How to use the nesting calculator
The calculator unfolds your part to its flat blank, the flat shape cut from the sheet before bending, and nests it on the sheet size you enter.
Upload the part
STEP, STP or SLDPRT, modeled with a 3D sheet metal module so the flat pattern can be read.
Set material, thickness and sheet size
Enter your own sheet length and width, or keepBoda's standard sizefor the material you choose.
Set quantity and spacing
Spacing is the gap kept between neighboring parts on the sheet. PressNest my partsto see the layout and results.
How nesting affects the material cost of a laser-cut part
A laser-cut part consumes its share of the sheet, not only the material inside its outline. That share is the sheet weight divided by the number of parts that fit on it.
Part area is the flat area of the part with holes and cut-outs removed, so holes count as scrap.
These are the calculator's results for this part. The finished blank weighs 0.589 kg (weight calculator). Laid out one way only, the sheet holds 11 × 9 = 99 parts; mixing orientations adds 7.
Boda standard sheet sizes
These are the standard sheet sizes per material at Boda'slaser cutting facility. The calculator fills them in as the starting sheet size; you can enter your own length and width.
To be cut at Boda, the flat blank has to fit the sheet for its material. Maximum laser cutting thickness is 20.0 mm.
| Material | Grades | Sheet size, L × W (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Hot rolled steel | Q235, Q355 | 3000 × 1500 |
| Hot rolled steel | SAPH440 | 2500 × 1260 |
| Cold rolled steel | SPCC | 2500 × 1250 |
| Galvanized steel | SGCC | 2500 × 1250 |
| Aluminum | AL1060, AL5052, AL6061, AL6063, AL7075 | 2440 × 1220 |
| Stainless steel | SS301, SS304, SS316 | 2440 × 1220 |
Design choices that improve nesting
Order in multiples of parts per sheet
In the worked example one sheet holds 106 parts. Orders of 106 or 212 fill whole sheets; 107 parts need a second sheet that carries 1.
Check the design rules first
Nest a part that Boda can make. Hole size, hole-to-edge and bend-to-edge distances all have minimums, and every Boda instant quote checks the part against them.
Frequently asked questions
What is sheet metal nesting?
Nesting is the arrangement of flat part blanks on a sheet before laser cutting. The number of parts that fit on one sheet sets how much material each part consumes. Sheet utilization is the share of the sheet that ends up as parts; the rest is scrap.
Which file formats does the calculator accept?
STP, STEP and SLDPRT, the same formats as the.
Does it unfold bent parts?
Yes. The tool reads the flat pattern from the 3D model and nests the blank, not the folded part. If the file can't be unfolded, the calculator tells you why, for example when the part isn't modeled as sheet metal.
Can I use my own sheet size?
Yes. Enter your own sheet length and width. The fields start at Boda's standard size for the selected material, and the size you enter is used for the nest.
Why can't my part be nested?
The file has to unfold to a flat pattern first. That fails when the part isn't modeled as sheet metal, has no constant thickness, has formed features such as louvers or embosses, has lofted bends, or its flat pattern overlaps itself. Fix the model, or export it again as STEP.
Does the calculator turn parts to fit more?
Yes. It places parts in both orientations where that fits more on the sheet. In the worked example, a 250 × 150 mm blank fits 99 per sheet laid out one way and 106 with mixed orientations.