Overview
The Stock Materials Library stores the materials your company uses. You can add, modify, organize, and remove materials, including their dimensions, costs, grain characteristics, and machining settings. Customize Mozaik’s preset materials to match the actual materials used in your shop.
Understanding Material Categories
The Stock Materials Library is divided into four tabs:
• Panel Stock: Sheet and panel goods.
• Board Stock: Solid lumber.
• Edgebanding: Edge banding materials.
• Countertops: Materials used for countertops.
Application: Select the appropriate tab before adding or editing a material. The sheet dimensions and per-sheet pricing described below apply to panel stock.
Managing Materials
Add a New Material
Purpose: Creates a material entry in the selected category.
How it works:
- Select the appropriate material tab.
- Select the "Add" option on the right
Important: Enter measured dimensions and actual material properties rather than relying on the supplier’s advertised sizes.
Modify an Existing Material
Purpose: Updates a material’s properties.
How it works: Locate the material and edit the applicable cells in its row.
When to use: When material dimensions, costs, or other properties change.
Reorder Materials
Purpose: Arranges materials in your preferred order.
How it works: Select the material, then use the Up and Down arrow buttons at the bottom left of the window.
When to use: To keep frequently used materials together or organize the list to suit your shop.
Duplicate or Move Materials
Purpose: Copies materials or moves them between tabs.
How it works: Use the Cut, Copy, and Paste toolbar buttons to duplicate an entry or move it to another material category.
Important: After duplicating a material, review its name and properties so the new entry accurately identifies the intended stock.
Material Identification Properties
Image - Material Reference Texture
Purpose: Assigns a reference texture image to the material.
How it works: Use the Graphic Properties section to select the texture file.
Important: This image is stored for reference. Wood grain and finish colors in 3D renderings are controlled by the texture selections in the corresponding texture group. The "All Textures" section is the default group.
Comment - Material Notes
Purpose: Stores additional information about the material.
How it works: Enter notes in the Comment column.
Application: Use for details that help your staff identify or work with the material.
Sheet Dimension Properties
Width - Sheet Width
Purpose: Sets the actual width of the sheet.
How it works: Enter the measured sheet width. Width is typically the direction across the grain.
Example:
• Advertised width: 48 inches.
• Actual measured width: 48.5 inches.
• Width entry: 48.5 inches.
Important: Accurate sheet dimensions help the Optimizer use the available material efficiently.
Length - Sheet Length
Purpose: Sets the actual length of the sheet.
How it works: Enter the measured sheet length. Length is typically the direction along the grain.
Example:
• Advertised length: 96 inches.
• Actual measured length: 96.5 inches.
• Length entry: 96.5 inches.
Important: Confirm that the entered width and length match the sheet’s grain orientation.
Thickness - Actual Material Thickness
Purpose: Defines the exact thickness of the material.
How it works: Measure the material with calipers or another precise measuring device, then enter the measured value.
Example:
• Advertised thickness: 3/4 inch.
• Actual measured thickness: 0.725 inch.
• Thickness entry: 0.725 inch.
Important: Accurate material thickness is critical. A nominal 3/4-inch description does not mean the material measures 0.750 inch.
Material Pricing Properties
Cost Each - Cost per Sheet
Purpose: Records the amount you pay for each sheet.
How it works: Enter the purchase cost per sheet.
Important: Review this value when supplier pricing changes.
Markup % - Percentage Markup
Purpose: Adds a percentage markup to the sheet cost.
How it works: Enter the percentage to apply to the material cost.
Application: Use when your material pricing is based on a percentage above cost.
Add-On $ - Fixed Dollar Addition
Purpose: Adds a fixed dollar amount to the sheet cost.
How it works: Enter the additional amount to charge per sheet.
Example:
• Cost Each: $33.75.
• Add-On $: $16.25.
• Result with no percentage markup: $50.00 per sheet.
Application: Use when you want to add a specific dollar amount rather than relying only on a percentage.
% Waste - Estimated Material Waste
Purpose: Adds a waste allowance when estimating material usage on the Pricing tab.
How it works: Enter the waste percentage used for the material estimate.
Starting point: The documentation identifies 20% as typically suitable. Adjust it if your estimate does not closely match the actual nested sheet quantity in the Optimizer.
Important: This is an estimating allowance. It does not set the physical edge clearance used for nesting.
Grain and Face Quality Properties
Has Grain - Grain Direction Control
Purpose: Identifies whether grain or pattern direction must be considered during optimization.
How it works:
• Checked: Identifies the material as having grain. The Optimizer uses this information when determining whether parts may rotate.
• Unchecked: Identifies material without a grain or directional pattern.
Examples:
• Oak plywood: Check Has Grain.
• Plain white melamine without a directional pattern: Leave Has Grain unchecked.
Important: Review this setting together with the sheet width and length orientation.
Two-Sided - Good on Both Sides
Purpose: Identifies material as G2S, meaning good on both sides.
How it works: Check Two-Sided when both faces meet the required appearance quality.
Typical characteristics:
• Sanded on both sides.
• Suitable appearance on both faces.
• Quality patches on both sides where applicable.
Important: Select this based on the actual face quality of the material. If two sided selected, texture option will drop from Inside/Outside to Texture
Optimizer Properties
Width Trim - Clearance Along Side Edges
Purpose: Keeps nested parts a minimum distance from the sheet’s side edges.
How it works: Enter the required edge clearance. The Optimizer uses this value when positioning parts along the side edges.
Important: Increasing this clearance reduces the area available for nested parts.
Length Trim - Clearance Along End Edges
Purpose: Keeps nested parts a minimum distance from the sheet’s end edges.
How it works: Enter the required edge clearance. The Optimizer uses this value when positioning parts along the end edges.
Important: Width Trim and Length Trim control different sheet edges. Review both values.
Nest - Include Material in Optimization
Purpose: Controls whether the material is sent to the Optimizer.
How it works:
• Checked: Sends the material to the Optimizer.
• Unchecked: Excludes the material from optimization.
Example: Glass may be listed as a panel material but left unchecked because your shop does not cut it through this workflow.
Important: A material can remain in the library even when Nest is unchecked.
Machining Speed Property
% Speed - Material Cutting Speed Percentage
Purpose: Adjusts estimated cutting time and the CNC cutting speed for the material.
How it works: The percentage is applied to the CNC tooling feed rate to determine the material’s actual cutting speed. It is also used when calculating estimated cutting times.
Calculation example:
• CNC tooling feed rate: 400 inches per minute.
• % Speed: 75%.
• Resulting material cutting speed: 300 inches per minute.
Important: This setting affects machine cutting speed as well as time estimates. Review it together with the tooling feed rate.
Common Material Setup Examples
Measured Plywood Sheet
• Name: Use a description that identifies the thickness, species, and finish.
• Width: Enter the measured sheet width.
• Length: Enter the measured sheet length.
• Thickness: Enter the measured thickness.
• Has Grain: Checked when grain direction matters.
• Two-Sided: Set according to the actual face quality.
• Nest: Checked when the material will be optimized for cutting.
Plain White Melamine
• Width, Length, and Thickness: Enter measured values.
• Has Grain: Unchecked when there is no directional pattern.
• Two-Sided: Set according to the actual face quality.
• Nest: Checked when the material will be sent to the Optimizer.
Purchased Glass Panel
• Category: Panel Stock.
• Dimensions and cost: Enter the applicable values.
• Nest: Unchecked when the glass will not be cut through your optimization workflow.
Troubleshooting Stock Material Issues
Issue: The material does not appear in the Optimizer
• Check whether Nest is enabled.
• Confirm that the correct material entry is being used.
Issue: Parts rotate without regard to grain direction
• Check Has Grain.
• Confirm that Width and Length match the sheet’s grain orientation.
Issue: A part that should fit will not nest on the sheet
• Verify the actual sheet Width and Length.
• Review Width Trim and Length Trim, which reserve space around the sheet edges.
• Check whether grain restrictions limit part rotation.
Issue: The estimated material quantity differs from the nested sheet quantity
• Review % Waste.
• Compare the Pricing estimate with the actual nested sheet quantity.
• Adjust the waste allowance to better reflect your results.
Issue: The material image does not match the 3D rendering
• Remember that the Image column stores a reference image.
• Review the texture selections on the Settings tab for the rendered grain and finish color.
Issue: The material charge is unexpected
• Check Cost Each.
• Review Markup % and Add-On $.
• Confirm that the values reflect your intended pricing method.
Issue: Cutting speed differs from the tooling feed rate
• Check the material’s % Speed.
• Review the CNC tooling feed rate.
• Remember that the material percentage is applied to that feed rate.
Best Practices
Material Setup
• Customize preset entries before relying on them for production.
• Use clear, consistent material names.
• Measure actual sheet dimensions and thickness.
• Review copied entries before using them.
Estimating and Pricing
• Keep purchase costs current.
• Check both percentage markup and fixed add-on values.
• Compare waste estimates with actual Optimizer results.
Optimization
• Confirm grain direction before nesting.
• Set edge trims to match your required sheet clearances.
• Enable Nest only for materials you intend to send to the Optimizer.
Machining
• Review % Speed together with the tooling feed rate.
• Confirm the selected material entry has the correct thickness and machining properties before cutting.
Property Interactions to Know
Width, Length, and Has Grain
Sheet dimensions define the material size and orientation. Has Grain tells the Optimizer to consider grain when determining part rotation.
Sheet Dimensions and Edge Trims
Width and Length define the sheet’s overall size. Width Trim and Length Trim keep parts away from its edges, reducing the area available for nesting.
Cost Each, Markup %, and Add-On $
Cost Each establishes the purchase cost. Markup % applies a percentage to that cost, while Add-On $ adds a fixed dollar amount.
% Waste and Edge Trim
% Waste supports material usage estimates on the Pricing tab. Edge trims control physical part placement in the Optimizer.
Image and Rendering Textures
The library image is a reference. The Settings tab texture selections determine the grain and finish shown in 3D renderings.
% Speed and Tooling Feed Rate
The material speed percentage modifies the CNC tooling feed rate and contributes to estimated cutting time.