Stock Pieces Calculator

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SteveMaryland
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Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2021 3:41 pm
Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Stock Pieces Calculator

Post by SteveMaryland »

I have had success with a spreadsheet which allows me to figure out the minimum number of raw boards needed for a job.

From raw lumber, we need to get a certain number of pieces of length A, length B etc. How many pieces (minimum) of raw lumber needed?

Column headings explain what is below.
MATERIAL CALCULATOR.JPG
MATERIAL CALCULATOR.JPG (83.76 KiB) Viewed 544 times
Color-coding of each finished length allows us to visually verify that we have the correct count of pieces.

Calculates waste from each board and total waste, which allows the user to observe if cuts can be shuffled around to get less waste.

Calculates raw material cost, which is just the qty of raw boards x price per board.

Very nice to be able to figure out how few boards I need rather than guess over or under. Considering what lumber now costs...

Spreadsheet file here:
SAMPLE LENGTH CALCULATOR.xlsx
(11.97 KiB) Downloaded 76 times

Speaking of waste cutoff lumber, is anyone here doing any splicing/jointing of waste lumber to get usable stock? What cutter and process used? Or is it just more of a "waste" of labor than it is worth?
Mark V, Model 555510, Serial No. 102689, purchased November 1989. Upgraded to 520
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SteveMaryland
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Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2021 3:41 pm
Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Re: Stock Pieces Calculator

Post by SteveMaryland »

By popular demand, a new improved calculator:
MATERIAL CALCULATOR.JPG
MATERIAL CALCULATOR.JPG (132.31 KiB) Viewed 414 times
Previous spreadsheet did not calculate kerf - now user can input kerf width and each kerf cut is added to the waste calculation. Sometimes kerf cannot be neglected...

Price per board and sales tax now calculated in total price - user input.

Latest spreadsheet now calculates "COUNT 1" and "COUNT 2" which are simply the sum total of piece lengths. When both counts are equal, this helps to verify that all of the "finished pieces" required for the whole job are represented in the boards.

The way this spreadsheet is used, start with 1 stock board and add "finish piece lengths" to the "finished pieces as arrayed on board" columns until the remaining "waste" on a board is too short to fit any more lengths. Keep adding stock boards and populating them until all "finished pieces" required are accounted for. Object is to minimize number of stock boards required. Shuffling pieces around by inspection enables user to find minimum.

Obviously user will need to juggle the numbers and add rows and columns to suit needs. Some spreadsheet experience required.

Length units are inches...
NEW IMPROVED SAMPLE LENGTH CALCULATOR.xlsx
(12.47 KiB) Downloaded 70 times
Mark V, Model 555510, Serial No. 102689, purchased November 1989. Upgraded to 520
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