Help for a Non-CAD person?

I figured this would be the best place for me to turn for an answer...

I have a one time project where I have to cut a bunch of various sized smaller rectangles from a large rectangle...

Is there an _EASY_ way to input my sizes to plot the cuts to minimize waste and determine how many large rectangles I'll need?

I can even supply the smaller sized measurements if someone wants to step up and amaze me with their CAD prowess! :wink:

Thanks in advance.

YASMAR

do you have access to AutoCAD or another CAD package?

You could draw the large rectangle that represents the size of paper the smaller rectangles would be cut from. Then you would draw each of the smaller rectangles. These would be moved around (possibly rotated) within the larger rectangle until they fit and/or all the smaller rectangles are accounted for. At that point the "drawing" would be sent to the printer or plotter of your choice.

what is the relationship between these rectangles?

you may be able to draw just one of those rectangles then use the OFFSET command to create larger/smaller ones if they are to be embedded within each other and of suitable sizes

If you google "free nesting software" yu find a lot, this one was on the top of the list:

http://www.optimizecutter.com/product-glass-cutting-software.html

The free versions are often just for rectangular shapes while we have to pay for software to nest all kinds of shapes.

What I'm doing is insulating my bunk house at camp with rigid foam insulation. I'm taking 4'x8' sheets and cutting pieces to fit into the cavities between the studs.

I was hoping for something that I could just input the sizes and it would lay out the cuts to minimize waste...it's not that big a deal, it's only a few sheets. but, as always, I like to use technology to make things as complicated as possible!

Here's a simple solution: grid paper and a pencil. Works like a charm, under any conditions, and is as "green" a technology as you are going to find.

Oh, I know...the grid paper route is where I'll end up. I'm not interested in it being "green", hell, the larger my "carbon footprint" the happier I am.

What I usually do when I don't know the answer to a question is to turn to the experts, and forums like this one is usually where they are found.

Raggi-Thor...that program just may be it! Now I have to learn how to use it!

Yasmar...off to sharpen his pencil

If you google "free nesting software" yu find a lot,

+1

Get some nesting software as Raggi_Thor suggests. You just enter the sizes of your parts in one column and the sizes of your stock material in another column, much like a spreadsheet. The software will generate a sketch with the parts nested onto the stock material with the least amount of waste. No CAD software required! Easy peasy!!

Nesting software free trial (unlimited time but no printing option):

http://www.optimizecutter.com/download.html