Bars to buy7 bars
Material yield93.4%
Purchase cost$482.50
Saw cuts · kerf loss28 cuts · 3 1/2 in
Offcuts ≥ threshold1 reusable
Lower bound: 7 barsOptimalExact search121' 4 1/2" of parts from 130' 0" of stock28 of 28 pieces placed
Single length20 ft only: 7 bars · 86.7% · $518.00vs this mix: 7 bars · 93.4% · $482.50
PieceKerfReusable offcutScrap, trim, miter wedgeStop mark
3/4" Copper Type L7 bought · 0 from inventory · 93.4%
Buy list
- 6 × 20 ft · $444.00
- 1 × 10 ft · $38.50
Drops (offcuts)
- Bar 1 · 0' 3 7/8" · scrap
- Bar 2 · 0' 4 1/2" · scrap
- Bar 3 · 0' 4 1/2" · scrap
- Bar 4 · 0' 4 1/2" · scrap
- Bar 5 · 0' 4 1/2" · scrap
- Bar 6 · 6' 4 1/4" · reusable
- Bar 7 · 0' 1 7/8" · scrap
Not placed
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Summary TXT — totals and the first 5 cut-plan rows (no stop marks, angles or labels).
Examples
Pipe, conduit and extrusion jobs
A copper run, a steel pipe handrail, an EMT conduit run and a T-slot frame.
3/4" Type L copper pipe run
28 cuts on 10 ft + 20 ft lengths. Buy 6 × 20 ft + 1 × 10 ft.
- Bars
- 7
- Yield
- 93.4%
- Cost
- $482.50
- Cuts
- 28
1 1/4" Sch 40 pipe handrail
21 ft random lengths. Buy 8 × 21 ft.
- Bars
- 8
- Yield
- 96.8%
- Cost
- $712.00
- Cuts
- 32
3/4" EMT conduit run
38 cuts on 10 ft sticks. Buy 13 × 10 ft.
- Bars
- 13
- Yield
- 95.1%
- Cost
- $116.35
- Cuts
- 38
80/20 T-slot machine frame (4040)
42 parts on 6000 + 3000 mm bars, kerf 3.2 mm. Buy 6 × 6000 mm + 1 × 3000 mm.
- Bars
- 7
- Yield
- 96.4%
- Cost
- $630.00
- Cuts
- 42
How to use it
Plan pipe cuts in five steps
- Load the copper run or start new The preset is 3/4" Type L on 10 ft and 20 ft lengths with real prices. New job keeps feet-inches.
- Add every length you can buy Copper often comes in 10 and 20 ft, EMT in 10 ft, Sch 40 in 21 ft random lengths. Add each with its price.
- Enter cut lengths Cut length after fitting allowances, for example 6' 6 1/2". Pipe ends are square, so leave both angles at 90.
- Match kerf to the cutter 0 for a wheel tubing cutter, 1/16" for a band saw, 1/8" for an abrasive saw.
- Buy the mix it shows The buy list says how many of each length to pick up, here 6 × 20 ft + 1 × 10 ft.
Stock
Pipe, tube and conduit stock lengths
| Product | Standard | Straight lengths | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper tube Type K, L, M (drawn) | ASTM B88 | 10 ft · 20 ft | K and L also in annealed coils |
| Steel pipe Sch 40, black or galvanized | ASTM A53 | 21 ft (16–22 ft random) | Double random 35–45 ft on request |
| EMT conduit | ANSI C80.3 · UL 797 | 10 ft | Coupling on one end in some brands |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC) | ANSI C80.1 | 10 ft | Threaded both ends, one coupling |
| PVC Sch 40 conduit | UL 651 | 10 ft | Belled end counts in the length |
| Aluminum T-slot and tube extrusion | — | 6000 mm · 3000 mm | Metric; switch the unit to mm |
Kerf
Tubing cutter vs saw: what to enter
| Cutter | Kerf to enter | Typical work |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel tubing cutter | 0 | Copper, thin-wall steel, EMT |
| Portable band saw | 1/16" | Sch 40 pipe, rigid conduit, strut |
| Abrasive chop saw | 1/8" | Steel pipe and tube in the shop |
| Carbide saw for aluminum | 3.2 mm | T-slot and tube extrusion |
On the copper run, switching from a 1/8" saw to a wheel cutter changes the kerf loss from 3 1/2 in to 0 in and leaves the plan at 7 bars: there was enough slack in each length already. On tight lists, kerf can decide whether a last piece fits.
Worked example
Copper: buying a mix of 10 ft and 20 ft lengths
| Buy | Lengths | Yield | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed: 6 × 20 ft + 1 × 10 ft | 7 | 93.4% | $482.50 |
| 20 ft only | 7 | 86.7% | $518.00 |
| 10 ft only | 13 | 93.4% | $500.50 |
Twenty-eight cuts: four at 9' 3", six at 6' 6 1/2", eight at 3' 3 1/4" and ten at 1' 10 3/4". The 10 ft length takes the pieces that would otherwise need a seventh 20 ft length, saving $35.50.
Pipe vs extrusion
When the ends are not square
Pipe joined with fittings is cut square, so angles stay at 90 and the profile width does nothing. The handrail preset nests 32 Sch 40 pieces into 8 bars at 96.8%, and the EMT run fits 38 cuts into 13 bars for $116.35.
Extrusions and welded tube frames often have mitered corners. Enter the face width as W and pick 45° or 60° ends; the canvas then draws true trapezoids, and the miter cut length optimizer shows what turning pieces over can save.
Where it fits
Trades that cut pipe and tube to length
Copper supply and hydronic runs
Type L and M tube in 10 and 20 ft straight lengths, cut with a wheel cutter.
Steel pipe handrails and guards
Sch 40 in 21 ft lengths, posts and rails in one list.
Steel bar nestingEMT and rigid conduit
Ten-foot sticks, many short stubs and offsets; drops under a foot are scrap.
T-slot and tube extrusions
When the ends are mitered, set the profile width and angles.
Aluminum profile calculatorFAQ
Pipe and conduit questions
What kerf do I enter for a tubing cutter?
Zero. A wheel cutter rolls the wall apart and removes no length. If you ream or face the ends, add that as end trim instead. On the copper preset, kerf 0 gives the same 7 lengths and $482.50 because the plan already had spare room.
Why buy one 10 ft length when 20 ft is cheaper per foot?
Because the last pieces do not need a full 20 ft. In the preset, 20 ft costs $3.70 per foot and 10 ft costs $3.85, but buying six 20 ft and one 10 ft length is $482.50, against $518.00 for seven 20 ft lengths.
How do I enter Sch 40 random lengths?
Steel pipe is sold in single random lengths of about 16–22 ft, usually 21 ft. Enter 21 ft as one stock row, or measure each stick on the rack and enter each length with Qty 1 so the planner uses what you actually have.
Do I include fitting allowances?
Yes, enter the cut length you will mark on the pipe. Work out center-to-center, fitting take-off and socket or thread engagement first; the planner nests the lengths exactly as typed and does not apply fitting rules.
When do angled ends matter for pipe?
Rarely for pipe joined with fittings, which is square-cut. They matter for extrusions, tube frames and handrails with mitered corners: set the profile width to the outside diameter or face width and choose 45° or 60° ends.
Can I keep copper and conduit in one job?
Yes. Give each stock row and part a material name such as 3/4" Copper Type L or 3/4" EMT. Each material is nested on its own stock and gets its own purchase line.
Same engine, six tools
Pick the cut planner for your material
Reference guides