nesting/cutting/optimizer software for the Mac

MacToTheBone

I am looking for a stand-alone program for the Mac which will work out cut lists for laying out the cutting of linear (1D) materials (vs. two dimensional shapes like sheets).

This kind of thing is used in manufacturing and other industries for working out how best to cut multiple pieces of varying lengths (often from a batch of pieces of a common length but ideally from a batch of pieces of different lengths) in order to minimize waste.

There are some CAD and design programs that will do it but that is overkill for us. There are a few of these out there for the Windows crowd but I don't intend to install Parallels or the like just for this.

Does anyone know of such a beast?
(suitable for OS X or OS 9 though I can probably manage with legacy apps)

samples of Windows apps to show what I am after:
1D Stock Cutter - Linear Material Cutting Optimizer
1D-Nest Cutting Optimizer, Cutting to Length Optimization Software

Thanks in advance.

CM

keywords: nest nesting optimizer optimiser multing

VictorDTarsus

Have you guys considered Inkscape 0.45.1? its like Adobe Inllustator but is a part of the glorious Open Source community which makes it free. Inkscape. Draw Freely.

__________________
~ V. Tarsus

A Mac Gamer's Quote "When the developer won't make a Mac version, port it with Cider to the Mac!!"

Aurora Fient Friend Code: xytzx0tn

MacToTheBone

Thank you VictorDTarsus but I think you have misunderstood me. We have no need for a drawing program, it's just that some draughting programs (not drawing programs) have a built-in module to perform the exercise I want done which is to make cutting lists. However, I really only want a stand-alone application to perform this one function.

CM

VictorDTarsus

Sorry about that. You could try searching for OpenSource Cutting Software or CAD software. I don't remember where I saw one CAD OpenSource app, but found it by accident searching for OpenSource Design software a few months back.

I also know of the List of Macintosh Software on Wikipedia which seems to have a fair sized list of CAD softs for Mac. Some I know of and used before like Blender (though blender is mainly a 3D Modelling app) are listed in the CAD section. The others are mainly the pro software that cost a fair penny. Here is the list form the Wiki page so you know what these software titles are called;

* ArchiCAD
* Blender
* Cinema 4D
* HighDesign
* Lightwave
* Maya
* Modo
* PowerCADD
* SketchUp
* VectorWorks
* ZBrush

Here is the link to the Wiki Page. Just click on the CAD section and you'll get the list of them with their own pages on Wiki as well as their links to their product pages.

Of course stuff like Maya is pretty bloody expensive, but I have heard some good things about PowerCADD and ArchieCAD from several of my Mac based drafting buddies. Hope this helps you out

__________________
~ V. Tarsus

A Mac Gamer's Quote "When the developer won't make a Mac version, port it with Cider to the Mac!!"

Aurora Fient Friend Code: xytzx0tn

MacToTheBone

Thanks for the leads. I'll have a look to see if one of those has the feature I'm looking for. In the mean time, I'll keep looking for a stand-alone.

CM

VictorDTarsus

No problem dude, I know how it feels to be left looking for software that may or may not exist because its only available on the PC. In the industry of my choice being Graphic Design, some of the things I do like vynl cutting and type setting have way too many sub-par PC crud software flooding the market and thats all they use. I know of one set of software apps for the Mac for me that cost in excess of thoudsands of dollars by HP and I am no fan of HP to begin with. With crapy Printers that spit their inner workings at me and PCs that die after three weeks of buying them.

__________________
~ V. Tarsus

A Mac Gamer's Quote "When the developer won't make a Mac version, port it with Cider to the Mac!!"

Aurora Fient Friend Code: xytzx0tn

MacToTheBone

PS If you come across this posting and you have a lead for me, please jump in anyway even if the thread is archaic as this may not get solved any time soon.

Thanks in advance.

CM