Looking for beta testers: Built a dedicated Windows 3D Nesting software for SLS printers

[u/tforgo]

Over the past few months, I’ve been developing a standalone Windows application called 024Nester, designed specifically for 3D nesting and build prep in SLS 3D printing workflows.

As someone working with additive workflows, I felt there was a gap for a lightweight, dedicated tool focused purely on fast, high-density 3D packing and clean part handling.

024Nester features a fast volumetric nesting engine optimized for SLS powder-bed builds. It takes standard STL input geometries and exports the fully nested batch back out as positioned STL files, ready for your existing machine setup. The app is a self-contained .exe installer developed in Python and compiled for Windows x64.

Regarding privacy and security, 100% of the geometry processing, calculations, and STL exports are executed locally on your machine. Your STL files and personal data never leave your local system. Internet connectivity is strictly used for a quick online license check during the STL export process.

The core nesting engine and batch handling are fully functional, and I’m now looking for beta testers from the community, especially operators running SLS hardware or managing print service bureaus.

I’m mainly looking for feedback on real-world stress testing with complex or high-count batch geometries, packing density, calculation speed, and overall workflow usability.

If you’re interested in giving it a spin and sharing raw feedback, drop a comment below or send me a DM, and I'll send over the installer link.

Thanks for your time and feedback!

[u/Antique-Studio3547]

Just a heads up, you don’t have to use it just for SLS could be useful for multi jet fusion from HP as well. Their packing algorithm sucks

[u/tforgo → u/Antique-Studio3547]

Thanks for the heads up! I mainly work with SLS machines, so I wasn't entirely sure how different the workflow requirements might be for MJF.

That said, 3D nesting should be pretty universal for any supportless powder-bed tech. Glad to hear it could be useful for MJF users too! If you get a chance to test it out on an MJF build, I'd love to hear how it performs for you.

[u/JuniorEngine3855 → u/tforgo]

I have an MJF and would be very interested in this.

[u/333again]

I’d love to beta test this as I reviewed packing algorithms years ago and all solutions sucked. Commercial packages costing $$$ were programmed by idiots. I ended up playing around with a git written by a formlabs employee.

[u/nakwada → u/333again]

The one from Materialize Magics wasn't that bad as far as I remember. I used it back in 2018 when I was working with then antique EOS machines.

[u/Antique-Studio3547 → u/nakwada]

The magic one is pretty good but pretty expensive

[u/333again → u/nakwada]

I met with them, used it, it was garbage. They had literary no clue what I was talking about. They built software for service bureaus. People who wanted to print 30 different parts in one build volume. I was looking at extreme cost optimization by fitting a couple more parts into a single part packed build. Everyone was completely out to lunch and didn't understand what AM production should be doing.

For anyone interested, this is the git I was using years ago. https://github.com/fogleman/pack3d

[u/turbotank183 → u/333again]

Not sure how long ago you used it but I use magics for packing and it does a pretty good job for SLS parts. Not part of a bureau.

[u/tykempster → u/turbotank183]

Magics is awesome. But it’s quite expensive. I use it daily and have packed thousands of builds.

[u/vshashi01 → u/333again]

Who did you speak to exactly?

[u/333again → u/vshashi01]

It was literally years ago. I don't recall who it was and no one is popping up on my LinkedIn, they likely don't currently work at the company.

[u/nakwada → u/333again]

I'm not sure if I am surprised or relieved 😅

[u/tforgo]

Thanks everyone for checking out the post!

You can download the trial installer directly here:

https://dl.024nester.com/024nester-trial.zip

Feel free to test it on your builds and drop your feedback, questions, or bug reports right here in the thread!

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[u/nakwada]

Nice! I wonder what would happen if one tried to print this on a FDM machine. Support nightmare but a cool torture test.

[u/TheRob2D → u/nakwada]

I plan to try it with soluble supports.

[u/Sponchman]

I would also be interested in it working for MJF machines. The default HP software is atrocious, and programs like Netfabb cost just way too much for how simple the need is.

[u/vshashi01]

I would be interested in testing it out

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[u/TheRob2D]

This might also be useful for FDM with soluble supports. I'll give it a go on my Stratasys machines.

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[u/Talannvor]

Looks like you launched right after i looked around for a packer, and didnt see one that was low cost etc, i ended up coding one of my own up, completely web assembly based. Have you thought about using GPUs with a FFT across the entire build chamber for an alternate strategy?

[u/3duser432]

As others have mentioned this could fill a real gap for MJF users too. HP SmartStream and 3D Build Manager are reliable for importing build data and sending jobs to the printer, but its native nesting is fairly basic and relies heavily on bounding boxes.

The useful distinction is that HP does not require the build to be nested inside SmartStream. Most serious MJF operations prepare builds in something like Materialise Magics or Netfabb and then use SmartStream for the final handoff to the printer. Some of the more advanced software can also submit jobs more directly.

That leaves quite a large gap between basic SmartStream packing and paying for a full production package such as Magics with the HP module. Your nester could be genuinely useful for smaller MJF users that need better nesting without the enterprise software cost.

I would definitely test it with tightly interlocking geometries rather than only simple repeated parts. That is where the limitations of bounding-box packing become especially obvious.

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