Venture Lab

Linear stock cut-list planner

Group cuts into lengths of stock, account for saw kerf, and see a practical plan with less waste.

Preparing the workspace…

Stock & setup

1D planner

Use equal stock lengths with squared ends. Kerf is material lost per cut. Unit changes convert entered dimensions.

Import a parts CSV

Headers: Label, Length, Quantity. Length is required; quantity defaults to 1. Imported lengths use the selected unit. Import replaces the current parts list.

Required parts

UP TO 1,000 PIECES
THE CUTTING PLAN

Cutting plan

No cutting plan yet

Enter stock, kerf and parts, then build the plan.

Cutting method & allowances

Cut order

Parts run left to right, longest first into the first stock with room. Each separating cut uses kerf; a piece ending exactly at the stock end needs no final cut.

Measure the actual usable stock

Subtract end trim and unusable sections. Check grain, miters and clamp clearance before cutting.

Lengths, not sheets

Use one stock size and material. Mixed stock and 2D panels are not modeled.

Check a simple case

From 100 cm stock with 0.3 cm kerf, a 60 cm part leaves 39.7 cm. A 39.7 cm part then fits exactly. Two 50 cm pieces do not fit together because their separating cut consumes material.

Export the cut list before clearing browser data.

How to use

Enter your stock length, kerf and requested cuts. Review the heuristic arrangement and print a cut sheet.

What to check

One-dimensional stock only. The heuristic is not guaranteed globally optimal and does not plan sheet goods, defects or structural suitability.

How the cut list optimizer accounts for saw kerf

Enter the usable length of equal-sized stock, the blade’s kerf and the length and quantity of each required part. The planner expands quantities, sorts parts longest first, and puts each part on the first stock length with enough remaining space. It opens another length when necessary.

Worked calculation: three parts from one length

With 2400 mm stock, a 3 mm kerf, and parts of 1100, 650 and 600 mm, the plan uses one stock length. After each part, 3 mm is consumed by the cut. The remaining offcut is 2400 − 2350 − 9 = 41 mm.

One stock length, three parts and an offcutA 2400 mm stock length contains parts of 1100, 650 and 600 mm, three 3 mm kerfs, and a 41 mm offcut. All segment widths use the same scale.2400 mm stock 1100650600 41
Worked layout in millimeters: 2350 mm of parts + 9 mm of kerf + 41 mm of offcut = 2400 mm. These figures do not fill the tool.

Part utilization is 2350 ÷ 2400 × 100 = 97.92%. Kerf is lost material; the 41 mm offcut remains separate. The CSV identifies each part’s start position along its stock length and the kerf after it.

Check the plan against the material

Use consistent units and usable lengths after any end trimming. The diagram does not inspect defects, grain, clamping needs or structural suitability. This is a one-dimensional planner for lengths, not a sheet-cutting layout. It accepts up to 100 part rows and 1000 expanded pieces.

Does every part need a full kerf after it?

No. A part ending exactly at the stock end needs no trailing cut. If less than one kerf remains, the model consumes only that remaining sliver. Check whether that final cut is practical with your stock and equipment.

Is the result guaranteed to use the fewest stock lengths?

No. Longest-first, first-fit placement is a practical heuristic. It does not search every arrangement or prove a global minimum.

Can I import a spreadsheet or mix stock lengths?

Import a CSV with Label, Length and Quantity columns. Length is required; quantity defaults to one. Import replaces the parts list and uses the currently selected unit. One calculation uses a single stock length; mixed-length stock and irregular offcuts need a separate plan.