Feet and Inches - Cut List Optimizer

[Hydestone]

Not sure if this is doable or not...but figured this would be the place to find out.

I make boxes out of plywood for storing various materials, kids sports stuff, tools, etc. I'd like to have a spreadsheet that I could enter in the thickness of the material and finished dimensions of the box, ie length, width, and height.

The boxes are simple, here are the calculations I use to generate a cut list.

2 sides = width X height
2 ends = [length - (2 x thickness)] X height
2 top/bottom = [length - (2 x thickness)] X [width - (2 x thickness)]
4 supports = [height - (2 x thickness)] X [length / 10]...these go on the inside corners to support the lid, not terribly critical if it complicates things.

Typically sheets of plywood are 4' x 8'. Is there a way to calculate the most efficient way of cutting the plywood to minimize waste? Can the dimensions somehow generate a line drawing which shows the pieces overlaid on top of a 4x8 sheet of plywood?

Here is an example:

[TABLE="width: 269"]
<colgroup><col><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody>[TR]
[TD]Final Dimensions[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stock thickness[/TD]
[TD] 7/16[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Length (sides)[/TD]
[TD]20 [/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Width (ends)[/TD]
[TD]10 1/4[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Height[/TD]
[TD]11 3/4[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cut List[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2 Sides[/TD]
[TD]10 1/4[/TD]
[TD]X[/TD]
[TD]11 3/4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2 Ends[/TD]
[TD]19 1/8[/TD]
[TD]X[/TD]
[TD]11 3/4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2 Top/Bottom[/TD]
[TD]9 3/8[/TD]
[TD]X[/TD]
[TD]19 1/8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4 Supports[/TD]
[TD]2 [/TD]
[TD]X[/TD]
[TD]10 7/8[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[hiker95]

Hydestone,

There are many threads on MrExcel that pertain to "Cut List".

See if the following will help you.


In the MrExcel opening/banner page (top right), click on Advanced Search

In the Keyword(s): box

Enter the following with the " characters:

"Cut List"

And, click on Search Now

 

[francklouis]

Not sure if this is doable or not...but figured this would be the place to find out.

I make boxes out of plywood for storing various materials, kids sports stuff, tools, etc. I'd like to have a spreadsheet that I could enter in the thickness of the material and finished dimensions of the box, ie length, width, and height.

The boxes are simple, here are the calculations I use to generate a cut list.

2 sides = width X height
2 ends = [length - (2 x thickness)] X height
2 top/bottom = [length - (2 x thickness)] X [width - (2 x thickness)]
4 supports = [height - (2 x thickness)] X [length / 10]...these go on the inside corners to support the lid, not terribly critical if it complicates things.

Typically sheets of plywood are 4' x 8'. Is there a way to calculate the most efficient way of cutting the plywood to minimize waste? Can the dimensions somehow generate a line drawing which shows the pieces overlaid on top of a 4x8 sheet of plywood?

Here is an example:

Final Dimensions
Stock thickness	7/16
Length (sides)	20
Width (ends)	10 1/4
Height	11 3/4
Cut List
2 Sides	10 1/4	X	11 3/4
2 Ends	19 1/8	X	11 3/4
2 Top/Bottom	9 3/8	X	19 1/8
4 Supports	2	X	10 7/8

<colgroup><col><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody>
</tbody>

Here is a print screen of a cut list optimizer I coded up last week. Maybe it might be of some use to you.