Contours, sheets, and bundle

A panel begins as a nominal contour: the intended finished shape, including tabs, slots, and holes. A laser follows a cut path. Those are different when the beam removes material. BGI keeps the two meanings separate so a panel’s intended size can be checked before its cutting SVG is produced.

Nominal shape and cut path

For BGI-managed kerf compensation, the path moves by half the declared full kerf toward the waste side: outward around the outer edge and inward around a hole. For a straight 10.00 mm finished width at 0.16 mm kerf, the two beam-center paths are 10.16 mm apart. A 3.10 mm finished slot needs beam-center paths 2.94 mm apart. BGI applies the offset to the complete contours, so corners and holes are checked as shapes rather than by a single width formula. If compensation is configured as external, the exported contours remain nominal and the bundle identifies that mode; set up compensation in your cutting workflow accordingly.

Before export, BGI checks contour validity, holes, connected material, and minimum features against the resolved material values. If a material value is unexpected, the resolved configuration command shows its value and source. Materials and calibration explains how those values are obtained.

Optional sheet placement

If manufacturing.sheets is supplied, BGI places each cut instance on the declared stock with the sheet margin and cut gap. It uses the compensated part’s rectangular envelope and the permitted 0° or 90° rotations. It does not scale or mirror parts. Identical panels still need separate placements even though the bill of materials can group their shared shape.

Sheet placement uses the specified stock and the same method on each run. SHEETS_EXHAUSTED means that method could not place every part; a different hand arrangement may still work. Check sheet dimensions, count, margins, gap, allowed rotations, and material settings. The project file reference lists the manufacturing fields.

Reading the bundle

After building a chosen layout, open its output directory. A constructed insert’s bundle contains individual cutting SVGs under cuts/parts/. When sheets are requested, cuts/sheets/ contains the sheet cutting SVGs and preview/sheets/ contains labeled sheet views. Other previews show the layout, parts, or assembled model. A rendered PNG and CSV parts list are additional output options. A container-only layout has no new panels or cut files.

Read README.md for dimensions, parts, assembly notes, and check results. manifest.json lists files, panel instances, placements, material values, and construction and manufacturing identities. Optional bom.csv groups matching panel types. If a copied bundle seems incomplete, use the bundle check to check its listed files. The manifest reports physical_fit_verified: false because a digital build cannot measure your sheet, laser, or assembled insert.

The output and assembly guide covers importing the cutting SVGs and making the panels.