Optimize bars, pipes, tubes and other linear metal stock. Enter your stock length, kerf and required cuts to reduce leftover material and see practical cutting layouts.
What does a metal cut list optimizer do? It groups required lengths into stock bars or pipes to reduce unused material while accounting for kerf and optional end trimming.
What is kerf? Kerf is the width of material removed by the cutting operation. Enter your actual blade or process allowance rather than assuming every machine has the same kerf.
Does it guarantee the absolute best possible pattern? No. It uses fast packing heuristics and compares multiple practical arrangements. The selected result is an optimization aid, not a mathematical proof of global optimality.
Can I optimize pipe or rectangular tubing? Yes. The linear cutting calculation works for pipe, square tube, rectangular tube, angle, channel, flat bar and similar stock.
Why specify a minimum remnant? It lets the result distinguish potentially reusable offcuts from material that is more likely to become scrap.
Should kerf be entered for every cut? The calculator applies kerf between consecutive pieces on each stock length. This avoids treating the final piece as if another cut were automatically required after it.