Hi, I am gonna try to answer a few questions about the cutting diagrams or cut list software MaxCut, that some of you usually ask me. Almost all of my plans include a file with this program’s extension, especially plans for large projects.

When you open these files, you can see all the pieces of the project along with their dimensions and reference numbers.

There is no Mac version of this program, but there is similar software which will surely allow to import the excel files of my plans. Here you will find another interesting online application to optimize your boards on a Mac device.

How to create boards or modify their dimensions in the Cut Optimizer Maxcut?

Once you have created the boards, the program will automatically create a cutting list to optimize cutting and avoid waste as much as possible.

When trying to open a file with the .mc3 extension included in the plans, you’ll see something like the first picture. The program can’t find the boards because you haven’t created them yet.

You have to create the board indicated in this screen itself just under “Name”. The name of the board you’re going to create should be exactly the same in order for the program to recognize it.

When clicking the button, it will take you to another screen like in picture two. Here you have to click “Add / Remove Materials”. In the third screen, you should click “Add New Sheet”.

Now you should see something like picture 4. Here you have to give the board a name, as well as its dimensions and thickness. Click “Save” to save the data.

If I’ve used several different boards in the project, you’ll most likely have to repeat the same steps for each board.

In the next screen, what you have to do is click the button with the little dots to find the board you’ve just created and select it. Now, the program will ask you to reoptimize the cuts.

If the board you’ve created is smaller than what I used, you might need more boards than what I state in the plans. In some projects where there’s boards leftover, this won’t happen.

How to install Cut Optimizer Maxcut?

I am going to start from the installation of the software and I’ll try to make it as simple as I can. To install Maxcut, we are gonna google it, click on the first link of the results and then in “Free Download” Agree the conditions and press install.

First thing you’ll see is the Settings screen, I am gonna go with the Simple Setup. Press “Start”. Select you language; “Next”. Select the “Measurement type”. Choose your “Optimization settings”, I am gonna let the normal one.

How to use the Cut Optimizing software Maxcut?

Here you have to select type the thickness of your blade. Mine is 3 millimeters. In the next screen chose the “Wastage Placement”. I am gonna let the layout and labeling preferences as it is, I’ll modify this later. Wait for 2 seconds and press the red button to start.

First thing we have to do once opened is configure the boards we are going to use, so click in the “Input Items” tab, then in the “Materials”, “Sheet” and “Add New Sheet” Enter the name, the dimensions, the thickness and that’s all.

Maxcut can also calculate the costs of the pieces you’re cutting, but some of the options are only available on the Maxcut “Business” Edition.

Now we already have some materials, we can go with the panels. Enter the dimensions, the quantity and the material you want to use.

Let’s go to the “Optimized Sheets” tab now and click in “Re-Optimize” Here we can see all the cuts in both layouts.

In the layout Settings menu, we can modify the screen font settings and the print font settings.

In some of the items, the dimensions are not shown because the default font is too big and the label does not fit. I you want to see it anyway you only have to uncheck this and they will show up.

You can also modify the labels if you want it to show the name you gave to each item instead the letters.

If you want to see the dimensions in centimeters, inches or feet, you can do it here, in “settings” – “imperial/metric”.

And finally with these buttons you can zoom in, zoom out, scale to fit, rotate and export as PNG or DXF.

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