PLEASE HELP linear nesting formula help

[PARTSONWHEELS]

I need help writing a formula to figure bar length max usage per defined amount that calculates the amount of bars to be used to complete a project for example

if 200 inches of pipe are needed total and each pipe equals 100 inches at $2.00 cost then i would need 2 lengths of pipe equaling $4.00 cost

the odd variables are that you may make a cut in that length of say 25.5 inches where as you cannot get that total amount out of one length it would defer over to the next piece.

The closest i can get to that is if i do the following

if (a1+b1 is less than or equal to 100 use 1 piece)
if (a1+b1 is greater than100 but less than to 200 use 2 piece)

i just dont know how to write it please help

 

[shg]

See if http://www.box.net/shared/uhrjy318l1 helps.

It cuts parts of varying lengths from available stock lengths. It does not attempt to arrange combinations of cuts for a best fit.

 

[AnAnalyst]

Does this thread help at all?

http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/showthread.php?t=476414

 

[optimalon]

Hi,

The problem is NP-complete, you cannot solve it easily with Excel formulas. Please take a look at add-in 1DCutX:
http://www.optimalon.com/length_cutting_excel.htm

It does exactly what you need with high utilization rate and almost instantly.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>