Compare sheet sizes for the same DXF nesting job
A smaller sheet is only useful if it holds the parts you need. Run the same job on each candidate size and keep the other settings unchanged.
Keep the job the same
Import your DXF or SVG parts and check their dimensions against the drawing. Set the required quantity of each part before comparing sheets. Six outlines with two copies each are twelve pieces, not six.
Choose the allowed rotations, part spacing and sheet margin for the real job. Don't reduce the gap just to make the smaller sheet look better. NestForge arranges parts; the cutting settings still need to suit your machine and material.
Run each sheet size separately
- Enter the width and height of the first sheet and run nesting.
- Check whether every required piece was placed. Record the sheet size, unplaced pieces and reported utilization.
- Change only the sheet dimensions and run the second candidate with the same job settings.
- Compare complete layouts first. A high utilization figure with missing parts doesn't cover the order.
Check the layout before cutting
Look at the margins and the spaces between neighboring contours. Export the chosen layout and open it in the software you use for cutting. Toolpaths, cutting order and machine instructions belong to your CAM workflow; NestForge doesn't generate them.
Keep a note of the settings alongside the result so you can repeat the comparison. Treat the returned layout as a candidate to inspect, not a guarantee that no better arrangement exists.
A complete example with source files
Eight acrylic panels fit on one 900 × 600 mm sheet or two 600 × 400 mm sheets. The total stock area is 0.54 versus 0.48 m². The guide includes both checked layouts and the one-sheet project for the free version.
If the DXF has contour gaps
If a DXF import reports open contours, inspect the geometry before planning sheets. Small gaps may be repairable after checking the intended shape.