SmartPlacement

Bottom-left and NFP-based placement with optimal rotation support

Our smart placement algorithm uses No-Fit Polygon (NFP) calculations and bottom-left placement strategies to find optimal part positions. With support for 90-degree rotations, you get maximum material utilization and reduced waste.

NFP-Based
Bottom-Left
90° Rotations

PlacementStrategies

Two powerful algorithms for optimal part positioning

Bottom-Left Fill

Greedy placement strategy

Places parts starting from bottom-left corner, moving right and up. Fast and efficient for most nesting scenarios. Grid-based search with configurable step size (default 2mm).

O(n²)
Fast

NFP-Based

Geometric optimization

Uses No-Fit Polygon calculations for optimal placement. More accurate than grid search, finding better positions by computing valid placement regions geometrically.

O(n²)
Moderate

Rotation Support

Multi-angle optimization

Tests 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° rotations for each part. Rotation angles are determined by part classification (circles: 0°, rectangles: 0° and 90°, irregular: 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°).

O(k)
Fast

Collision Detection

Two-stage validation

Fast AABB pre-check followed by precise polygon intersection testing. Handles complex shapes with holes by subtracting hole areas from outer polygons during collision checks.

O(n)
Fast

Smart PlacementProcess

How smart placement finds optimal positions for each part

1

Rotation Testing

Try multiple rotation angles

Tests allowed rotation angles (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) for each part to find the best fit. Rotation is determined by part classification and user preferences, maximizing space efficiency.

2

Bottom-Left Strategy

Start from bottom-left corner

Places parts starting from the bottom-left corner, moving right and up. This greedy approach creates compact layouts by filling space systematically from the lowest available position.

3

NFP Calculation

Compute No-Fit Polygon

Uses No-Fit Polygon (NFP) calculations to determine valid placement positions. NFP represents all positions where a part can be placed relative to existing parts without overlap.

4

Collision Detection

AABB pre-check and precise validation

Performs fast axis-aligned bounding box (AABB) intersection tests first, then precise polygon-polygon collision detection. Handles complex shapes with holes accurately.

5

Position Optimization

Find optimal placement location

Evaluates multiple candidate positions to find the best fit. Considers proximity to existing parts, sheet boundaries, and material utilization to maximize efficiency.

6

Validation & Placement

Final validation and part placement

Validates that the placement is collision-free, within sheet boundaries (with margin), and holes are properly contained. Once validated, the part is placed and the process continues.

PlacementFeatures

Optimal Positioning

Finds best placement location

Rotation Support

0°, 90°, 180°, 270° angles

Collision-Free

Accurate overlap detection

Boundary Respect

Maintains sheet margins

Hole Handling

Properly accounts for holes

Fast Execution

Efficient algorithms

No-Fit Polygon (NFP)

The No-Fit Polygon is a powerful geometric concept that represents all valid positions where one part can be placed relative to another without overlap.

Geometric Precision

Uses Minkowski difference to compute exact valid placement regions, not just grid positions.

Better Utilization

Finds optimal positions that grid-based methods might miss, improving material efficiency.

Efficient Search

Reduces search space by focusing on NFP boundaries instead of scanning entire sheet.

NFP Concept

NFP(A, B) = All positions where part B can be placed relative to part A without overlap

Computed using Minkowski difference: NFP = A ⊕ (-B)

Valid placements are found on the NFP boundary, reducing search space significantly.

RotationSupport

Intelligent rotation based on part classification

Circles

No rotation needed for circular parts

Rectangles

0°, 90°

Two orientations for rectangular parts

Squares

Single orientation for square parts

Irregular

0°, 90°, 180°, 270°

Full rotation support for complex shapes

Ready to Optimize Your Part Placement?

Experience smart placement with NFP calculations and bottom-left strategies. Get maximum material utilization with optimal rotation support.

Start Nesting Now