Smart Cut Optimization
A proprietary optimization algorithm groups cuts by profile, accounts for kerf, and minimizes waste across mixed stock lengths — balancing maximum efficiency with smart remnant management.
A proprietary optimization algorithm groups cuts by profile, accounts for kerf, and minimizes waste across mixed stock lengths — balancing maximum efficiency with smart remnant management.
RailChop's optimizer runs a proprietary algorithm that handles the real-world complexity of moulding cutting. It groups cuts by profile, evaluates how to pack them across your available stock — both fresh lengths and saved remnants — and returns the most efficient plan. All of this happens in under a second on your device. You don't configure bin sizes, select stock manually, or tune parameters. It just works.
RailChop accounts for the real mechanics of cutting. Every saw blade removes material — the kerf — typically 0.125 inches. RailChop applies kerf between cuts only (not before the first cut on a stick), so your final dimensions land exactly where they need to on the shop floor. It handles mixed stock lengths, different moulding costs, and cost per foot settings. The optimizer also factors in your saved remnants alongside fresh stock, choosing the combination that produces the lowest waste and cost overall.
Not every shop measures the same way. Some framers work to the rabbet — the inside edge where the glass sits. Others measure point-to-point — the full outside dimension of the assembled frame. RailChop supports both. You set your shop's standard once in Settings, and it applies to every cut plan. No per-job toggling, no confusion. Every dimension that comes out is calculated in the system you use.
Once you've optimized, RailChop exports a printable PDF cut ticket. It's not just a list of numbers. Each page shows your stick diagrams visually — a representation of each stick with every cut marked in sequence, so you can see exactly how the moulding breaks down. Print it and take it to the saw, or keep it on a tablet next to your work station.
As you cut each stick, tap it in the app to mark it complete. RailChop tracks your progress in real time. The batch shows how many sticks are done and how many remain. When you tap the last stick, the app recognizes the batch is finished and shows you options: export another PDF for reference, add more work to today's batch, or scan the next order. The whole system is built around the natural rhythm of shop-floor work.
The optimizer runs entirely on your device. No internet connection. No cloud account. No syncing delays. You can work in a warehouse with no signal, in the basement, on the shop floor with a dead cellular zone — it doesn't matter. The optimization engine, cut plan viewer, and PDF export all work offline. This is intentional. Picture framing is a hands-on trade, and your software should work where your work happens.
Quick Reference: