Desktop DXF Nesting for Sheet & Strip Layouts

Live preview · State-of-the-art 2D nesting algorithm · DXF in / DXF out · Engraving · macOS, Windows & Linux

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Overview

Kenzap Nesting is a desktop application that packs DXF parts onto sheets using a state-of-the-art 2D nesting algorithm running locally on your machine. Drop in your drawings, set quantities, configure spacing and engraving, and export the result as production-ready DXF — no cloud round-trip, no per-job billing.

It is designed for the practical reality of CNC, laser, plasma, and waterjet operators: mixed geometry, multi-layer files, real-world spacing and rotation constraints, and engraving that needs to live on its own layer.

Reduce waste and speed up quotation. This app's logic can be seamlessly integrated with production management software. Learn more at https://kenzap.com.

Downloads

Stable releases (recommended)

Platform	Store	Architecture
macOS	Mac App Store	Apple Silicon
Windows	Microsoft Store	x86_64
Ubuntu / Linux	Snap Store	x86_64

Latest builds (GitHub Releases)

Skip the store cadence and grab the freshest build directly:

• Latest GitHub Release — macOS arm64, Windows x86_64, and Ubuntu x86_64 artifacts

How It Works

Drop one or more DXF sketches into the app. Kenzap Nesting automatically detects nestable shapes, then lets you set quantities, engraving, and sheet behavior before sending the job to a native nesting engine and previewing the resulting sheets live.

Workflow at a glance:

1. Add DXF parts — drag & drop or browse.
2. Detect shapes — the app finds individual parts and any internal cut / engraving geometry within a single sketch.
3. Configure — sheet size, strip behavior, spacing, rotation step, alignment, and engraving style.
4. Run — native nesting engine starts; results stream in as they're computed.
5. Review live — the canvas updates while the algorithm is still optimizing.
6. Export — DXF output preserves your original layer structure and engraving geometry.

Watch a live nesting session: Demo on YouTube.

Features

Input & detection DXF import by click or drag and drop Multi-shape detection within a single sketch Multi-layer and color support Mixed geometry: lines, arcs, circles, polylines, ellipses, splines Per-shape quantity, removal, restore, and layer-aware preview	Nesting & layout State-of-the-art 2D nesting via bundled native engine Live preview while the algorithm is still running Configurable spacing, sheet margin, rotation step, alignment Plate size optimization Polygon-placement JSON export for cloud/offline workflows
Export DXF export with preserved layer structure Native LWPOLYLINE / arc / spline reconstruction Original color and entity metadata kept intact Sheet-by-sheet output Shared kerf edges between adjacent parts (Common Line Cutting, Co-Edge)	Engraving Dedicated engraving layer Simple — single-line lettering Stroked — outlined lettering Bounded automatically to the part envelope

Development

Requirements

• Node.js (latest LTS recommended) & npm
• Native nesting binaries placed under:
  • native/linux/bin/
  • native/macos/bin/
  • native/windows/bin/

The native binary is Sparrow. Refer to its repository for compilation instructions if you need to build it for an unsupported architecture.

Run locally

npm install
npm run dev

npm run dev opens Electron with DevTools enabled — useful for debugging renderer logic and algorithm integration.

Build

Target	Command
macOS (DMG + ZIP, Developer ID signed)	npm run dist:mac
Mac App Store (production)	npm run dist:mas
Mac App Store (development build)	npm run dist:mas-dev
Windows installer (NSIS)	npm run dist:win
Windows portable	npm run dist:win-portable
Windows AppX / MSIX (Microsoft Store)	npm run dist:appx
Ubuntu Snap	npm run dist:snap

Notes

• Build examples above are tested on macOS Apple Silicon. To cross-compile from Windows to macOS, parameter adjustments may be necessary.
• Distributable packages bundle both the Electron app (UI + visualization) and the native nesting binaries.
• Microsoft Store tile assets live under assets/appx/ — see assets/appx/README.md for naming conventions.
• For real Partner Center submissions, set the final AppX identity and publisher values to the exact reserved Microsoft Store values before shipping.

Repository Structure

assets/                 app icons, preview media, branding assets
main/                   Electron main-process modules
  app.js                window, menu, About panel, app lifecycle
  ipc/                  file dialogs, Sparrow, DXF export IPC handlers
  utils/                main-process helpers (temp retention cleanup, etc.)
native/                 platform-specific native binaries
  linux/bin/            Sparrow and preprocess binaries for Ubuntu
  macos/bin/            Sparrow and preprocess binaries for macOS
  windows/bin/          Sparrow and preprocess binaries for Windows
renderer/               Electron renderer application
  state/                app state store and mutations
  views/                panes, modals, canvas, DXF preview UI
  services/             nesting, DXF parsing/preview, export workflows
  utils/                DXF geometry, color, SVG, and preview helpers
  helpers.js            renderer-only formatting helpers
  index.html            renderer shell
  renderer.js           renderer bootstrap and module wiring
  styles.css            application styling
shared/                 constants and settings used by both main + renderer
preload.js              secure Electron bridge exposed to the renderer
main.js                 thin bootstrap that starts the main-process modules
dist/                   packaged builds
docs/i18n/              translated README variants

Research

Kenzap Nesting builds on recent computational geometry and nesting research. See:

• Computational Geometry research reference

Roadmap & Current Focus

• Format-agnostic input — broader sketch sources beyond DXF
• Brand-specific tool path integration — tighter machine-side workflows
• Optional cloud nesting — offload large jobs to higher-performance backends

Feedback & Community

• Bugs & feature requests — GitHub Issues
• Community discussion — r/kenzap
• Updates — LinkedIn

License

Licensed under the Apache License 2.0. See LICENSE for the full text.