Plasma nesting: leave room for the cutting process

A compact arrangement must still accommodate pierces, lead-ins and a stable remaining sheet. Review the geometry layout together with the plasma CAM preview.

Reserve space outside the outline

Lead-ins can extend beyond a nominal part boundary. Check each entry location against neighbouring parts, sheet edges and already cut openings. Use the kerf and spacing appropriate to a tested process; the right allowance depends on more than nominal material thickness. NestForge checks contour spacing and containment for the supplied settings, not a plasma torch path.

Plan the sequence and remaining skeleton

Review how the sheet will be supported as parts are released. Small pieces and narrow remnants can move during cutting, while concentrated cuts can change the condition of nearby material. Decide the order, lead-ins and any retention strategy in CAM. A non-overlapping drawing does not establish that the physical sheet will stay flat or stationary.

Keep common-line cutting a deliberate CAM choice

Sharing one cut between adjacent parts changes the required toolpath strategy and can affect dimensions or sequencing. Do not approximate it by reducing a normal spacing setting to zero. NestForge does not generate common-line cuts, pierce schedules or machine code. Use compatible CAM functionality when the job requires shared cuts, and inspect the final preview with the actual stock and machine setup.