Introduction

FastNesting is an optimization plugin for Rhinoceros 3D that helps furniture workshops move from a 3D model to nested layouts, cut lists, labels, and technical reports without leaving Rhino. While you are still designing, nest and reconfigure the product for better material use. It is designed for panel and melamine work; rectangular pieces are the common case, and many non-rectangular outlines are supported using a tighter footprint for nesting and reports.

From 3D model to nested Rhino layout with cut list report. This online manual is kept current for version 1.2.5.

Typical workflow

At a glance, a FastNesting job goes from 3D model to cut-ready layout in a few steps. Each step links to its full section below.

The practical way to open FastNesting is the FastNesting menu in Rhino (the FastNesting dropdown): Nesting, Stock Nesting, Stickers, Settings, Group Edit, and the rest. You can still type a command name if you prefer; day to day, use the menu.

You can run this more than once. Nest, read Usage % and leftovers, then adjust the model or panel options and nest again.

Editions & licensing

PRO trial: Install FastNesting first, then open the plugin. If you have not already used a trial, start a 10 calendar day evaluation of full PRO features from License — FastNesting asks for your email to confirm. During the trial you use the same PRO tools documented in this manual. When the trial ends, FastNesting switches to the Free edition unless you activate a PRO license.

System requirements & installation

FastNesting can be downloaded from Food4Rhino, our official Rhinoceros 3D plugin marketplace, from here, or installed directly within Rhino using the Package Manager.

To install via Package Manager

• Ensure you have Rhinoceros 7 (Windows), Rhinoceros 8 (Windows or Mac), or Rhinoceros 9 WIP. FastNesting is available in the Package Manager on Rhino 7 (Windows) and Rhino 8 (Windows/Mac); Rhino 9 WIP uses the matching package when published.
• Open Rhino.
• In the command line, type PackageManager and press Enter.
• In the search bar, type FastNesting.
• Click Install and restart Rhino if prompted.

After you install, open FastNesting. If you have not already used a trial, start it from License (email confirmation). The trial lasts 10 calendar days; then FastNesting switches to Free unless you activate a PRO license. See Editions & licensing.

To install from a download

If you prefer to install from a direct download instead of Package Manager, get the .yak file from our website or Food4Rhino:

• Rhino 7 (Windows) and Rhino 8 (Windows/Mac): Uninstall any previous version from Package Manager first, then open Rhino and drag the .yak file onto the Rhino viewport (or Rhino window). Restart Rhino if prompted. Use the package that matches your Rhino major version. On Mac, FastNesting runs on Rhino 8 only.

Update / reinstall

Recommended (Mac and Windows): Use Rhino's Package Manager. In Rhino, type PackageManager in the command bar, uninstall the previous FastNesting version, then install the new one. Your license is not affected and should register automatically. Restart Rhino after the update so the new version loads correctly.

Manual installation

• Rhino 7 (Windows) and Rhino 8 (Windows/Mac): Download the matching .yak package from our website or Food4Rhino. Uninstall the previous version from Package Manager first, then open Rhino and drag the .yak file onto the Rhino window to install. On Mac, FastNesting runs on Rhino 8 only.

If you see problems or suspect corrupted files from an older install, remove the plugin folder before reinstalling: in Rhino go to File → Properties (or Rhino → Preferences on Mac), open Plug-ins, find FastNesting in the list, right-click it and choose Open containing folder. Delete only the contents of the FastNesting folder (do not delete files outside that folder), then install again using Package Manager or by dragging the .yak onto Rhino.

In all cases: Restart Rhino after uninstalling and again after installing so that changes take effect.

Keeping your license and settings when updating

In most cases your PRO license and settings are preserved when you update: after installing the new version, open Rhino and your license should still be active.

If you have licensing problems after updating

If after updating you see license errors, "invalid license", or the plugin does not recognize your PRO license, do the following to reset and re-activate on this computer:

1. In Rhino, run License_FastNesting.
2. Click Deactivate License. This releases this computer from your license, so you can activate on another computer or re-activate here after reinstalling.
3. If you installed via Package Manager: open Rhino, go to Tools > Package Manager, search for FastNesting, click Uninstall, then close Rhino. Otherwise, close Rhino.
4. Install the new version of FastNesting (see How to update above).
5. Open Rhino, run License_FastNesting, and activate again with your same email and license key.

This process is the same on Windows and Mac. Your license key is not lost; you are only deactivating this machine so you can activate again cleanly.

Settings

Panel parameters and units are centralized in Settings. Open it from the Selected parts configurator footer or by running Settings_FastNesting. Here you set report units (mm, cm, or in), default panel parameters (the full default-panel form is inline in Settings), fraction precision for inches, the nesting layout origin (starting X and Y in Top View), Parts (Distinguish by machining, Trial / PRO), drawing and labels (part and dimension font sizes, optional 3D piece numbers on source solids, and Draw Remnant curves for leftover rectangles on the layout), and density unit (PRO). Stock nesting (Trial / PRO) sets Preview vs Commit, Capture offcuts, and the minimum leftover size. In Trial and PRO, Reports chooses cut-list columns, List offcuts in reports, sticker fields and barcode, and optional Notes on parts. Panel per material is still configured from the Selected parts configurator.

Panel Parameters

In FastNesting, each part’s material is the name of its Rhino layer. Panel Parameters sets sheet size, kerf, margins, and nesting options for the default panel or for one material (layer) at a time. When you open the dialog from Panel per material → Edit…, the bold name at the top is that material / Rhino layer. The default panel used by materials without their own panel (and by the fallback name Default) is edited inline in Settings → Panel parameters.

Open the default panel form in Settings → Panel parameters, or open Panel Parameters from the Selected parts configurator (Panel per material → Edit… / Default for each material).

• Panel Size: Set sheet length and width — thickness is detected automatically from your Rhino model.
• Blade Kerf: The customizable width of your cutting tool. Common values:
  • 0.3 cm (3mm) Standard for most CNC router bits and thin kerf saw blades.
  • 1/8" for imperial measurements: Common for full kerf saw blades.
• Safe Margin: The customizable edge margin to avoid damage. Typical: 0.5cm (5mm) or 1/4"
• Part Oversize (PRO): Optional oversize around nested pieces on the sheet; set in this dialog (per-side margins when enabled).
• Edge Banding Thickness: Select from the most common thicknesses for your edge material.
  If you plan to use edge banding, you should verify or adjust these values for the desired type R or F.
  Default values:
  • Rigid (R): For thick edge banding (2mm) | (5/64 in)
  • Flexible (F): For thin edge banding (1mm) | (3/64 in)
  • Preset 0 mm (R / F): Cut and finished nesting sizes stay the same while you still designate edges for exports (L1/L2/W1/W2 and R/F) — useful when banding thickness is handled outside the nest.
  

  Visual representation of edge banding applied to nesting layouts.

• Keep Grain Direction: Enable when working with wood veneer to maintain grain alignment along the length. When this is off, Rotation Priority appears: Grain first, Cross first, or Auto — Auto compares more layouts and picks a preferred result (PRO).
• Veneer match by Group (PRO): When enabled, the nesting algorithm prioritizes keeping parts from the same assembly close together.
• Estimated weight in reports (PRO): When enabled, reports can include an estimated weight for the nested (cut) pieces. Use the density preset dropdown to choose a material type (e.g. MDF, Melamine, Plywood, Wood, Glass, Steel, Iron) or Custom to enter a density value in kg/m³ or lb/ft³ (depending on the unit set in Settings). The preset values match typical densities for each material so you get a reasonable weight estimate in the report.
• Save (default panel): When you open Panel Parameters from Settings, click Save to store sheet size, kerf, margins, density, and nesting options as the global default for future sessions. Materials without their own panel use these values.

Per material vs default: As noted above, each material (Rhino layer) can use its own panel parameters or the default values. Defaults are defined inline in Settings → Panel parameters. To set or change parameters for a specific material, open the Selected parts configurator, expand Panel per material, and use Edit… or Default for that material — Edit… assigns custom options; Default restores global defaults.

Selected parts configurator

Dialog title: Selected parts configurator (sometimes called Piece Namer in product pages). The table lists selected pieces and lets you edit names, quantities, edge banding, and nesting options before the solver runs.

Materials = Rhino layers

In FastNesting, each part’s material is the name of its Rhino layer. Put solids of the same sheet stock on the same layer (for example White Melamine 18). Change material in Rhino’s Layers panel — the Material column below is read-only.

• Part Name: Click to edit and give meaningful names (e.g., "Door", "Shelf", "Side Panel")
• Group Name: Shows Rhino group and subgroup names. Set them with Rhino's SetGroupName command, or use GroupEdit_FastNesting to browse and rename groups without ungrouping. Double-click a group name to set Mult for that group (PRO).
• Material: The Rhino layer name of the part (read-only). If no usable layer name is available, FastNesting shows Default. To change material, move the solid to another layer in Rhino, then run FastNesting again (or re-select parts).
• Skip: Check to exclude a row from this nesting run without renaming geometry. You can also prefix a part name with ! in Rhino for permanent exclusion.
• L1/L2 and W1/W2 columns (PRO): Set edge banding by typing R or F:
  • R = Rigid edge banding on that edge
  • F = Flexible edge banding on that edge
  • Empty = No edge banding
  • L1/L2 = the two length-direction edges
  • W1/W2 = the two width-direction edges
• Qty.: Physical quantity of that part in your Rhino model (how many solids you selected).
• Mult (PRO): Virtual copies for nesting — nest more instances without duplicating geometry in Rhino. Use footer Set Mult… for all active rows. Reports show the nested count; Qty. stays the model count. See FAQ — Mult vs Qty.
• Grain.90°: Fixed 90° grain orientation preference during nesting (not free rotation).
• Panel per material (PRO): Each entry is a material (Rhino layer) found in the selection. Use Edit… / Default so nesting uses the right sheet size and options for that layer — Edit… opens Panel Parameters for that material.
• Part Label: How parts appear on the layout and in reports: Number, Name, Number & Name, or All (Free: Number only).
• Machining Drawings (PRO): When enabled, FastNesting reads holes, slots, and outlines and draws them on nested parts. Use Display for Side A, Side B, and X-ray modes.

Exclude parts: Use the Skip column for this run only, or prefix the Rhino object / part name with ! (e.g., !handles) for ongoing exclusion.

Footer buttons

• Info — short in-dialog guide
• Settings — opens FastNesting Settings (units, defaults, drawing options)
• Set Mult… (PRO) — apply Mult to all non-Skip rows
• Apply — saves your edits to Rhino and plugin settings without running nesting; the dialog stays open
• Continue — saves the same changes, closes the dialog, runs nesting, then opens Export Report (PRO) or draws the Rhino layout (Free)
• Cancel — closes without saving edits made since the dialog opened

Grid selection stays in sync with Rhino: selecting rows selects the corresponding solids, and vice versa.

Machining Drawings PRO

Machining Drawings reads machining geometry from your Rhino model and draws it on each nested part in the layout. It is intended as a 2D visual reference for holes, slots, outlines, and drill centers alongside the cut plan.

FastNesting can read panel-part geometry and, with Machining Drawings enabled, show 2D machining detail on the nested layout.

• Enable it in the Selected parts configurator before clicking Continue.
• Use Display (Side A, Side B, Side A (X-ray), Side B (X-ray)) to control which face is drawn and when both faces appear at once.
• Mirrored instances in Rhino are drawn so machining and edges match shop reality versus a non-mirrored twin.
• If you toggle it on or off, close the dialog and re-run FastNesting so pieces reload with the correct detail level.
• Machining Drawings are visual references for production planning and review; they are not direct CNC machine programs. Always visually verify machining before production.

Running FastNesting

A typical nesting run follows these steps:

1. Select solids in Rhino (panel parts), or run FastNesting with no selection and pick objects at the prompt.
2. Settings (first run only) — confirm report units and defaults, then OK.
3. Selected parts configurator — review names, Skip, edge banding (L1–W2), Mult, Grain.90°, panel per material, and Machining Drawings. Click Apply to save without nesting, or Continue when ready to nest.
4. Large layout (if shown) — confirm before nesting on very heavy jobs with machining enabled.
5. Nesting — FastNesting optimizes placement and shows progress. Press Esc to stop a long run. With Keep Grain Direction off, Rotation Priority: Auto (PRO) compares more layouts per material and picks a preferred layout among the options.
6. Export Report (Trial / PRO) — after nesting completes, choose report name and Rhino, PDF, and/or Excel. Cancel closes without drawing. Free skips this dialog and draws the Rhino layout automatically. See Export & Reports.
7. Layout in Rhino — nested panels and parts appear on organized layers. If some parts do not fit, FastNesting shows an Unplaced Parts or Oversized Part(s) notice.
8. 3D piece numbers (optional, PRO) — enable 3D piece numbers on source solids in Settings for Text-dot labels after nesting, or run Show3DPieceNumbers_FastNesting afterward. See Command reference.

Configure defaults first in Settings and Panel Parameters so each run starts with the right sheet size, kerf, and units.

To nest onto the panels and leftovers already in the shop, use Stock Nesting instead of this full-sheet workflow.

Stock Nesting

Normal Nesting asks: cut these parts on new full sheets (size from Panel Parameters). Stock Nesting asks: cut these parts using the sheets and leftovers the shop already has.

You keep a simple stock file (extension .fns). FastNesting places parts on those panels, draws the layout, and — only when you confirm — reduces the quantities in that file. Available in Trial and PRO.

Two things to keep separate

• Rhino parts — the 3D pieces you select (same idea as normal Nesting).
• Shop inventory — a stock file ending in .fns: panels and offcuts with material, thickness, size, and quantity. It is not stored inside the Rhino model. Load and Save it like a small spreadsheet for the shop.

One stock file per shop station works best. If two computers edit the same file at once, someone can overwrite the other.

First time (about 10 minutes)

1. Open FastNesting → Settings → Stock nesting. Leave Default run mode on Preview and leave Capture offcuts on Commit off until you understand Preview vs Commit.
2. Build a test inventory first: menu FastNesting → Stock Nesting → Manage inventory. Click New, add a few Panel rows, then Save (for example ShopStock.fns). Material must match the Rhino layer name — in FastNesting the layer is the material (leading and trailing spaces are ignored). Thickness must match the parts. If they do not match, Nest from inventory shows No stock.
3. Select your 3D parts in Rhino, then menu FastNesting → Stock Nesting → Nest from inventory.
4. The Selected parts configurator opens with a Nest from inventory band at the top (no Panel per material list). Set names, Mult, Skip, edgebands, and Grain.90° as needed, then Continue. Sheet sizes come from the inventory.
5. Check Selected parts vs inventory at the top, fill Width × Height × Qty if needed, then click Continue in Preview.
6. Finish the usual draw / export steps. Quantities in the stock file do not go down yet.
7. When the layout is good, use Commit this layout (or run Stock Nesting again with that layout selected) and confirm. Then Qty goes down and the file is saved.

Safe loop: configure parts → try → look → commit only when sure.

Selected parts vs inventory

The match panel lists each material and thickness in the selection. Rotation shows the same label as the configurator (Keep grain, Auto, Grain first, Cross first). Edit… opens Panel Parameters for kerf, grain, and margins for that material and thickness. Sheet size comes from the inventory rows, not from the usual default sheet size.

• OK — this nest can use stock for that material (with the current Show filter).
• Hidden by Show — the file has stock of the other type. Change Show, or add a Panel or Offcut row.
• No stock / Qty 0 — this material is needed but not in inventory yet.

Inventory grid

• Type — Panel is a full sheet from the rack; Offcut is a leftover board.
• Use — uncheck to skip a row for this nest without deleting it from the file.
• Width / Height / Qty — sheet axes on screen: Width ≈ horizontal (X), Height ≈ vertical (Y), same idea as Panel Parameters.
• Show — All / Panel / Offcut. Controls which types take part in the nest. Save and Commit always keep the full stock file; hidden rows are not deleted.

Manage inventory

Menu FastNesting → Stock Nesting → Manage inventory (command StockInventory_FastNesting) edits shop stock only — no nesting, no layout. Use this first to create a test inventory before Nest from inventory.

• New / Load / Save / Save As — create or write the stock file.
• Export… / Import… — Excel or CSV. Export a file, edit it, and keep it as your template. Import fills the grid only; Save or Done writes the .fns file. The Units row must match Settings → Units.
• Add row / Remove / Merge — edit the list; Merge combines identical sizes into one Qty.
• Done — saves (when a path is set) and closes.

Preview vs Commit stock

If you are not ready to lower shop quantities, stay on Preview. You can change the default in Settings → Stock nesting.

• A normal Nesting layout cannot update the stock file — only layouts drawn by Stock Nesting.
• The same layout cannot deduct stock twice.
• If the file changed on another computer, FastNesting may ask you to reload before Save or Commit.

Leftovers on layouts, lists, and inventory

Three independent options. Turning one on does not turn the others on.

• Draw Remnant curves (Settings → Drawing and labels) — draw leftover rectangles on the nesting layout (Re1, Re2…). Does not change the stock file.
• List offcuts in reports (Settings → Reports) — add leftover rows to nest reports. Does not draw remnant curves.
• Capture offcuts on Commit (Settings → Stock nesting) — on Commit, add usable leftovers as Offcut rows in the stock file. Preview alone never inventorizes. Size gate: Min long side / Min short side.

Export & Reports

The Export Report dialog appears after nesting finishes in Trial and PRO. Choose a report name and which outputs to generate. The Free edition skips this dialog and draws the layout in Rhino automatically. If you cancel Export Report, nothing is drawn to the document.

Export Report dialog (Trial / PRO): appears after nesting; choose Rhino, PDF, and/or Excel.

Export to Rhino Document

• Draws directly in active document
• Organized layers by function
• Smart labeling with four modes

Export your nesting results directly to your Rhino document for layout review and visual verification in the model — shop reference, not machine code.

Available in: Free and PRO

PDF Export

• Visual layout with accurate scaling
• Detailed statistics and cut lists
• Piece labels with full information

Generate PDF reports with visual layouts, statistics, and piece information based on nest dimensions and settings. FastNesting layers control the Rhino drawing and the PDF sheet layouts. The PDF reads those layers when you export. If FastNesting (or Parts / Placed Bounds) is off, layout pages can be blank while the cut-list pages still look fine. Turn the layers on, then export again.

Available in: Trial and PRO

PDF stickers

Stickers moved from Excel to PDF. Print part labels on four standard sheet layouts for everyday printers. Stickers come from the last nesting in this Rhino session (normal Nesting or Stock Nesting).

Menu FastNesting → Stickers, then pick a layout:

• Letter 10 2x4" — 10 labels on US Letter (2 × 4 in). Compatible ref. 8363.
• A4 10 96x51 — 10 labels on A4 (96 × 51 mm). Compatible ref. L7113 or 4667.
• A4 18 64x45 — 18 labels on A4 (64 × 45 mm). Compatible ref. 6171.
• A4 24 70x37 — 24 labels on A4 (70 × 37 mm). Compatible ref. 3474.

Compatible ref. numbers are common shop sheets that match the label size. FastNesting does not print an official Avery template — print the PDF at 100% (actual size). Do a test print on your actual printer before using a full label sheet.

The Stickers dialog asks for a report name and an optional Include scan index CSV file. Then choose where to save the PDF.

Each label can show: report name, material, thickness, group name, part name, Notes, Qty, piece number, and size. A barcode is included when Show barcode is on. In Settings → Reports you can turn Show notes and Show barcode on or off.

Fields stay empty when there is nothing to print — for example Notes is blank if the part has no notes.

Available in: Trial and PRO. Run a nesting first in this Rhino session.

Excel Export

• Detailed cutting lists by material
• Material summaries and nest quantities
• Cut lists from nested dimensions and settings

Export Excel spreadsheets with cutting lists and material summaries from nested dimensions and settings. In Settings → Reports you can choose which cut-list columns to include. Material and thickness appear as section headers, not as filter columns on every row. For a table with Material and Thickness per part, use Stickers and enable Include scan index CSV. For printable part labels, use PDF stickers above.

Available in: Trial and PRO

Understanding the nesting layout in Rhino

After running FastNesting, the result is drawn in your Rhino document. Each panel title shows thickness, Usage %, and Parts so you can read utilization at a glance (the same style appears on PDF nesting diagrams). Use that number (and leftover rectangles, if drawn) to decide whether the current design is worth cutting, or whether a size, grain, or sheet choice should change first. This section explains how to read the layout: line types, layers, and dimensions (including when oversize is used). These FastNesting layers are output layers for the nested result — they are separate from the material layers on your source solids (the Rhino layer names that become the Material column). For export formats and availability, see Export & Reports.

Piece outline (contour)

Each nested piece is drawn with a continuous (solid) outline. The outline takes the color of the material layer the piece belongs to, so pieces of different materials are easy to tell apart at a glance. It lives on Parts → Placed Bounds → Outline.

Edgebanding lines

Edgebanding is drawn on the Parts → Edgebanding layer, by default in cyan (light blue). The lines are offset slightly inward from the piece edge — not exactly on the border — so they are easier to read against the outline. The line style tells you the banding type on that side:

• Continuous (solid) lines indicate R (rigid) edgebanding on that edge.
• Dashed (non-continuous) lines indicate F (flexible) edgebanding on that edge.

Clearance (roughing) contour

When Part Oversize is set in Panel Parameters (PRO; formerly Part Clearance), FastNesting draws the outer rough-cut contour on the Parts → Clearance layer, by default in red. This is the oversized stock outline (with its oversize dimensions) that surrounds the finished piece — see double dimensions below.

Machining drawing line types

With Machining Drawings enabled (PRO), cuts, slots, and holes are drawn on the Parts → Machining drawings sublayers (Outline & slots and Drill Holes in dark blue, Drill Centers in black). The line style encodes depth:

• Continuous (solid) lines for through features: piece edges, pockets, and holes that go all the way through the panel.
• Dashed lines for blind (non-through) features: boxes, channels, and drillings that do not pass through, including back-face holes.

Colors are customizable

These are default colors. Most objects are drawn by layer, so you can recolor them at any time from Rhino's Layers panel (for example, change Edgebanding or Clearance to suit your plotting setup). The one exception is the piece outline, which follows the material layer color — change the material layer to recolor those contours.

Layers created by FastNesting

FastNesting organizes the nesting result under a FastNesting parent layer with fixed sublayers. These do not replace your model’s material layers (input); they only structure the drawn layout and PDF content.

• Panels → Sheet Bounds (panel rectangles), Panel Labels (title blocks), Cut strip ruler (horizontal/vertical cut positions).
• Parts → Placed Bounds (Outline + Dimensions), Edgebanding (PRO), Labels (part number/name on each nested piece).
• Parts → Clearance (PRO, when Part Oversize is on): Outline + Dimensions for the rough-cut contour.
• Parts → Machining drawings (PRO): Outline & slots, Drill Holes, Drill Centers. Hiding these sublayers also excludes them from PDF export.
• FastNesting → Remnant (optional): leftover rectangles labeled Re1, Re2… when Draw Remnant curves is on in Settings → Drawing and labels. These are layout leftovers — they do not change the stock file unless you use Stock Nesting Capture on Commit. See Stock Nesting.
• FastNesting → 3D piece numbers (PRO, optional in Settings): Text dots anchored on original 3D solids — not the same as 2D Parts → Labels on the sheet. Use Show3DPieceNumbers_FastNesting or enable auto-labeling in Settings; see Command reference.

Toggle sublayer visibility in Rhino to show or hide specific elements for plotting or export.

Hidden layers are skipped when drawing

FastNesting layers control the Rhino drawing and the PDF sheet layouts. The PDF reads those layers when you export. If FastNesting (or Parts / Placed Bounds) is off, layout pages can be blank while the cut-list pages still look fine. Turn the layers on, then export again. If Drill Centers is off, drill-center points are not drawn in Rhino or exported to PDF. Hiding a parent such as Machining drawings excludes all of its sublayers (Outline & slots, Drill Holes, Drill Centers) at once.

Double dimensions when roughing is applied

When Part Oversize is set (PRO), each piece has an outer rough contour and an inner finish contour. The layout and reports can show two dimensions for the same edge:

• Rough (outer) dimension: the size to cut first, including the roughing allowance.
• Finish (inner) dimension: the final size after trimming or machining.

Both may appear on the Rhino drawing and in the PDF so the workshop knows which dimension is for the rough cut and which for the finish cut.

Smart Labeling System

Command reference

Best practices

Troubleshooting & support

Purchase & invoice (business details & VAT)

Payments are processed securely by Paddle (our merchant of record). If you need your company name, VAT / tax ID, and billing address on the tax invoice, you can add them during checkout.

The Add VAT number option appears on the payment step (after Continue), not on the first screen—look for it in the left-hand order summary next to the payment form.

If you need help after purchase, contact support@camonsoft.com.

Frequently Asked Questions