Additive Manufacturing worked example

Print Bed Nesting at 98% nesting packing efficiency: a worked example

Push nesting packing efficiency up to 98% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. a print technician needs a quick capacity estimate before building the slicer layout

The inputs for this scenario

  • Raw nested part count: 72 parts (unchanged)
  • Usable build plate span: 2 ft (unchanged)
  • Nesting packing efficiency: 98 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 85)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Raw nesting density = raw nested part count รท usable bed span) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 35.28 parts for effective nested capacity, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 36 parts / ft for raw nesting density.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 70.56 parts for utilized part count.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2 ft for usable bed span.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where nesting packing efficiency sits at 85% and the headline result is 30.6 parts, this scenario comes in 15.29% above the baseline at 35.28 parts.
  • It computes raw nesting density (parts per foot of bed) and effective nested capacity after applying a packing-efficiency factor. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Effective nested capacity: 35.28 parts (headline result)
  • Raw nesting density: 36 parts / ft
  • Utilized part count: 70.56 parts
  • Usable bed span: 2 ft

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Print Bed Nesting calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.