Metal cut list planning: stock lengths, kerf and worked example
Plan steel tube, bar and aluminium extrusion cuts. Check kerf, quantities and stock allocation with a worked example, then use the free metal cut planner.
Workshop guidesCut list basics Cut list basics Algorithms and workshop decisions Lean production and remnant flow Material identification Research-based app roundup
Make the cut plan work on the workshop floor.
Start with a checked cut list. Then consider material yield, saw setups, handling, labels and the next process. These guides connect stock planning to the work around the saw.
Timber cut list planning: board lengths, saw kerf and worked example
Work out timber stock lengths before buying or cutting. Follow a board-by-board example with saw kerf and offcuts, then open the free wood cut planner.
Cutting optimisation: less waste, lower labour cost or a simpler saw sequence?
Compare material yield with saw setups, stop changes and heavy-part handling. A fictional cost example shows why the smallest offcut is not always the lowest-cost job.
Lean cutting workflow: labels, complete kits and reusable remnants
Keep cutting, deburring and assembly moving with clear part IDs, small work-in-progress limits and a remnant process that prevents mystery stock.
What does the spray-paint colour on metal stock mean?
Understand supplier-specific metal end colours, an Atlas stainless chart example, and why stock tags and certificate references matter after cutting.
Four apps to use alongside a cut-list planner
A research-based look at FreeCAD, Onshape, LibreOffice Calc and draw.io for design, checked cut lists and workshop handoffs around LEVRTEK 1D.