Real test runs

Nesting software comparison: true-shape vs bounding-box

We nested ten real DXF files twice with GoNesting's own engine: once treating every part as its bounding rectangle, once by its true shape. Same parts, same sheet, same 1 mm gap. Here is exactly what each run produced, including the job where true-shape did not help.

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10 real before-and-after tests

The percentage is the material used on sheet one: the area of the parts, minus their cut-outs, divided by the sheet area. Both sides of every row are the same parts on the same sheet.

Phone-stand bracket · 1 part design · 1200 × 800 mm sheet · true-shape fit 10 more parts (+18.7 points of material)

Bounding-box nesting 30 parts · 56.0%

Phone-stand bracket, bounding-box nesting: 30 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 56.0% of the material used

True-shape nesting 40 parts · 74.7%

Phone-stand bracket, true-shape nesting: 40 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 74.7% of the material used

Toothpick holder kit · 8 part designs · 1200 × 800 mm sheet · true-shape fit 64 more parts (+21.0 points of material)

Bounding-box nesting 73 parts · 50.8%

Toothpick holder kit, bounding-box nesting: 73 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 50.8% of the material used

True-shape nesting 137 parts · 71.8%

Toothpick holder kit, true-shape nesting: 137 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 71.8% of the material used

Tabbed box with letters · 29 part designs · 1200 × 800 mm sheet · true-shape fit 49 more parts (+2.6 points of material)

Bounding-box nesting 151 parts · 74.0%

Tabbed box with letters, bounding-box nesting: 151 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 74.0% of the material used

True-shape nesting 200 parts · 76.5%

Tabbed box with letters, true-shape nesting: 200 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 76.5% of the material used

Ornamental scroll and disc · 2 part designs · 1200 × 800 mm sheet · true-shape fit 2 more parts (+2.5 points of material)

Bounding-box nesting 60 parts · 27.2%

Ornamental scroll and disc, bounding-box nesting: 60 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 27.2% of the material used

True-shape nesting 62 parts · 29.7%

Ornamental scroll and disc, true-shape nesting: 62 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 29.7% of the material used

Horse shelf · 2 part designs · 1200 × 800 mm sheet · true-shape fit 15 more parts (+6.6 points of material)

Bounding-box nesting 94 parts · 41.6%

Horse shelf, bounding-box nesting: 94 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 41.6% of the material used

True-shape nesting 109 parts · 48.2%

Horse shelf, true-shape nesting: 109 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 48.2% of the material used

Owl pendulum wall clock · 18 part designs · 1200 × 800 mm sheet · true-shape fit 15 more parts (+6.2 points of material)

Bounding-box nesting 54 parts · 61.8%

Owl pendulum wall clock, bounding-box nesting: 54 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 61.8% of the material used

True-shape nesting 69 parts · 68.1%

Owl pendulum wall clock, true-shape nesting: 69 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 68.1% of the material used

Tropical wall art · 2 part designs · 1200 × 800 mm sheet · true-shape fit 8 more parts (+7.8 points of material)

Bounding-box nesting 28 parts · 32.6%

Tropical wall art, bounding-box nesting: 28 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 32.6% of the material used

True-shape nesting 36 parts · 40.4%

Tropical wall art, true-shape nesting: 36 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 40.4% of the material used

Small organic shapes · 37 part designs · 600 × 400 mm sheet · true-shape fit 172 more parts (+23.0 points of material)

Bounding-box nesting 93 parts · 38.6%

Small organic shapes, bounding-box nesting: 93 parts on a 600 × 400 mm sheet, 38.6% of the material used

True-shape nesting 265 parts · 61.6%

Small organic shapes, true-shape nesting: 265 parts on a 600 × 400 mm sheet, 61.6% of the material used

Large geometric shapes · 23 part designs · 1200 × 800 mm sheet · true-shape fit 21 more parts (+18.4 points of material)

Bounding-box nesting 25 parts · 46.8%

Large geometric shapes, bounding-box nesting: 25 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 46.8% of the material used

True-shape nesting 46 parts · 65.2%

Large geometric shapes, true-shape nesting: 46 parts on a 1200 × 800 mm sheet, 65.2% of the material used

How these tests were run

Each job is a real DXF file, read into parts by the same parser the app uses when you upload.
Every part was requested in more copies than fit, so sheet one is full and the two runs can be compared.
Bounding-box nesting: each part was given to the engine as the rectangle around it, with no holes. The pictures draw the real parts where those rectangles landed.
True-shape nesting: the same parts with their real outlines and holes.
Both runs used GoNesting's engine with the same settings: 1 mm gap, 0 mm margin, parts turned in 90° steps.
Every layout was checked afterwards: no parts overlap, every part is at least 0.9 mm from its neighbours, and nothing is off the sheet.

True-shape vs bounding-box nesting FAQ

What is the difference between true-shape nesting and bounding-box nesting?

Bounding-box nesting packs a rectangle drawn around each part. True-shape nesting packs the part's real outline, so curves, notches and holes can take up space that a rectangle would waste. In the ten tests on this page, true-shape nesting changed the material used by between −1.2 and +23.0 percentage points on the same sheet.

How much material can true-shape nesting save?

It depends on your parts. On the same sheet, true-shape nesting fit between 3 fewer and 172 more parts in these tests. Irregular parts gain the most; near-rectangular parts gain little or nothing. The quickest way to know for your own work is to nest one of your DXF files with the free runs.

Does part shape matter for nesting efficiency?

Yes. The adjustable mobile stand kit in job 3 is made of near-rectangular plates, and bounding-box nesting actually fit 3 more parts there. Parts with curves, angles, open areas or holes, like the bracket, the toothpick holder and the organic shapes, are where true-shape nesting fits clearly more.

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