01 / DrawingsCheck your drawing before uploading.
Outer cutting contours should be closed. Holes should be defined as closed inner contours. Check for overlapping lines and unnecessary surrounding frames.
- Choose a supported 2D DXF, DWG or SVG file. DWG import requires a supported converter installed on the server.
- DXF supports standard planar splines and ellipses as well as lines, arcs, circles and 2D polylines. Local blocks are expanded before import; 3D, clipped and external-reference blocks require preparation in CAD.
- Check drawing units; choose millimeters or inches if units are missing.
- Select cutting layers. Keep marking and information lines separate from cutting geometry.
- Convert SVG text and images to contours, or remove them. External resources, text, raster images, masks and clipping are not supported.
- Verify a known dimension in the preview.
02 / PartsSet grouping, scale and quantities.
Choose split mode to manage parts separately. Use group mode for components whose relative positions must remain fixed. Review the displayed quantities when switching modes.
Scaling changes the dimensions of a part. After removing an outer contour or making another edit, check the preview to confirm that the intended material boundaries remain.
To create a parametric part, choose a shape and enter dimensions and any holes. If you have a parts list, import CSV or XLSX and review the matching results.
03 / Sheets and searchCheck stock sizes and clearances.
Sheet width, height and available quantity should match your actual stock. After selecting a saved size from the library, set its quantity in the project.
- Part spacing: The distance to leave between parts.
- Edge margin: The distance between a part and the sheet boundary.
- Rotation: The permitted orientations for all parts in the project.
- Duration: A search budget of 5–120 seconds.
These settings do not replace machine-specific kerf or toolpath settings. Choose clearances appropriate for your production process.
04 / ResultsReview first. Download next.
Compare placed quantities with your requested quantities. If parts remain unplaced, adjust the settings before treating the result as a complete production plan.
Sheet utilization and the rectangular layout footprint measure different things. Utilization uses the net material area of the parts; the footprint describes how far the layout spreads across the sheet.
Download a separate DXF for each sheet. Open it in your CAD/CAM software and check units, contours, holes and marking information before production. Subscription status is checked when starting a new search; existing result files can be downloaded from the results screen.
Frequently asked questionsHave a detail in mind?
How much does Nestinit cost?+
Nestinit has one fixed monthly subscription: $40 USD per month. It includes the current part preparation, sheet nesting and DXF export features within the published usage limits. Creating an account does not start a paid subscription.
How can I contact Nestinit support?+
Email [email protected] with your file format, the message you encountered and a brief description of your question. Do not include passwords or payment details.
Which file formats can I use?+
2D DXF, DWG and SVG drawings are supported. DWG availability depends on the server's ODA/LibreDWG converter configuration; use DXF or SVG for drawings that cannot be read. The limit is 10 MB per file. Geometry is checked during import; review any error about unsupported entities or open cutting contours. STEP, PDF, ZIP and DSTV/NC1 are not supported in this version.
Which DXF geometry is supported?+
Planar 2D cutting contours can use LINE, ARC, CIRCLE, LWPOLYLINE, 2D POLYLINE, ELLIPSE and valid SPLINE entities. Standard local INSERT blocks, including nested and array inserts, are expanded into their transformed geometry before part preparation. Cutting contours must still be closed. 3D geometry, clipped blocks (XCLIP), external block references (XREF), malformed curves and unsafe transforms are rejected. Bind external references in CAD and convert clipping into actual contours before uploading.
What if my block drawing needs a newer DXF version?+
Unequal scaling of a block can turn circles and arcs into ellipses. Save these drawings as DXF R2000 or newer so the transformed entities can be retained. Text under unequal scaling or shear cannot be transformed safely; use uniform scaling or convert the text in CAD.
What if a drawing contains several parts?+
Split mode lets you manage independent parts with separate quantities. Group mode moves all components as one rigid part, preserving their relative positions. A hole inside a contour belongs to the same part.
Why can a DXF without units appear at the wrong size?+
You may need to choose millimeters or inches for a drawing without unit information. After import, check a known dimension in the preview before proceeding to nesting.
What does free rotation mean?+
Free rotation explores angles beyond 0° and 90°. The 90° option permits four quarter turns, the 180° option permits two orientations, and no rotation keeps the original orientation. The rotation setting applies to every part in the project.
Can parts be placed inside holes?+
Yes, where geometry and spacing allow it. The engine can use more conservative search geometry for complex parts, so it does not guarantee that every void will be used or that the best possible layout will be found. Results are checked against the original part geometry.
Does a longer search always give a better result?+
A larger budget allows more candidate layouts to be explored. It does not guarantee an improvement on every run or a mathematical optimum. First check your stock, quantities, spacing and rotation settings.
What can I do if some parts are not placed?+
Check that the part fits on the selected sheet with spacing and edge margins. Stock quantity, rotation and dimensions also affect the result. Add more or larger sheets, adjust the search budget and run again.
Which columns should a CSV or XLSX file contain?+
For existing parts, download the template from the app and preserve the part IDs. If you match by name, names must be unique; edit the quantity column. For parametric parts, include type, name, quantity, units and the required dimensions. Use calculated values rather than XLSX formulas; invalid rows are reported during import.
Why can the exported DXF be larger than the source?+
Several source drawings and repeated part copies can be combined in one output. DXF entity metadata and the numeric precision of transformed coordinates can also increase the size. File size alone does not mean that contours or holes have been duplicated.
Can I send the output directly to a cutting machine?+
Nestinit produces DXF layouts. Use suitable production or CAM software for toolpaths, kerf compensation, cutting order and machine programs. Check units, geometry and production settings before cutting.