Cut‑to‑size pays for itself when you plan it well. Most cost comes from scrap and machine time. A few clear rules in your drawing and PO let us nest faster, run cleaner and ship sooner.

Give the machine what it needs

• Process & edge: Laser/waterjet/plasma/shear and the edge grade you expect.
• Tabs/micro‑joints: Size and count per edge for small parts.
• Lead‑in/out: Away from critical edges; bias into scrap.

Nesting that saves money

• Common‑line cutting: Share cut lines where allowed.
• Grain: State if grain/finish must run one way; otherwise we rotate to improve yield.
• Clustering: Group similar sizes to reduce toolpath time.
• Remnants: Define return policy and minimum size.

Tolerances that help

• Use realistic numbers; tighten only where functional.
• Flatness and burr limits often matter more than ±0.1 mm on non‑critical edges.

Batching and changeovers

• Bundle by thickness/material; avoid mixed stacks.
• Standardize sheet sizes for repeat orders to reuse nesting templates.

Labels & packing

• Part labels with drawing number/revision/piece count.
• Interleave and orientation to protect finishes.

Spec & checklist (copy/paste)

• Material: 304 2B sheet, 2.0 mm
• Process: Laser; kerf 0.2 mm; edge A
• Grain: Along long side; allow rotation if yield improves ≥3%
• Tabs: 2 × 4 mm, two per short edge on small parts
• Tolerances: ±0.2 mm critical; ±0.5 mm non‑critical; flatness ≤5 mm/m
• Nesting: Common‑line allowed between non‑cosmetic edges
• Remnants: Return ≥ 300 × 300 mm, labeled
• Labels: Part number, rev, qty per bundle

Baoli Engineering Team · Reviewed Oct 31, 2025