Most professional CAD and drawing software has built-in cutlist generation which is pretty good but we rarely use it to layout boards unless we're cutting parts on the CNC. As far as I know, AI is searching for and using algorithms to do the work. Drawing software has the algorithms hardcoded.

There's a straightforward method to laying out parts on boards. By the time anyone could measure all the boards and type instructions into a computer, that same person could have the blanks cutout and optimize grain and color selection at the same time.

The process generally goes as shown below.

1. Start with the longest pieces (and widest if applicable) and lay those out on boards that are a convenient width for efficient ripping.
2. Crosscut to rough length.
3. Rip to rough width.
4. Move onto the next longest pieces and start at step 1.

Note: Sometimes the crosscutting and ripping operations get reversed if parts of different length are nested side-by-side.

As far as I can tell, the above process is the same one VCarve uses to nest parts.

What makes people nervous is that you cannot see ahead of time if there's enough wood or not. But the process is solid and it will consistently keep waste at a minimum. We trust the process and keep cutting without second guessing ourselves and it always works out.

If wood is limited and it's absolutely critical that there are no shortages, we'll do the same process but just mark with chalk and only cut after all parts are accounted for.

 

Now I wouldn't be surprised if factories are deploying AI nesting. A system of conveyors and cameras could beat a human operator in a speed contest. One of my former employees took a tour of Walzcraft and he said they've got a camera and saw setup to automate board selection and cutting.

 

For traditional projects with solid lumber I buy an extra 10-20% then I usually have enough to match grain and remove knots. I don’t need any fancy schmancy AI telling me what to do. However, it could be handy for complex projects made from sheet goods where the grain direction matters. Also, I suspect that AI isn’t being used at all but instead algorithms and computer code, not any intelligence. For that matter it could be 1,000’s of people in India or China providing the answer, you may never know.

 

Thanks all, Interesting. Since I've tried to master Sketchup without much joy and lots of frustration, what worked out for me was pencil and paper drawing, Then toting up the 49 pieces and 19 lengths of the rails and stiles. Only took about ten minutes to enter the numbers and ask the question and poof. For someone who is more familiar with payphones than cellphones (I do have one; somewhere in my sock drawer) this was technology for the simple guy. I like the image of a bunch of Chinese huddled over monitors, but there would be one guy I'd like to take to lunch.

 

Even though it can still make mistakes, I definitely recommend using LLMs to help figure out software, since they're often trained on both user manuals and forums. I use Blender for most of my 3D modeling, and I normally have ChatGPT open at the same time for whenever I get stuck. You can copy and paste screenshots into GPT-4o so you don't have to explain everything.

 

Check the measurements before you cut. AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace, but large language models (LLM) like ChatGPT are language models, not math or physics models. In some cases, they can access tools like calculators to provide better responses, but they might also hallucinate an answer and very confidently tell you something that ruins your project. Having said that, I use ChatGPT, Claude, LLaMA, and several other LLMs on a very regular basis, but I scrutinize the answers. If you're using ChatGPT, make sure you're using GPT-4o and not GPT-3.5, which might require creating an account. 4o is just a newer and more capable model.

And this is the response that GPT-4o would have given you, when properly prompted:

That's an impressive use of AI to streamline your woodworking process! ChatGPT can indeed be quite useful for generating optimized cutlists, and it's great to hear it saved you time and material. Here are a few tips for ensuring accuracy and getting the most out of this tool:

1. Double-Check Measurements: Always verify the measurements and cuts recommended by ChatGPT against your own calculations to ensure accuracy.

2. Simulate the Cuts: Before cutting, simulate the cuts on paper or using software to visualize the process and ensure it makes sense.

3. Adjust for Kerf: Remember to account for the width of the saw blade (kerf) in your cuts. Ensure ChatGPT's calculations include this, or adjust your input measurements accordingly.

4. Use as a Learning Tool: Analyze the steps provided by ChatGPT to understand its logic. This can improve your own skills in optimizing material usage.

If you're comfortable sharing, posting the scans of the instructions could help others understand how to use AI tools effectively in their woodworking projects. It might also provide insights into any potential improvements or adjustments needed for different scenarios.

If you have any specific questions or need further assistance with your woodworking projects, feel free to ask!

 

This should be the only use for AI: “Use as a Learning Tool: Analyze the steps provided by ChatGPT to understand its logic. This can improve your own skills in optimizing material usage.”

 

Just a home-gamer. But I've used CAD for cut lists; but manually. Largely when working with full sheets of ply and wanting to keep waste to a minimum.

 

I use Autocad Architectural Desktop 2004. It has cutlist capabilities but I never use it. Our millwork shop uses Microvellum that can write a cutlist while drafting a design in it. I retired when my daughters showed it to me and this was what they were going to have to use to keep up with the industry. Has a tremendous learning curve and most people go to their, I think, 6 month school to get a head start with it, and extremely expensive.

 

All good points above. Cut lists work great for optimizing efficient use of material, especially sheet goods.

With real lumber - hardwood and softwood boards - you may also want to consider grain patterns, defects, and more. In addition to the lumber I need for a project, I also look at the lumber I will leave behind for the next project.

For example, in post #2, @JAAune has step 2: crosscut and step 3: rip to final width. I would consider the order of the two cuts for each case. Do you want to leave a wider crosscut board for the next project as JAAune suggests, or would it be better to do a rough rip cut first, to leave a longer offcut board for the next project? It depends.

 

In practice, I often do swap steps #2 and #3 and so does my experienced employee. When training new workers I'm going to keep it simple and not instruct them on the various exceptions if they're still learning the basics of roughing lumber. For a general rule, crosscut first works because the ripped offcut is often less than 1.5" wide and is likely to be scrapped anyway.

But yes, it is often advantageous to rip first then crosscut.