres.
Run feels slow: reduce the rotation step or the number of sheets. Genetic mode with a 1° step on hundreds of parts is intentionally exhaustive.
Still stuck? Contact us and describe the job — including sheet size and part count.
Get started