Calculator page · 3 min read
Bar stock cutting calculator
Machine shops and metal fabricators often buy standard bar lengths. A bar stock cutting calculator tells you how many bars to pull before you start sawing.
How Cutlistor optimizes bar stock
The free linear cut list optimizer accepts multiple bar stock stock lengths, part lengths, quantities, and kerf. Review stick count and yield before you buy.
Remnant policy
Decide whether short offcuts are scrap or inventory. The optimizer highlights yield so you can compare plans.
Remnant and inventory policy
Bar stock cutting is pure 1D — kerf honesty drives length accuracy.
- Tag useful offcuts in job notes
- Enter inventory remnants as stock rows on paid plans
- Compare yield between 6 m and 12 m purchases
Step-by-step bar stock linear workflow
List every finished bar stock length and quantity. Enter stock lengths you actually buy — 6 m, 12 m, or 20 ft mill bars. Set kerf to 3–5 mm abrasive or band saw kerf.
Run the optimizer and read stick count plus offcuts. Compare 6 m vs 12 m mill lengths on the same cut list when price per foot differs.
For mixed jobs, run panels in the sheet optimizer and sticks here. Link both PDFs in the job folder.
Kerf and stock lengths for bar stock
Machine shops pull standard bar lengths — optimizer reports how many bars before sawing starts.
Decide remnant policy: short offcuts as inventory or scrap affects how you read yield.
| Stock option | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 6 m | Common mill bar |
| 12 m | Fewer joints on long parts |
| 20 ft | Imperial service center stock |
Worked example: machined blanks from bar
Thirty blanks at 120 mm from 6 m round bar with 3 mm kerf — compare stick count against manual longest-first sketch.
Import, export, and verification
Import linear CSV or XLSX from /samples/cutlist-import/ when Excel already holds bar stock lengths.
Export PDF cut sequences for the crew. Paid plans add saved projects and mitered ends on linear parts in the dashboard.
Free anonymous use includes 3 calculations per day, up to 15 part rows, and CSV imports of up to 5 rows.
Before you cut bar stock: checklist
Confirm bar stock stock length matches the bundle on order. Confirm kerf for your cutting process.
Link sheet and linear PDFs when one job uses both material forms.
FAQ
- Is this bar stock linear calculator free?
- Yes. The linear cut list optimizer runs in the browser with free-tier daily limits.
- Can I use multiple bar stock stock lengths?
- Yes. Enter every stick length you buy — 6 m, 12 m, or 20 ft mill bars — and compare yield.
- How do I set kerf for bar stock?
- Measure once on scrap. For bar stock, 3–5 mm abrasive or band saw kerf is a common starting point until tooling changes.