Selection of stockplate characteristics and cutting style for two dimensional cutting stock situations

In most two dimensional cutting stock applications a range of stock sizes is available. A choice must be made as to how many of these stock sizes should be held and what their appropriate dimensions are. Having settled these questions there may still be decisions to be made in relation to orientation of the stock material and style of cutting. This paper addresses all these issues by use of a simulation approach. The impact of stock material characteristics is examined for 3-stage cutting, while 3-stage cutting is contrasted with n-stage cutting in terms of both waste and CPU time. Clear guidelines arise for those facing such decisions.