How to start
Cutting devices and constraints
Make each layout reflect what the workshop can actually cut.
Sheet-cutting characteristics
TonCut supplies starting cutting-device entries during first setup. You can use them for the first practice calculation. After seeing a result, inspect the device assigned to your material group and compare its limits with the real machine; add a different device only when you need a separate set of constraints.
To check kerf, open the material-group editor for the group used by the job. Enter the actual width lost along a cut, save with OK and close the material-group list before returning to the job.
Open Library → Devices. Select a device to show its settings on the right, or use Add and enter a new name.
Choose 2D for sheets or 1D for linear stock. Enter physical limits in the characteristics and trimming sections.
For 1D miters, check angle measurement in the miter section.
Use the workshop’s measurement convention.
Click OK to save the device settings and return to the main window.
Open Library → Material groups, select the material group and click Edit. Assign this device, save with OK and close the material-group list.
Calculate a small job and inspect its layouts against the device limits.
- Minimum cut width limits narrow cutting operations.
- Maximum cut length can be limited separately along length and width.
- The cut-depth limit concerns successive cutting stages, not how deeply the blade enters the material. The option to include stock trimming changes how that limit is applied.
- First-cut direction, full cuts, cross cuts and strip cutting describe permitted cutting sequences. Enable only operations the device supports.
Trimming order and linear stock
The device settings offer trimming order choices for 2D cutting and separate options for 1D cutting. The 1D controls include minimum cut distance and miter-cut settings. Check the chosen angle-measurement convention against the physical process.
Validate one constraint at a time
Use a small representative job to check device settings. If a layout cannot be found, compare piece size, stock trimming, kerf and device limits before increasing optimization time. A longer search cannot make an impossible cut physically possible.