GLOSSARY

Key terms and definitions used in nesting optimization, cut list planning, and sheet material cutting.

B

Bin Packing

A mathematical optimization algorithm that determines how to fit items of varying sizes into a fixed number of containers (bins) with minimal wasted space. In nesting software, bin packing algorithms arrange cut pieces on stock sheets to maximize material utilization.

What is Nesting Optimization?

C

Cut List

A detailed list of all the individual pieces needed for a project, including part names, dimensions (length, width, thickness), quantities, and material type. A cut list serves as the input for nesting optimization software.

Cutlist Optimization Guide

E

Edge Banding

A thin strip of material (wood veneer, PVC, ABS, or melamine) applied to the exposed edges of sheet goods like plywood or MDF to cover the raw core and give a finished appearance. Nesting software can track which edges of each piece require banding.

Edge Trim

The amount of material removed from the outer edges of a stock sheet before usable cuts begin. Edge trim accounts for factory damage, unfinished edges, or imperfections along the sheet perimeter. Typically set per side (top, bottom, left, right).

F

Feed-Through Cutting

A cutting method where the saw blade or cutting tool makes continuous straight cuts across the full width or length of a sheet, also known as through-cuts. This is the simplest cutting pattern for panel saws and requires less repositioning than more complex layouts.

G

Grain Direction

The orientation of the wood grain pattern on a sheet of plywood or veneer. When grain direction matters (for visible surfaces), pieces must be locked to a specific orientation during nesting to ensure the grain runs consistently across the finished project.

Guillotine Cut

A straight cut that runs the full width or height of a panel, dividing it into two separate pieces — similar to how a paper guillotine works. Guillotine cutting mode in nesting software constrains layouts so every cut goes edge-to-edge, which is practical for table saws and panel saws.

K

Kerf

The width of material removed by a saw blade during a cut. A standard table saw blade has a kerf of approximately 1/8" (3.2 mm), while thin-kerf blades remove about 3/32" (2.4 mm). Accounting for kerf in nesting prevents undersized pieces.

Kerf Compensation

The practice of adding the blade kerf width to the spacing between adjacent pieces in a nesting layout. Without kerf compensation, the material lost to each saw cut would cause finished pieces to be slightly smaller than specified.

L

Linear Optimization

One-dimensional nesting optimization for materials sold in lengths rather than sheets — such as lumber, trim, molding, pipes, and metal bars. Linear optimization determines the best way to cut required lengths from available stock lengths with minimal waste.

Linear Materials Optimizer

M

Material Utilization

The percentage of stock material that ends up as usable cut pieces rather than waste. For example, if 38 sq ft of parts are cut from a 4×8 sheet (32 sq ft), the utilization is approximately 85%. Higher utilization means less waste and lower material costs.

MDF

Medium-Density Fiberboard — an engineered wood panel made from wood fibers bonded with resin under heat and pressure. MDF has no grain direction, machines cleanly, and paints well, making it popular for painted cabinet doors, shelving, and trim work.

Melamine

A sheet material consisting of a particleboard or MDF core with a thermally-fused decorative paper surface. Melamine is commonly used for shelving, cabinet interiors, and closet systems because of its durable, pre-finished surface.

N

Nesting

The process of arranging two-dimensional cut pieces on stock sheets of material to minimize waste. Nesting software uses algorithms to find the most efficient arrangement, reducing the total number of sheets required and lowering material costs.

What is Nesting Optimization?

O

Offcut

The leftover piece of material remaining after the required parts have been cut from a stock sheet. Larger offcuts can often be saved and reused for future projects, while smaller offcuts are typically discarded as waste.

P

Panel Optimization

The process of determining the most efficient way to cut required rectangular parts from standard-sized sheet panels. Panel optimization is another name for 2D nesting applied specifically to sheet goods like plywood, MDF, and melamine.

R

Rotation Lock

A nesting constraint that prevents a piece from being rotated 90 degrees during optimization. Rotation lock is used when grain direction matters or when a piece must maintain a specific orientation for functional or aesthetic reasons.

S

Sheet Goods

Flat panel materials sold in standard sheet sizes (commonly 4'×8' or 1220×2440 mm). Examples include plywood, MDF, melamine, particleboard, hardboard, sheet metal, acrylic, and glass. Sheet goods are the primary input material for 2D nesting optimization.

Stock Sheet

The full-sized sheet of raw material from which cut pieces are nested and cut. Stock sheets are defined by their width, height, and optionally their thickness and material type. Multiple stock sheet sizes can be used in a single optimization.

W

Waste Percentage

The proportion of stock material that is not used for any required cut piece, expressed as a percentage. Waste percentage is the inverse of material utilization — if utilization is 85%, waste is 15%. Nesting software aims to minimize this number.

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