What is Autodesk Inventor Nesting? Features, Benefits, and Use Cases

Autodesk Inventor Nesting is a powerful software tool that helps manufacturers reduce material costs and maximize efficiency during flat cutting operations. By intelligently arranging parts on raw sheet materials, it minimizes waste and optimizes yield, ultimately improving profitability.

Ideal for sheet metal fabrication, packaging, woodworking, and other industries that rely on flat stock materials, Inventor Nesting provides seamless integration with Autodesk Inventor and Inventor CAM, allowing for efficient workflows from design to manufacturing.

Key Features of Autodesk Inventor Nesting

Automated True-Shape Nesting

Inventor Nesting uses true-shape nesting algorithms to generate highly efficient layouts of parts on flat sheets. This reduces raw material waste and improves material utilization across multiple jobs.

Multi-Sheet and Multi-Material Support

Generate multiple nesting studies with various materials, sheet sizes, and packaging options. Compare different combinations to find the most cost-effective and material-efficient setup.

Efficiency and Cost Comparison

Run nesting studies to compare material use, part fit, and estimated costs. Select the best strategy to maximize job profitability based on specific business or production goals.

Orientation Control for Material Constraints

Specify part orientations and grain direction to meet aesthetic or structural requirements. This is especially useful for wood grain matching or minimizing material stress and cracking.

Smooth Integration with Inventor CAM and AutoCAD

Inventor Nesting allows you to:

• Create 3D models of nests for further CAM processing.

• Generate cutting paths using Inventor CAM.

• Export DXF™ files compatible with AutoCAD and other CAM software for generating toolpaths.

Benefits of Using Autodesk Inventor Nesting

• Reduce raw material costs through optimized nesting strategies.

• Increase manufacturing efficiency by minimizing manual layout work.

• Maintain consistency in production with orientation and grain control.

• Simplify your workflow by connecting directly to Inventor CAM and AutoCAD.

• Improve production planning and quoting with detailed material usage and cost comparisons.

Common Use Cases

Inventor Nesting is ideal for:

• Sheet metal fabrication

• Wood panel cutting

• Composite and textile processing

• Packaging and box manufacturing

• Any operation that uses flat raw materials for part production

Final Thoughts

Autodesk Inventor Nesting is a valuable tool for manufacturers aiming to reduce waste, lower costs, and improve productivity. With built-in automation, integration with Autodesk tools, and smart nesting logic, it provides everything needed to transform flat material usage into a streamlined, cost-effective process.