From drawing to tighter sheet in minutes
No install, no learning curve. If you can open a DXF, you can use LaserNest.
1. Open LaserNest and choose your laser software
Log in and open LaserNest. On the left, under Laser software, pick RDWorks, LightBurn, xTool Creative Space, Glowforge, Epilog/Trotec or generic DXF. That sets the colours and the file types LaserNest saves.
2. Add your drawings
Drag DXF, SVG or RDWorks .ai files onto the window, or click Open files. You can load a sheet you nested by hand, single part files, or every sheet of a kit at once. The Parts tab lists every part with its number, size, material and quantity – check the notes at the top for anything LaserNest spotted in the drawing.
3. Set quantities and materials
Set how many of each part, or how many kits. Choose the material for each part or file, and tick Lock grain for parts whose grain matters. Under Materials & sheets set your sheet sizes, and add any offcuts you want used first.
4. Press Nest
LaserNest packs the parts onto as few sheets as possible and keeps improving until the timer runs out – press Stop to keep the best so far. The cards show how much material you saved and an estimated cutting time. Drag, nudge or rotate any part by hand if you like.
5. Save and cut
Save each sheet, or Save all for a zip with every sheet and a report. Import into your laser software as usual: part numbers are on black (set it to low power), and the cut layers are in cutting order, inside first.
Tips for your laser software
RDWorks
Save as DXF or RDWorks .ai. Each colour becomes a layer: set black (part numbers) to low power, then the cut layers in the order shown under Cut order. The .ai gives RDWorks’ exact layer colours.
LightBurn
Save as SVG. Every colour lands on the matching LightBurn layer (00 = part numbers). Put the layers in the cut order shown, or turn on Order by layer in Optimisation settings.
xTool Creative Space
Save as SVG. Lines keep their colours, so select each colour and give it its own power and speed, and process them in the cut order shown.
Glowforge
Upload the SVG. The Glowforge app makes one step per colour: set black to Score for the part numbers and drag the cut steps into the cut order shown.
Epilog, Trotec and print drivers
Save as PDF. Lines are hairline in pure RGB colours, ready for the driver’s colour mapping – put the colours in the cut order shown.
Anything else
Generic DXF uses standard CAD colours and layers and opens in almost any laser or CAD program. SVG and PDF are there too.
Drawing tips
How should part numbers be drawn?
As black text (any font, Courier New is fine) inside or next to the part, or as black outlined lettering as RDWorks .ai files have. Black is kept for part numbers so they are always cut first at low power.
Do I need cut-order colours in my drawing?
No. If every line is the same colour, LaserNest colours the drawing for you by nesting level, so the inside is always cut before the outside. If you do use colours, LaserNest learns your order from them.
A part is missing or split in two
Its outline probably is not closed. Check the notes on the Parts tab, and try raising Auto-close outline gaps under Drawing clean-up.
What units should my files be in?
Millimetres. SVG files are read in their own units (mm, inches or pixels at 96 dpi, as Inkscape and browsers use).
Where is the full manual?
Press F1 or click Help inside LaserNest for the complete guide to every setting.