First plan — one current project

Prepare the stock

For this small practice calculation, use an existing material group and the devices and optimization profiles created during setup. Enter only the stock and pieces needed for the exercise.

Open Options → Configuration. On the dimensions page, select millimetres and click OK.
Open the Stock tab. For new stock, click Add and choose an existing material group.
If stock in that material group already has length 2440 mm and quantity 1, check whether you can reuse it. For 2D, its width must also be 1220 mm. If these values match, skip adding new stock and continue with the pieces.
A material group connects stock and pieces with their cutting settings. 2D means sheet material; 1D means linear stock. The illustrations show the 2D example. Use an existing group; you do not need to create one in the library.
For new stock, enter length 2440 mm; for 2D, also enter width 1220 mm.
For new stock, set quantity 1 and click OK.
The 2D example shows the new-stock editor with length 2440 mm, width 1220 mm and quantity 1 entered, before confirmation.
In the stock list, check the practice row: the selected material group, length 2440 mm and quantity 1. For 2D, also check width 1220 mm.

Add pieces and calculate the plan

Open the Projects tab and go to the current project’s piece list.
At the piece list, click Add and choose the same material group as the stock.
Enter length 400 mm; for 2D, also enter width 300 mm.
Set quantity 2 and click OK.
The 2D example shows the new-piece editor with length 400 mm, width 300 mm and quantity 2 entered, before confirmation.
Back in the piece list, check the new row: the same material group as the stock, length 400 mm and quantity 2. For 2D, also check width 300 mm.
If your task specifies a kerf, check it before calculation in the material group used by your stock and pieces. Follow the material-group editor steps.
Kerf is the width lost along a cut. This on-screen exercise does not specify a kerf value, so keep the existing setting. If a task specifies 3 mm, enter 3 mm. For production, use the actual kerf. After editing, save with OK, close the material-group list and return to the Projects tab.
Select the new practice row in the piece list, then click Start.
In the start dialog, check Only selected and choose All available stocks.
This includes the practice piece and the stock you entered.
Leave the supplied optimization profiles and result criterion unchanged. Click OK to start the calculation.
If Optimal is already selected, keep it for this first trial. Check that the plan includes the required quantity of every piece, then check material use and the cutting sequence before using the plan. For later comparisons, see choosing a result criterion.
When calculation finishes, choose a result in the second column on the left. Below the layout preview, open the first tab with the piece list. Check that 2 pieces are placed and 0 are unplaced.

Save the result without changing the practice inputs

For this exercise, save only the result. The acceptance dialog also offers removing pieces and stock and saving data to files. Leave these actions off to keep the practice inputs.

Select the result you checked and click Accept result on its toolbar.
Check Save solution and enter the name Practice plan.
Clear every other checkbox.
Check the selected options again. Click OK to save the result.
If you are unsure what the selected options will change, close the dialog with Cancel and check them before confirming.
If the result preview is still open, click Close. In the main window, open the Results tab and find Practice plan.
Open the Projects tab. Check that the practice piece’s quantity is still 2.
Open the Stock tab. Check that the practice stock’s quantity is still 1.

Before using a plan in the workshop

Continue with the optimization and results topics to learn what else you can do with the calculated plan.

After seeing your first layout, open the material-group and cutting-device topics to understand what the starting definitions control. Before using a plan in production, compare the existing group's thickness, kerf, trimming and grain settings and its device's limits with the actual job. Edit an existing definition or add another only when your work requires it, then calculate and check the result again.