The Cut List Optimiser helps you plan cuts from standard timber lengths or standard sheet sizes. It aims to minimise waste while allowing for blade kerf and reusable offcuts.

• Use Linear Timber for studs, rails, noggins, joists, and similar cut lengths.
• Use Sheet Goods for rectangular panels cut from boards such as ply, MDF, or OSB.
• Export the finished optimisation results as CSV or as a print-friendly PDF page.

1. Choose an optimiser mode: Linear Timber or Sheet Goods.
2. Set the blade kerf in millimetres.
3. For timber jobs, set the reusable offcut threshold.
4. Select the stock sizes the optimiser is allowed to buy.
5. Enter the parts you need to cut.
6. Click Optimise Cut Plan.

• Timber Sizes & Stock Lengths: Add timber sizes such as `3x2`, `4x2`, or `2x2`, rename them as needed, and tick the stock lengths available for each one.
• Add Timber Size: Use this when your job includes more than one timber section.
• Linear Cut List: Enter a label, choose the timber size, add the required length, and set the quantity.
• Load Example: Fills the table with a sample job so you can see how the optimiser behaves.
• Clear All: Removes the current timber cut rows so you can start again.

• Select the standard board sizes you want the optimiser to use.
• Add custom sheet sizes if your supplier stocks something different.
• Enter each rectangular part with width, height, and quantity.
• Leave Rotate ticked if the part may be turned 90 degrees to improve nesting.
• The resulting layout shows how parts are placed on each sheet.

• Summary cards highlight the key totals for the current optimisation.
• Purchase Summary shows the stock items or sheets required.
• Reusable Offcuts appears for timber jobs and lists leftovers above the threshold you set in Cut Settings.
• Cut Plan shows each stock item with its assigned cuts.

Reusable offcut threshold tells the optimiser when a leftover piece should be treated as worth keeping. Any offcut at or above this length is shown as reusable. Anything below it is treated as waste or low-value leftover.

Example: if your reusable offcut threshold is set to 300 mm and one stock length finishes with a 420 mm leftover, that piece will be listed as a reusable offcut. If another stock length finishes with a 180 mm leftover, it will not be treated as reusable.

Set a higher threshold if you only want to keep larger, genuinely useful leftovers. Set a lower threshold if shorter pieces are still useful in your workshop.

• Export Results CSV opens a text export that you can copy into a spreadsheet or save as a `.csv` file.
• Export Results PDF opens a print-friendly page in a new browser tab. Use your browser print dialog and choose Save as PDF.

• Save Project / Save As New stores a project in this browser. This is a Pro feature.
• Save Project File downloads a project file to your computer, such as your Desktop. This is useful for offline storage, backups, or moving projects between devices.
• Load Project File lets you reopen a previously saved `.clo.json` project file.
• Autosave keeps a draft of your current work in this browser while you are editing.

If you close the page or refresh it accidentally, the app can offer to restore the latest autosaved draft the next time you open it. You can also use Restore Draft and Clear Draft in the Saved Projects section.

Browser-saved projects and autosaved drafts stay in the same browser on the same device. Project files are portable and can be saved anywhere you choose.

• Only tick stock lengths or sheet sizes you can actually buy.
• Keep labels clear so the cut plan is easy to follow in the workshop.
• If results look wasteful, try enabling more stock sizes or adjusting the offcut threshold.
• For sheet goods, allow rotation unless grain direction prevents it.