Flat Pannel Layout Software

Hi Servant74

Look at signmaking software, they normally contain a feature that does what you want; Shapes or text can be selected and fitted into the smallest area possible either with or without rotation as required (for instance if you have to have the grain orientation one way or the other on your work). You should be able to specify any margin between them, to account for blade or bit thickness. Alternatively you can enter your sheet size and fit most economically into say 8 by 4.

Course, if you're cncing it, that's the job done, just send it to the machine, otherwise you can take your measurements and proceed from there.

A term which might help in your search is 'nesting'

Jim

Sorry about replying to my own thread, but I found something.

It is free, but not for commercial use. Source code and all.

Gary Darby, www.DelphiForFun.org is in the copyright.

It is written in TurboPascal/Delphi, but pretty readable. I hope to try to do something with it in ruby or perl by using a similar mechanism.

Right now, it is usable as the windows runable binary, and is pretty cool as is.

Hi, gsuhas!

Great answer. GA.

As far as the size of your kerfs is concerned, Servant74, there are two variables: the thickness of the wood and the diameter of the arc, that will determine the ultimate answer for you.

Since you have to play back and forth between these two variables in order to find the spacing and depth of your kerfs and also how wide to make the kerf dados, I don't think there's a simple solution for deciding the kerf size.

You may just have to experiment with your material until you can approximate a width and depth for the kerf that will give you the diameter you need without too much material removal and without diminishing the strength of the piece; and make a note of your findings to follow for each repeat piece.

Mark