With SketchList 3D you add boards and select the materials for  those boards from a material list.  At this time of adding you do not specify the size of the material, although you do specify if it is sheet good or solid lumber.  SketchList 3D assigns parts (boards) to a given size of material at optimization time.

 

One benefit is that you can achieve lower scrap percentages.

 

For example if you pick an 8 inch wide material for a 8 inch wide board that eliminates scrap.  But if during the design you change the size of that board to 6 inches - and indeed have 6 inch stock you can cut from - and do not reassign that part to the 6 inch material you waste two inches.  SketchList 3D will make the best use of materials - including scraps or cut offs.  If you define a 6 inch wide material as available - SketchList 3D will dynamically use that material for the newly sized board.

 

Another benefit is when you  find out the sizes of materials your supplies has on hand does not match those needed for your design you can accommodate them.  In that case you add the available material sizes, one by one, in the available material sizes section of this form.  SketchList 3D will optimize all the parts of the projects using the best combination of material sizes.