Deepnest

Computer-aided manufacturing operations are meant to speed up the production process, while also reducing costs and optimizing resource usage. Nesting applications are one example, as they strive to lay out the best cutting patterns to save raw material and generate less waste.

Deepnest is one of the open-source software solutions worth trying out if you are on the hunt for a nesting tool. It is designed to work with laser or plasma cutters, as well as other CNC machines.

Talking about industrial nesting, you might expect to get a complex application with a plethora of options and a cluttered interface. However, Deepnest has a different approach, trying to keep things as simple as possible. Consequently, you are greeted by a pleasant-looking and clean interface, with a tasteful color scheme and a simple layout. This does not mean that the application is poor when it comes to customization options and settings. On the contrary, the nesting configuration area is quite rich, allowing you to tamper with a few key parameters that instruct Deepnest to work to your advantage, as described below.

There is a detailed explanation with colored sketches and structured text for each and every editable field in the settings area, with additional  recommendations. This is a major plus, as it allows you to fully understand the role of every parameter and joggle with the values to get the results you want.

To mention a few examples, Deepnest enables you to change the space between the parts that are placed on the cutting sheet or set the number of rotations to try when a part is inserted on the cutting board. This latter option is important for parts with highly irregular shapes.

You can also experiment with different values of the curve tolerance, which is the maximum allowed error when approximating line segments for curved sections. The values you set for each parameter impact both the precision and the speed of the nesting process.

Depending on the project and what you are trying to obtain, you can opt for various optimization types in Deepnest, each trying to conserve raw material in different ways. The option you choose here is the key to how the application approaches the project in question and what the cutting layouts will finally look like.

Common lines are automatically merged by Deepnest, so as to avoid cutting the same path twice. Not only that this option saves time but it also preserves the quality of the parts.

Relying on a powerful nesting engine, Deepnest uses complex algorithms to find the optimum cutting solution, placing parts on the base sheet in such a way that the amount of wasted material is minimized. It features part-in-part placement and various options to help you get the best results, while also being suitable for laser engravers in need for nesting bitmap images.

Deepnest can import DXF, SVG and Corel CDR files, allowing you to work on more than one project by opening each in a separate tab. You can set the SVG scale and modify the endpoint tolerance if you have trouble importing a file. There are a few samples at your disposal if you want to take it for a spin and see what it is all about before loading your own CAD files.