How to use the nesting calculator
No 3D file? Switch to Enter blank size and type the flat length and width of the part.
Upload the part
STEP, STP or SLDPRT. Model the part with a 3D sheet metal module so the flat pattern can be read. The tool nests the flat blank, not the folded part.
Choose material and thickness
The sheet size fills in with the stock size for that material. Overwrite it to nest on a custom sheet.
Set quantity and spacing
Press Nest my parts to get parts per sheet, sheets required, sheet utilisation, material per part and scrap per sheet.
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.
The finished blank weighs 0.589 kg (weight calculator). Rotated 90°, the same part fits 19 × 5 = 95 per sheet, so the tool tests both orientations.
Komacut standard sheet sizes
These are the maximum sheet sizes per material at Komacut's laser cutting facility. The calculator uses them as the default sheet.
Maximum laser cutting thickness is 20.0 mm.
| Material | Grades | Sheet size (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Hot rolled steel | Q235, Q355 | 1500 × 3000 |
| Hot rolled steel | SAPH440 | 1260 × 2500 |
| Cold rolled steel | SPCC | 1250 × 2500 |
| Galvanized steel | SGCC | 1250 × 2500 |
| Aluminium | AL1060, AL5052, AL6061, AL6063, AL7075 | 1220 × 2440 |
| Stainless steel | SS301, SS304, SS316 | 1220 × 2440 |
Design choices that improve nesting
Keep the flat pattern inside the sheet
A blank longer than 3000 mm or wider than 1500 mm cannot be cut from stock steel. For aluminium and stainless the limit is 1220 × 2440 mm.
Watch the bounding rectangle
The calculator nests the rectangle around the flat blank. On an L- or U-shaped blank, the empty corner of that rectangle counts as scrap.
Order in multiples of parts per sheet
In the worked example, 495 or 594 parts fill whole sheets. 500 parts need a sixth sheet that carries only 5.
Check the design rules first
Komacut's minimums for hole size, hole-to-edge and bend-to-edge distance apply to the flat pattern and can change the blank size. Run the Sheet Metal DFM Check before nesting.
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.
Which file formats does the calculator accept?
STP, STEP and SLDPRT, the same formats as the Komacut instant quote. Model the part with a 3D sheet metal module so the flat pattern can be read.
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 model has no sheet metal features, enter the blank size manually.
Can I use my own sheet size?
Yes. The sheet size defaults to Komacut's stock size for the selected material. Overwrite the length and width to nest on any sheet.
Is this the nest Komacut uses in production?
No. It is a rectangular grid nest of one part, tested in both orientations. Use it to compare designs, sheet sizes and quantities, not as a production layout.
What happens to my file?
The file is used only to read the flat pattern for this calculation. To keep the part and get a price, upload it on b2b.komacut.com.