Sheet Nesting — Layout OptimizerFREE
Drop in your SVG cut files, set your sheet size and spacing. Get an optimized nested layout that minimizes material waste — download one SVG per sheet.
Frequently asked questions
What algorithm does the nesting use?
First-Fit Decreasing (FFD) shelf packing — parts are sorted by area (largest first), then placed on the leftmost available position on an existing shelf. If no shelf has room, a new shelf is opened. If the sheet is full, a new sheet starts. This is a proven heuristic that runs instantly in the browser and typically achieves 70–90% utilisation on rectangular parts.
Why is my utilisation low?
Bounding-box packing treats each part as its rectangle — irregular shapes with cutouts leave wasted space inside their bounding box. Enabling rotation often helps significantly. For very irregular parts, professional nesting software (DeepNest, SVGNest) uses polygon no-fit algorithms for tighter packing.
Can I nest parts with holes or irregular shapes?
Yes — the tool embeds your SVG content exactly as-is. The nesting algorithm uses the bounding box for placement, so the actual cut geometry is preserved. Spacing accounts for kerf and part separation.
How does spacing relate to kerf?
Set spacing to at least your kerf width (typically 0.1–0.3mm for diode lasers, 0.2–0.5mm for CO₂). A value of 2mm gives comfortable clearance and room for the cut path. For tight material budgets try 1mm.
Do the downloaded SVGs import at the right size?
Yes — each sheet SVG has width and height in mm and a matching viewBox. LightBurn, xTool Creative Space, Inkscape, and most laser software will import it at the correct physical size automatically.
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