From measurements to cut files

Think of an insert as an answer to two questions: what needs to be stored together, and where can those spaces go? You answer the first question from the way you play the game. BGI can help answer the second by trying layouts that fit your measurements.

For example, you might want one compartment for a deck, one for each player’s pieces, and room for a plastic token box you already use. Those decisions come before the positions of the walls.

How the information flows

BGI / FROM INPUTS TO PARTS

Game pieces

Measurements, allowed orientations,
and your choices about shared storage

↓Space each compartment needs

Existing containers

Outside measurements
and room to lift them out

↓Space reserved for each container

↓↓

Within your design limits
Game box · material · assembly assignments · fixed choices

↓

1. Layout suggestions

   BGI tries arrangements and checks what can be constructed.

   Get suggestions

2. Your choice

   You compare layouts and inspect their drawings.

   Choose a layout

3. Parts and files

   Panels, cutting SVGs, previews, and assembly instructions.

   Make the insert

The automatic workflow. Your storage choices guide the search; change those inputs and search again when the result does not suit the game.

What goes into a layout

Your project connects three kinds of information:

• Contents and storage: measured components become the space each needs. You choose what shares a compartment and which assembly holds it.
• Existing containers: a plastic box or insert you are keeping takes up its outside dimensions plus removal space. BGI makes no panels for it.
• Limits: the game box, material thickness, handling space, and any fixed positions constrain the arrangement.

Contents, compartments, and trays explains these building blocks. You supply their relationships; BGI does not infer player sets, decide which pieces should be mixed, or invent a collection of trays from an inventory.

How much of the layout do you want to decide?

Approach	You decide	BGI decides	Use it when…
Automatic compartments	Contents, shared groups, assembly membership, box and material, allowed orientations	Supported compartment arrangements, their dimensions, and permitted placements	You know what must fit and want suggestions. This is the normal starting point.
Automatic with fixed choices	The same inputs, plus a fixed assembly, compartment block, position, or frame	The remaining automatic areas and placements	Part of the design is already settled.
Manual layout	Compartment sizes, divider structure, contents, and assembly positions	Panels, joints, and cutting paths for your layout	You already know the arrangement you want.
Rearrange designed trays	Complete removable tray designs and their contents	Supported ways to place or stack those trays	The trays are designed, but their arrangement in the game box is still open.

A project has one top-level layout.mode: auto or manual. That does not mean every choice inside it must be automatic or manual. An automatic project can contain fixed parts alongside areas BGI plans. The manual and mixed layout guide explains those combinations.

There are also two different searches. solve designs compartments inside automatic grids. explore rearranges already designed removable trays from a manual project; it keeps their internal geometry. The tray layout guide covers that second workflow.

From a suggestion to a physical insert

A suggested layout is saved as a candidate. The normal bgi game.bgi.yaml run builds every retained candidate with panels, joints, cutting SVGs, previews, and assembly notes so you can compare their drawings. BGI’s ranking measures geometry and material use; you judge handling, game setup, and convenience. The separate solve and build commands expose the same steps for deliberate automation.

The project YAML remains your editable description. A saved candidate records a particular answer to that description. Change the contents or construction settings, then search again. Once you are happy with the layout, calibrate the actual material and laser, regenerate the cutting files, and assemble the parts.

Start designing your own insert with Measure the box and contents. For a guided example using supplied measurements, try Full example. To look deeper into the search, construction, and cutting checks, see Design stages and checks.