Additive Manufacturing Service Bureau Quoting calculator
Nesting Yield Calculator
Nesting yield affects cost per part because sparse builds, spacing rules, supports, and mixed part geometry can leave machine volume unused. This calculator compares usable nested parts with the total requested or theoretical capacity to show the yield of the proposed nest.
What this calculator does
- Calculate usable nested parts as a percentage of requested parts or theoretical build capacity for quote planning.
- an AM estimator needs to know whether a build nest is efficient enough to support the quoted price
- Returns the usable part yield from a proposed additive build nest.
Formula used
- Nesting yield = usable nested parts รท requested or theoretical parts
- Gap to target = target nesting yield - actual nesting yield
Inputs explained
- Usable nested parts: undefined
- Requested or theoretical parts: undefined
- Target nesting yield: undefined
How to use the result
- Use it before quoting powder bed, resin tray, or FDM build batches where packing density affects cost.
- It does not verify collision clearance, thermal spacing, support access, recoater risk, or final slicer nesting rules.
Common questions
- What should I use as total parts? Use requested order quantity when checking quote fulfillment, or theoretical capacity when checking machine packing efficiency.
- Should scrap be included? No. Nesting yield measures layout efficiency; account for failed prints or scrap in failure exposure or margin.
- Can yield be above target? Yes. A negative gap means the proposed nest exceeds your target yield.
- How does this affect price? Low nesting yield usually raises cost per part because the build's machine time is spread over fewer sellable parts.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.