Using the Cutting Layout

Working with the Cutting Layout actually involves 3 actions: interpreting, loading/saving and printing the cutting layouts.

Interpreting the Cutting Layout

The cutting layout is made up of one or more layouts or pages. Each page contains the cutting layout for an individual panel from the Panels list. If more panels have the same cutting layout, still only one layout is displayed, but the multiplication factor is incremented for each panel. This means that a cutting layout having a multiplication factor of 3 actually represents 3 panels with the same length, width and material but also with the same number and disposition of parts on them.

Parts and offcuts from every cutting layout are identified by an ID number. Parts ID number (identification number) is an ordinary number (e.g. "3") and is in fact the part No. in the Parts grid. Offcuts ID number is made up of an 'R' and an ordinary number (e.g. "R3").

Edge bands are printed on the parts as colored lines.

Loading and saving the Cutting Layout

The cutting layout can be saved to a file and reused later. By loading a previously saved cutting layout there is no need to run optimization. To load/save the cutting layout use the "Load" and "Save" buttons from the buttons bar.

Exporting the Cutting Layout to XML file

The cutting layout can be saved to XML file format in order to further process it using a cnc software. To save the cutting layout as .xml file click the "Save" button and select "XML files" from the "Save as type" drop-down box. Cutting layouts saved as XML files can not be loaded back into Smart2DCutting.

Exporting the Cutting Layout to DXF file

The cutting layout can be saved to DXF file format. To save the cutting layout as .dxf file click the "Save" button and select "DXF files" from the "Save as type" drop-down box. Cutting layouts saved as DXF files can not be loaded back into Smart2DCutting.

Exporting the Cutting Layout to TXT file

The cutting layout can be saved to a plain text file in order to further process it using a cnc software. To save the cutting layout as a .txt file click the "Save" button and select "Text files" from the "Save as type" drop-down box. Cutting layouts saved as TXT files can not be loaded back into Smart2DCutting.

The text file has the following format:
```
          A|1790|1490|MDF|MDF Panel
          B|1500|1000|0|0|Side Panel
          C|1790|487|0|1003|Offcut
```
The panels line always start with the letter 'A' and the other columns are: Length, Width, Material, Description, Note, Type (0=panel, 1=offcut).
The parts line always start with the letter 'B' and the other columns are: Length, Width, Left, Top, Description, Note.
The offcuts line always start with the letter 'C' and the other columns are: Length, Width, Left, Top, Description.

The values in the length and width columns are in mm and they represent the length and width of the part.
The values in the left column are in mm and they represent the horizontal (X) offset of the part from the left side of the panel.
The values in the top column are in mm and they represent the vertical (Y) offset of the part from the top side of the panel.

Printing the Cutting Layout

The cutting layout is displayed on the screen and is looking pretty good. But it's more useful if you can have it on paper. To print the Cutting Layout click the "Print" button from the buttons bar. You can select to print all pages or just some of them.