How to use Excel to determine cutting and reusing stock to fill or

[joe7040]

Hello,
we have a customer that requires we cut stock to different lengths. I've
seen the cutting stock programs, but they don't address my needs. After
determining the number of cuts I also have to combine the remaining material
to make units.

Example:
I have a 16" piece stock, which can be cut into 4" segments.

Customer requires:
5 units that are 40" 2X16" and adding an 8" piece
3 units that are 36" 2X16" and adding a 4" piece
4 units that are 32" 2X16"
1 unit 28" 1X16" and 1X12" piece
2 units 4" 2X4" pieces

I've been able to determine how many 16" pieces I need to start with, but I
run out of steam when trying to work through using the remaining pieces after
the 1st cut.
thanks

 

[Joel]

Are we really any smarter than the Greeks were 2000 years ago. The greeks go
into battle had to load up there chariots with supplies and were finding out
if they overloaded the chariots they would tip over or were too heavy to keep
upo with the other chariots; and if the under loaded the chariots they would
need more chariots. Just wathc George C. scott in the movie Patton. So the
Greek mathematicans decided to attempt to solve the typical packing problem.
Mathemeaticans have be trying to solve this problem for 2000 years. computer
do help but somebody has to determine which alogithm to use. How do we
optimally divided different size itmes into different size packages.

Do you think your problem of dividing your 16" stock into smaller pieces is
any different. The answer to your problem is to write a program that tries
every different combination and then determine the amount of scrap material
is left over and the best solution is the one that give the minimum amount of
scrap. You have an advantage of having a computer that can try every
combination which the Greeks didn't have.

Or maybe the best solution is just to charge your customers for the scrap
material as well as the actual pieces and make additional profits on the
scrap material you sell them. You make more money that way.