CutStock

Minimize waste. Maximize every board, bar, and panel.

CutStock is a cut optimization tool that helps woodworkers, makers, and small workshops get the most out of their material. Available as a desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux) and a self-hosted web app (Docker) — same design, same optimization core.

View on GitHub

Download (Releases)

Features Screenshots Docker Download

Optimal Cut Planning

Whether you're cutting panels for a shelf or bars for a frame — CutStock calculates the optimal cutting layout and shows color-coded cut plans. The numbered cutting sequence walks you through the sawing step by step, saw kerf already accounted for.

CutStock Plattenoptimierung — 2D panel optimization with guillotine cuts and cutting sequence

Features

🪵 1D + 2D Optimization

Bars (1D bin packing) and panels (2D guillotine packing) with configurable kerf. All remnants stay clean rectangles.

🧬 Three Algorithms

Fast (greedy), Nested Guillotine (smart split direction), Thorough (genetic algorithm, ~95% utilization).

📊 Grain Direction

Respects wood grain per material and part — lengthwise, crosswise, or any.

📄 PDF Export

Compact multi-page layout with color-coded cutting diagrams — in both flavors.

📋 Cutting Sequence

Numbered step list per cut plan — true to size, kerf included. On screen and in the PDF.

🏷️ Labels

Printable labels for parts and remnants — A4 sheets (Avery 3475/L7160) or Dymo/Brother label printers.

🐳 Web-App & Docker

Self-hosted on your own network — reachable from any browser or tablet in the workshop. Ready-made Docker image, no internet connection required.

📦 Stock Management

Track inventory, auto-deduct used pieces, auto-book usable remnants back into stock.

⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts

Fully keyboard-driven. Remappable in the web app — click a key, press the new one.

🌍 Multi-language

Deutsch, English, Français, Italiano. SAP Horizon design in light and dark. macOS, Windows, Linux, and Docker.

🔨 Workshop Mode

Full-screen view for a tablet at the saw: big touch targets, progress, tick off pieces as you cut — stock is updated live.

📥 CSV Import

Import part lists from Excel & friends straight into a project — delimiter and columns are detected automatically.

Materials & Stock

Manage materials with thickness, cross-section, grain direction, and edge trim. Stock shows all pieces of the selected material.

Material & Lager — Materials and stock management

Projects

Organize parts by project. Each part has a label, type, material, dimensions, quantity, and grain direction. Progress shows what has already been cut.

Projekte — Project management with sawing progress

Bar Optimization

1D bin packing for bar profiles. Pick a project, material, and algorithm — the optimizer calculates the best cutting layout.

Optimierung Stangen — Bar optimization with a color-coded cut plan

Workshop Mode

Put a tablet next to the saw and switch on workshop mode: one panel per page, big touch targets, overall progress, and an “up next” marker. Every ticked piece updates progress and stock immediately.

Web App via Docker

The web app brings the same optimization core to any browser on your network — ideal for a NAS, home server, or Raspberry Pi (amd64 + arm64). All assets are bundled in the image; no internet connection is needed at runtime.

services:
  cutstock:
    image: ghcr.io/orohde/cutstock:latest
    container_name: cutstock
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "8420:8000"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/data
    environment:
      - CUTSTOCK_DB=/data/cutstock.db

docker compose up -d — then CutStock is up at http://localhost:8420. Details in the guide on GitHub.

Settings with keyboard shortcuts — Settings: label paper format, saw blades, remappable keyboard shortcuts

Why Guillotine Cuts?

All CutStock algorithms use guillotine cuts — every cut runs completely from edge to edge. This is a deliberate choice:

Approach	Material utilization	Remnants	Tools
Guillotine (CutStock)	~85–95%	Always rectangular	Table saw, circular saw
Free-Cut	~93–98%	L-shaped, T-shaped	CNC router required

Guillotine cuts can be made with any standard saw. The remnants are always clean rectangles that can be stored and reused.

Technology

Python 3.12+ — application logic
pywebview — desktop app (native window)
FastAPI + Uvicorn — web backend
SQLite — local database (no server)

SAP Fundamental Styles — Horizon design
reportlab — PDF generation
Docker — web app image (amd64/arm64)
PyInstaller — standalone apps · iCloud sync

Download

Desktop app for macOS and Windows, web app as a Docker image (ghcr.io/orohde/cutstock). Open source under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — free for private, non-commercial use.

Would you like to use CutStock in your business — in a joinery, cabinet shop, or workshop? A commercial license is available on request — contact details in the imprint.

Download on GitHub

Docker image

View source code

Note: The desktop builds are not code-signed. macOS: right-click → Open. Windows: “More info” → “Run anyway”.

CutStock (English)