CutSimply information

How accurate is CutSimply?

CutSimply gives rough saw cutting estimates for planning, quoting and comparison. This page explains what affects accuracy and how to improve it with real workshop data.

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Accuracy approach

Useful planning ranges, not guaranteed production times

CutSimply estimates blade-in-material time from cross-section area and grouped material rates, then adds handling, setup, first-off checks, kerf, stock loading, marking and inspection time. The result is deliberately shown as a range because real saw work changes from shop to shop.

Material groupsGrades are grouped into mild steel, stainless, aluminium, copper, brass, bronze, titanium, tool steel and cast iron to keep the first version simple.

Machine and blade conditionBlade condition, coolant, saw type, feed mode and machine multiplier all adjust the timing.

Handling mattersLoading stock, clamping awkward shapes, stamping pieces and deburring can be as important as the actual cut time.

Calibration improves itAfter a real job, compare actual time against the estimate and adjust the machine multiplier to match your own saw.

What affects the result

Why two saws can give different times

The estimate is only as good as the assumptions. A new blade on an automatic saw with good coolant can behave very differently from a worn blade on awkward material with manual handling.

Section shapeSolid round, flat, hollow tube, box section, angle, channel and beams do not behave exactly the same. CutSimply uses shape factors as a planning adjustment.

Cross-section areaLarger sections have more material for the blade to pass through. Hollow sections can still be awkward because of vibration, clamping and interrupted cuts.

Stock handlingLoading bars, moving pieces, checking lengths and marking parts can dominate the job time on small repeated cuts.

Weight estimateWeight is calculated from rough material density, section area and length. It is useful for planning and handling, not certified weighing.

Improving accuracy

Calibrate against your own saw

For repeat work, the best way to improve CutSimply is to compare estimates against actual completed jobs and adjust the machine speed multiplier.

Start with normal settingsUse the rough material group and a realistic saw mode. Do not over-tune the first estimate.

Record actual timeAfter the job, compare the real job time with CutSimply's midpoint estimate.

Adjust the multiplierIf your saw is consistently faster or slower, save a profile with the corrected machine multiplier.

Use wider ranges when unsureUse the wider estimate range for unknown material, worn blades, awkward clamping, poor coolant or jobs with lots of manual handling.