How to nest parts for laser cutting
- Drop your SVG or DXF files. Each closed shape becomes a part, with its holes. Check the size shown under each file.
- Set how many of each part you need, then pick your sheet size.
- Set the gap and margin. 2 mm suits most 3–6 mm plywood and acrylic on a CO2 laser.
- Watch it pack. The first layout shows straight away and keeps improving for up to 20 seconds. Press Stop whenever it looks good.
- Download every sheet as SVG and DXF in one ZIP, or one sheet at a time from the list under the preview.
What it does with your files
- True shape: parts are packed by their real outline, and holes stay empty so small parts can drop into them.
- Your curves stay curves: arcs, circles and Béziers are moved, not redrawn. Colours and DXF layers are kept.
- Copies are merged: if a file already holds several identical parts, they show once with their quantity.
- A part inside a hole of another part in your file (a disc in a washer) counts as its own part, because it falls out when cut. Tick “keep as one part” on a file to keep everything exactly as drawn.
- Units: SVGs in mm, cm, in or pt are read exactly. If an SVG is in plain px, or a DXF doesn’t say its units ($INSUNITS), you pick the units under the file, with the size each choice gives – nothing is scaled on a guess.
- Preflight check: each file shows “Ready to cut”, or what needs a look: duplicate lines that would be cut twice (removed only if you ask, with a before/after view and undo), open paths that don’t close (highlighted, never closed for you), and parts too big for the sheet.
Frequently asked questions
Is this laser nesting tool free?
Yes. Nest as many parts and sheets as you like, with no account and no watermark.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Your SVG and DXF files are read and nested in your browser, on your own computer. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Is it true-shape nesting?
Yes. Parts are packed by their real outline, not their bounding box, so an L-bracket can tuck into another and small parts can sit inside rings and frames (turn off “Parts inside holes” if you don’t want that).
Will the nested file import at the right size?
Yes. Every sheet is saved in millimetres: the SVG has its width and height in mm with 1 unit = 1 mm, and the DXF has $INSUNITS = 4 (mm). Check the size shown for each file after you drop it – if an SVG from Illustrator or an older program reads at the wrong size, change its units.
Are my curves kept?
Yes. Lines, arcs, circles and Bézier curves are moved without being turned into polygons. The only exceptions: Bézier curves in the DXF are written as very short lines (within 0.01 mm), because the widely read DXF R12 format has no Bézier, and DXF splines are read as short lines too.
How big is the gap between parts?
At least the gap you set. Parts snap to a fine grid while nesting (0.25 to 1 mm, depending on sheet size), so some gaps come out up to two grid steps wider. Parts never touch or overlap – each finished layout is measured again before you download it.
Does it work with LightBurn, RDWorks and LaserGRBL?
Yes. Import the SVG or DXF for each sheet. Colours (SVG) and layer names (DXF) from your files are kept, so cut and engrave layers stay as you set them.