Choosing Between Full Sheets and Offcuts
We stock a wide range of laminated plywood panels suitable for cabinetry, furniture, transport cases, and custom fabrication. Customers can purchase full sheets measuring 1220 × 2440 mm, or they can choose from our offcuts inventory. Offcuts are an excellent option when your project does not require a full sheet, and they typically cost about thirty‑five percent less than buying the same area from a full sheet. This makes them a cost‑effective choice for smaller builds, prototypes, repairs, or any project where material efficiency matters.
To make the process even easier, we maintain a live offcuts portal at offcuts.armorcases.com.au, where you can browse available pieces, view their dimensions and prices, and select the ones that suit your project. Each offcut has a unique ID. Once you find the pieces you want, simply send us the offcut ID and we will reserve those pieces for your order. We also have a separate blog post that explains the offcuts ordering process in detail, and we will link to that article for customers who want a deeper walkthrough.
Ordering laminated plywood panels and having them professionally CNC‑cut should be a straightforward and predictable experience. Whether you need a full sheet for a large build or a selection of offcuts for a smaller project, our process is designed to give you clarity from the moment you choose your materials to the moment your finished parts arrive. This guide explains how to select your plywood, how to send your drawings, how we prepare and cut your parts, and how to estimate the total cost including material, CNC cutting, and shipping.
Sending Your Drawings: Paper or CAD
The next step is to provide your drawings. You can send us hand‑drawn sketches with clear measurements, or you can supply CAD files such as DXF or DWG. Both formats are perfectly acceptable. What matters most is that the dimensions are accurate and that you specify the material you want us to use, whether it is a full sheet or selected offcuts. If grain direction, joinery details, or tolerances are important, including that information early helps us prepare the most accurate layout.
CAD Conversion and PDF Confirmation
Once we receive your drawings, we convert them into a clean CAD layout suitable for CNC machining. This ensures that every part is drawn precisely and that the cutting path is optimised for accuracy and material efficiency. Before we begin any cutting, we send you a PDF version of the drawing for confirmation. This is your opportunity to review the layout, check all measurements, and confirm that the material selection is correct. Cutting only begins after you approve the PDF, which protects you from errors and ensures that the final parts match your expectations.
CNC Programming and Cutting
After you approve the drawings, we prepare the CAM program and begin cutting your parts. Our CNC machine produces clean, accurate cuts that are consistent across all components. Whether you are ordering a single panel or a full batch of parts, the process ensures precision and repeatability.
Some customers prefer to supply their own materials. We are happy to cut customer‑supplied plywood, but in those cases, all offcuts and waste must be taken away by the customer. If you prefer not to take the waste, we charge a disposal fee of one dollar per kilogram. This policy helps us maintain an efficient workshop and ensures that we can continue offering cutting services without absorbing disposal costs for materials we did not supply.
How CNC Programming and Cutting Costs Are Calculated
To help customers estimate their total cost, we use a transparent pricing structure. There is a minimum charge of fifty dollars plus GST, even if only a single small part is being cut. For full sheets, the cutting cost is one hundred seventy‑three dollars and twenty‑five cents plus GST.
For offcuts, the cutting cost is based on the total area of the offcuts you are using, compared to the area of a full sheet. A full sheet measures 1220 × 2440 mm, which equals 2,976,800 square millimetres. The cutting cost for offcuts is calculated using the area ratio multiplied by the full‑sheet cutting cost. In addition, there is a ten‑dollar surcharge for each offcut from the second offcut onward.
The equation below allows you to calculate your estimated cutting cost:
This formula gives customers a clear way to estimate their CNC cutting cost before placing an order.
Estimating Shipping Dimensions and Weight
Once your parts are cut, we prepare them for shipping. Because plywood components are rigid and can be damaged if handled loosely, we ship all orders on a small pallet. This ensures safer transport and reduces the risk of edge damage or warping.
To estimate shipping dimensions, use the largest part in your order as the footprint. The package length is the length of the largest part, and the package width is the width of the largest part. The package height is calculated by multiplying the number of parts by 1.5 centimetres, then adding ten centimetres to account for the pallet and protective packaging. Although plywood thickness varies from 9.7 to 18.2 millimetres, using 1.5 centimetres per part provides a reliable estimate for freight calculations.
Weight can also be estimated using the total area of your finished parts. A full sheet weighs approximately twenty‑five kilograms. By comparing the total area of your parts to the area of a full sheet, you can estimate the material weight. Once that number is calculated, add ten kilograms to account for the pallet.
The formula below provides a clear way to calculate total shipping weight:
Because your order will arrive on a pallet, it is important to be prepared for unloading. Customers should be ready to unload the pallet by hand or have a forklift available. If neither option is possible, a delivery truck with a tail lift can be requested, but this can add up to two hundred dollars to the delivery cost. In most cases, this is not a cost‑effective choice, so planning ahead for unloading is strongly recommended.
Summary of the Ordering Process and Total Cost
The overall workflow is simple. You begin by choosing your material, either a full sheet or selected offcuts from our portal. You then send us your drawings, which we convert into CAD and return to you as a PDF for approval. Once you confirm the drawings, we program the CNC machine, cut your parts, and prepare them for pickup or pallet shipping.
Your total purchasing cost consists of three components:
the cost of the plywood, whether full sheet or offcuts;
the CNC programming and cutting cost, calculated using the formula above;
and the shipping cost, which depends on the estimated package dimensions and total shipping weight.
Together, these three elements give you a complete and transparent understanding of the total cost of your project before you commit to cutting.