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Stock Handling

Stock in Rayforge represents the physical material you'll be cutting or engraving. Stock is a document-global concept—your document can have one or more stock items, and they exist independently of layers.

Adding Stock​

Stock represents the physical piece of material you'll be working with. To add stock to your document:

  1. In the Stock Material panel in the sidebar, click the Add Stock button
  2. A new stock item will be created with default dimensions (80% of your machine's workspace)
  3. The stock will appear as a rectangle in the workspace, centered on the machine bed

Stock Properties​

Each stock item has the following properties:

  • Name: A descriptive name for identification (auto-numbered as "Stock 1", "Stock 2", etc.)
  • Dimensions: Width and height of the stock material
  • Thickness: The material thickness (optional but recommended for accurate 3D preview)
  • Material: The type of material (assigned in the next step)
  • Visibility: Toggle to show/hide the stock in the workspace

Managing Stock Items​

  • Rename: Open the Stock Properties dialog and edit the name field
  • Resize: Select the stock item in the workspace and drag the corner handles to resize
  • Move: Select the stock item in the workspace and drag to reposition it
  • Delete: Click the delete button (trash icon) next to the stock item in the Stock Material panel
  • Edit properties: Click the properties button (document icon) to open the Stock Properties dialog
  • Toggle visibility: Click the visibility button (eye icon) to show/hide the stock item

Assigning Material​

Once you have stock defined, you can assign a material to it:

  1. In the Stock Material panel, click the properties button (document icon) on the stock item
  2. In the Stock Properties dialog, click the Select button next to the Material field
  3. Browse through your material libraries and select the appropriate material
  4. The stock will update to show the material's visual appearance

Material Properties​

Materials define the visual properties of your stock:

  • Visual appearance: Color and pattern for visualization
  • Category: Grouping (e.g., "Wood", "Acrylic", "Metal")
  • Description: Additional information about the material

Note: Material properties are defined in material libraries and cannot be edited through the stock properties dialog. The stock properties only allow you to assign a material to a stock item.

Converting Workpieces to Stock​

You can convert any workpiece into a stock item. This is useful when you have an irregular-shaped piece of material and want to use its exact outline as your stock boundary.

To convert a workpiece to stock:

  1. Right-click on the workpiece in the canvas or Document panel
  2. Select Convert to Stock from the context menu
  3. The workpiece will be replaced by a new stock item with the same shape and position

The new stock item:

  • Uses the workpiece's geometry as its boundary
  • Inherits the workpiece's name
  • Can be assigned a material like any other stock item

Auto-Layout​

The auto-layout feature helps you efficiently arrange your design elements within stock boundaries:

  1. Select the items you want to arrange (or leave nothing selected to arrange all items in the active layer)
  2. Click the Arrange button in the toolbar and select Auto Layout (pack workpieces)
  3. Rayforge will automatically arrange the items to optimize material usage

Auto-Layout Behavior​

The auto-layout algorithm arranges items within the visible stock items in your document:

  • If stock items are defined: Items are arranged within the boundaries of visible stock items
  • If no stock is defined: Items are arranged across the entire machine workspace

The algorithm considers:

  • Item boundaries: Respects the dimensions of each design element
  • Rotation: Can rotate items in 90-degree increments for better fit
  • Spacing: Maintains a margin between items (default 0.5mm)
  • Stock boundaries: Keeps all items within the defined boundaries

Manual Layout Alternatives​

If you prefer more control, Rayforge also offers manual layout tools:

  • Alignment tools: Align left, right, center, top, bottom
  • Distribution tools: Spread items horizontally or vertically
  • Individual positioning: Click and drag items to place them manually

Tips for Effective Stock Handling​

  1. Start with accurate stock dimensions - Measure your material precisely for best results
  2. Use descriptive names - Name your stock items clearly (e.g., "Birch Plywood 3mm")
  3. Set material thickness - This can be useful for future calculations and reference
  4. Assign materials early - This ensures proper visual representation from the start
  5. Use irregular stock for scrap pieces - Convert workpieces to stock when using leftover material with custom shapes
  6. Check fit before cutting - Use the 2D view to verify everything fits on your stock material

Troubleshooting​

Auto-layout doesn't work as expected​

  • Make sure at least one stock item is visible
  • Make sure items are not grouped (ungroup them first)
  • Try reducing the number of items selected at once
  • Verify that items fit within the stock boundaries