> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dev-docs.nestapi.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Common cutting

> Letting adjacent parts share a cut line to save material and cutting time.

**Common cutting** (also called shared-edge or common-line cutting) places parts so that
adjacent straight edges lie on the **same cut line**. Instead of cutting two parallel edges
with a gap between them, the machine makes **one** cut that serves both parts.

## Why use it

* **Less waste** — the material that would sit between two parts is removed.
* **Faster cutting** — fewer total cut lengths and fewer pierces.
* **Denser nests** — parts pack tighter on the sheet.

## Trade-offs

* Requires **straight, matching edges** to align — not every part pair qualifies.
* Shared cuts can affect **edge quality** and **part separation**, so it suits some
  processes better than others.
* It constrains placement, which the nester balances against overall utilisation.

## Using it

Common cutting is controlled through the [nesting settings](/concepts/nesting-settings) in
the request payload. Enable it when your process and parts suit shared edges; leave it off
when edge quality or handling matters more than the material saving.

<Note>
  For the exact setting that toggles common cutting and any related tolerances, see the
  request models in the **Nesting** section of the [API Reference](/api-reference).
</Note>