Optimisation and offcuts

In short

1. 01Nesting is laying out the parts from the cutting list on stock sheets. A good layout needs fewer sheets and leaves less waste for the same list of parts.
2. 02The yield is the area of the parts divided by the area of the whole sheet. The rest is trim, saw kerfs, offcuts and waste.
3. 03On a sliding table saw every cut runs from edge to edge of the board. So the sheet is first cut into strips, and the strips into parts.
4. 04The sequence is the trim, then the strips, then the cross cuts in each strip, and a part narrower than its strip gets one more sizing cut.
5. 05A part with grain runs along the length of the sheet and is not rotated. So a wood decor usually leaves more waste, and a part that is too long does not fit the sheet.
6. 06An offcut is marked with its decor, thickness, size and grain direction and stored by decor. Small pieces are waste, and the workshop sets the limit.
7. 07Before starting a new sheet, check whether there is an offcut of the same decor and thickness.