Carpenter Cut - Optimal cutlist diagram for iPad/iPhone

22385 Views 39 Replies 21 Participants Last post by bigcouger, Jan 29, 2012

SmartCutter

Discussion Starter · Nov 25, 2011

After my previous post here, I got some good feedback and great ideas from professionals on this site on how to optimize the cutlist diagram to make it useful for professional wood workers. This lead me to develop “Carpenter Cut” app for iPad/iPhone devices. It goes like this:

Start with a sheet of plywood (e.g. 48×96), tell it the dimensions and quantity of each part you want to cut from it. Specify the kerf (size for your saw blade (0.125 is the default)), and indicate grain direction by putting a rotation lock on each part. Tap the “Cut” button and watch this tool generate the best cut layout diagram giving the maximum number of parts possible from your stock sheet, saving you money and saving the environment by producing minimal waste.

Demo Video here:

The app has the following Features (Based on requests and feedback I got from readers of my earlier “Smart Cutter” post):
- Different Size and Quantity specification per part.
- Kerf specification (Width of the saw blade).
- Rotation lock for grain direction cutting per part.
- Priority Fit Order for each part size.
- Aesthetically-pleasing random color generation for each part on the diagram and during entry so you can identify each part easily (or you can specify your own colors).
- Size annotation inside each sheet rectangle on the diagram with font size proportional to the sheet’s size.
- Name each part in the list.
- Cut Report generation showing: number of sheets Fitted/Rejected PER Part + Total Fitted (Yield), Total Rejected and Scrap % for the whole project.
- Save/Edit/Delete each cut list as a separate project in “My Projects” with project name, large sheet dimensions, kerf, and parts info list.
- FAST State-of-the-art algorithm for diagram generation calculations.
- Change/Edit any parameter or sheet priority order, and see how the cutting diagram automatically changes on the fly before you make your cut.
- Caches past projects diagram images for quick viewing/browsing later without regeneration.
- Email, Air Print, and/or Save your generated diagram to your Camera Roll Album.
- Easy navigation user interface.
Looking at the level of feedback I got from everyone on this site, I’m confident I can make this app even better with more feedback, so I’m posting this article here to collect more opinions on how you guys think I should modify this app to make it more useful for your every day projects.

You can download the app from this link

I welcome everyone’s feedback.

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rrbrown

· #2 · Nov 25, 2011

Well this is my opinion. You have three post on here all about something you are selling which makes it Spam. I will give you credit for it being at the least woodworking related, however it is still SPAM and expensive compared to other apps.

The proper thing is for you to become a member posting an intro and participating in the forum without your financial gain being your purpose. This forum is about sharing ideas, helping others become better woodworkers and many of us consider each others friends.

This is not a retail outlet. We don't like Spammers and I'm personally tired of all the new ways you guys try to squeeze in the Spam. The rule is participate as a member until you have 25 post then you can sell things in the appropriate category called "Classifieds".

Had you offered your app for free for the first month or so you would get more people willing to try it out. After you start getting it out there, tested and reviewed by people you could then start charging for it, but damn $9.99 seams quite high to me.

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SmartCutter

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 25, 2011

Hi rrbrown,

I appreciate your opinion, however, my main purpose of posting this here isn't really to spam you or any one, but rather get some professional feedback from professional woodworkers whether they think the tool in its current state is usefull to their work, or whether it needs improvements, that's why I tried to reveal as much as possible of the app's features in the video I posted so you don't have to buy the app to be able to give your feedback.

Being mainly a computer developer who likes woodworking, I thought I have a lot to learn from the community here. If the video isn't enough to show the app's features to be able to make a good assesment or review about it, I'm happy to give away promo codes to selected professionals who would be able to provide me with good ideas of how to make this useful to them and every one else.

Finally, as far as the price, it really comes at a tiny fraction of the price of fully loaded cutlist apps (e.g. CutList Plus Premium at $499) which work only on PCs, where this little inexpensive tool works from the palm of your hand on your iPhone, or iPad device, so you can have it with you in the shop without setting up special space for a full PC desk.

Hope this answers to your concerns. Again I'm still waiting to know if this would be a useful app to people out there or not. I can post more videos if necessary.

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rrbrown

· #4 · Nov 25, 2011

SmartCutter said:
Hi rrbrown,

I appreciate your opinion, however, my main purpose of posting this here isn't really to spam you or any one, but rather get some professional feedback from professional woodworkers whether they think the tool in its current state is usefull to their work, or whether it needs improvements, that's why I tried to reveal as much as possible of the app's features in the video I posted so you don't have to buy the app to be able to give your feedback.

Being mainly a computer developer who likes woodworking, I thought I have a lot to learn from the community here. If the video isn't enough to show the app's features to be able to make a good assesment or review about it, I'm happy to give away promo codes to selected professionals who would be able to provide me with good ideas of how to make this useful to them and every one else.

Finally, as far as the price, it really comes at a tiny fraction of the price of fully loaded cutlist apps (e.g. CutList Plus Premium at $499) which work only on PCs, where this little inexpensive tool works from the palm of your hand on your iPhone, or iPad device, so you can have it with you in the shop without setting up special space for a full PC desk.

Hope this answers to your concerns. Again I'm still waiting to know if this would be a useful app to people out there or not. I can post more videos if necessary.

If you want professional feedback you should ask people to try it free. You put a link to buy the app. There is no way to really check how it works by a video, multiple variations need to be tried to see it's capabilities.

As for CutList Plus Premium I Googled it and its a windows based program not an App. There is a big difference between the two. $499 for an App would put it in the top 16 highest priced Apps.

Most apps are free to maybe $3.99 they have some in the $9.99 range but they are on the expensive side considering what the majority cost. Even those apps either were released free for review and then a price was put on it or they hired people to test it. Again just my opinion.

If you had posted that you were developing the app and wanted to offer it free to refine it and make it a better app then I would have had no problem. However you had a link to buy it, you offered no other post to participate in the forum as a member, just post about your app that cost money.

If it looks like a duck and quacks it must be a duck.

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thegrgyle

· #5 · Nov 26, 2011

Let me start by stating that I do not own an iphone, itouch, or ipad, but wouldn't mind seeing an app like this out there..... :thumbsup:

I agree with EVERYTHING that RRbrown has said. :yes: Please don't come on here expecting us to help you get rich. If you really wanted our advice, you would offer the app for free for a trial period, and you would get plenty of advice.

I personally use a cut list program that I was able to download for free to my PC and it works great

. It doesn't do everything that I want, but for free, I am not complaining:blink:. Someday, if I ever do get an iphone, etc, I would be probably in the market for such an app that you offer.

IF you really want advice, your best bet is to offer it free for a trial run, and don't "spam" us with your offers.

DST

· #6 · Nov 26, 2011

I do like the idea of the app and could see myself using it. However watching a video of you using it only shows MD what you want me to see. Until I have my own hands on trial I won't spend 10$ on an app in development. This week I wanted a fraction calculator app. I got three for free but only one lived up to the promises in it's description.
Again it's a useful product but overpriced for the app market.
Good luck with it

SmartCutter

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 11, 2011

Ok, thanks everyone... I took the multiple stock sheets comment and have worked on it for the last 3 weeks constantly since I realized it is an important addition.

Other comments regarding trying something that is in development were valid, and for that I will try to get the app reviewed by some professional wood workers who also blog on the net by offering them free copies. I obviously can't offer the whole world free copies or put the app for free, since that will really make it hard for me to continue developing and supporting the app, however I think the best way is to get some well known bloggers out there review the app and that should help every one.

The rest of the comments I got seem to all complain about the price, which seems a little unfair given the amount of work and effort I put in the app. I will try to make discount offers through the app stores every now and then, but putting it for free seems like a realy unfair request.

In any case, I was hopping for some feedback, and thanks to every one who provided it. Here are some screen shots for the modified app:

And the individual sheet:

The new app should hit the app store soon.

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woodnthings

· #8 · Dec 11, 2011 (Edited)

my saw makes straight cuts

not "stopped" cuts. I don't have an I Phone or CNC, so I'm technologically deficient. But on the example below there are a few places where you can't run a straight cut through the workpiece, you need to make a "stopped" cut. That requires a jig saw in my experience, and I don't care how efficiently you use the material, a
"stopped cut" is labor intensive, $$$ and defeats the purpose of that layout . Maybe it's just me, but I want to make through cuts in every situation, cross cutting or ripping ....just sayin'.

bill

BTW there needs to be a way to select thin kerf vs full kerf blades which may affect the layout..?

__________________
Get your Optimal Cuts with Carpenter Pro!

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GeorgeC

· #9 · Dec 11, 2011

How is something like this on an iphone, etc useful to anyone?

I would think that it would only be useful on a computing devise that is connected to a printer.

What am I missing?

George

Reactions: 1

Ebuuck

· #10 · Dec 11, 2011

How 'bout a dust collection app? I'll spend $15 on one of those!

PPBART

· #11 · Dec 11, 2011

GeorgeC said:
...I would think that it would only be useful on a computing devise that is connected to a printer...

+1, my thought, too.

SmartCutter

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 11, 2011 (Edited)

GeorgeC said:
How is something like this on an iphone, etc useful to anyone?

I would think that it would only be useful on a computing devise that is connected to a printer.

George

Hi George,

The app *Does* allow you to print the diagram to your printer, email it to someone, or even save it to your photo album. See the attached screenshot.

Also the Pro version coming out soon allows you to email all cut sheets as a single pdf file with the detailed cut report.

Hope this helps.

As far as being useful, I think the mobility aspect helps, especially in the iPad version where you have a larger screen real estate. You don't need to setup a specail PC desk in your shop any more to install Cutlist programs that work only on a PC.

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thegrgyle

· #13 · Dec 11, 2011

woodnthings said:
not "stopped" cuts. I don't have an I Phone or CNC, so I'm technologically deficient. But on the example below there are a few places where you can't run a straight cut through the workpiece, you need to make a "stopped" cut. That requires a jig saw in my experience, and I don't care how efficiently you use the material, a
"stopped cut" is labor intensive, $$$ and defeats the purpose of that layout . Maybe it's just me, but I want to make through cuts in every situation, cross cutting or ripping ....just sayin'. bill

BTW there needs to be a way to select thin kerf vs full kerf blades which may affect the layout..?

__________________
Get your Optimal Cuts with Carpenter Pro!

I totally agree with bill here on this one..... in the above example, if someone was to try to make a full sheet into more manageable pieces, they might rip the piece where the 3x2 and 7x5 pieces meet, which would slice the 2x8 piece on the right in half. Then one could probably manage the rest of the cuts with some carefully planned rips and crosscuts.

Just my 2 cents.... (Gee, I wonder if those 2 cents would go towards the purchase of this app. :icon_smile: :shifty

Fabian

mackem

· #14 · Dec 12, 2011

:shifty: "Hey zat you TED?" :huh::laughing:

dmh

· #15 · Dec 12, 2011 (Edited)

mackem said:
:shifty: "Hey zat you TED?" :huh::laughing:

Nope, it's the new iTed....:laughing:

wooddude9

· #16 · Dec 12, 2011

I would rather waste 2 more sheets of plywood than try to cut up a sheet in that way. Even if I only made $5 hour I dont see the labor versus Mat value. Unless the plywood is $300 sheet. The app needs to work with the most used shop equipment we all have.

Big Stud

· #17 · Dec 12, 2011

Having been a sawman and woodworker for thirty some years, when the day arrives that I need an app to make a plan to cut my stock, I am gonna give it up. I will tell all of you how you can save a bundle ............ forget about buying all the apps :laughing:

SeanStuart

· #18 · Dec 12, 2011

Off topic - Sorta

I was listening to the radio in the car, A commercial for a lumber liquidator or something like that. They had a "Floor-finder" app.

I have that on my phone and it is not even a smart phone. It works every time!!:laughing:

woodnthings

· #19 · Dec 12, 2011

Yup

my tape measure has that also and the pencil behind my ear :yes: bill

SmartCutter

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 13, 2011

Floor Finder

SeanStuart said:
I was listening to the radio in the car, A commercial for a lumber liquidator or something like that. They had a "Floor-finder" app.

I have that on my phone and it is not even a smart phone. It works every time!!:laughing:

The "Floor Finder" you say... hmmmmm..... do you know how many iPhones they had to give up just to test that app? Gees... all of that and you guys are still not happy.... :laughing:

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