This is the document file for BC-40 v1.

00
Copyright (c) 1997 by M. Nimal Gunarathne

Contents

[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]

What is it ?.
How to use ?.
Who needs it ?.
How to order ?.
Other.

[1]. What is it ?

An extraordinary program that saves you MONEY, MATERIAL and TIME.

This is a unique program, designed to show you, how to cut many
pieces of different lengths required, from the standard lengths of
materials such as bars, beams, pipes, timber etc. without wasting.
Let us consider a real example. You are constructing your house.
You have estimated the required amount of some items like timber,
steel, pipes etc. The required amounts of steel are given below.

Length Number
(Units) required

3.75
211
3.50
215
3.25
306
2.75
291
2.25
129
1.75
349
1.25
300
1.00
97
0.75
182

For different purposes, different lengths

of steel bars are required. The length
and the number required from each length
are given in the table. ( Assume the diameter is same for all listed. )
Let us assume that the length of standard
steel bars available is 6 Units. Now you
may wish to know, how many lengths to be
bought, and how to cut the above pieces
from standard lengths, without wasting.
At this moment, you should realize the
importance of handling this problem
methodically to avoid possible waste of
money and material.

If you start analyzing and guessing the possibilities with a paper

and pencil, you might spend several days to find the solution.
( I doubt it very much even if you are a very lucky Math Wizard!.)
Most of the people will not find the answer. Therefore I worked on
finding an easier and quicker way of solving this kind of problems
using computers.
The result is BC-40. When you run BC-40 and enter the necessary
details the solution will be written to a file named BC40 as given
below.

--------------------------

PROBLEM

---------------------------

Length of the standard bars available =

Units.

It is required to cut

211
215
306
291
129
349
300
97
182

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

of
of
of
of
of
of
of
of
of

3.75
3.50
3.25
2.75
2.25
1.75
1.25
1
0.75

Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit

lengths,
lengths,
lengths,
lengths,
lengths,
lengths,
lengths,
lengths,
lengths,

with a MINIMUM waste.

--------------------------- SOLUTION --------------------------Standard length =

No.

306

211

215

291

129

349

300

97

182

Len.
3.75 3.50 3.25 2.75 2.25 1.75 1.25
1 0.75 Waste
-----------------------------------------------------------------129 x
1
.
.
.
1
.
.
.
.
0
82 x
1
.
.
.
.
.
1
1
.
0
182 x
.
1
.
.
.
1
.
.
1
0
33 x
.
1
.
.
.
.
2
.
.
0
291 x
.
.
1
1
.
.
.
.
.
0
15 x
.
.
1
.
.
1
.
1
.
0
76 x
.
.
.
.
.
2
2
.
.
0
-----------------------------------------------------------------808
0.00
Total bars =
Total waste =

808
(
4848.00 Units )
0.00 Units ( 0.000 Percent )

The above answer can be explained as follows.

PROBLEM rewrites the data clearly, in descending order of length.
The first three lines of the SOLUTION is data once again, written
horizontally. Please note that "Number" & "Length" are written as
"No." & "Len." due to the limited space.

Let us consider the lines below the dashed line.

First row says.
Take a standard length (6 Unit) steel bar, and cut it in to,
( 1 of 3.75 Unit length + 1 of 2.25 Unit length ).
Do above procedure 129 times. ( Resulting a zero waste )

Second row says.

Take a standard length (6 Unit) steel bar, and cut it in to,
( 1 of 3.75 Unit length + 1 of 1.25 Unit length +
1 of 1.00 Unit length )
Do above procedure 82 times. ( Resulting a zero waste )
Third row says.
Take a standard length (6 Unit) steel bar, and cut it in
( 1 of 3.50 Unit length + 1 of 1.75 Unit length +
1 of 0.75 Unit length )
Do above procedure 182 times. ( Resulting a zero waste )
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Proceed in a similar manner for each row
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Last row says.

to,

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Take a standard length (6 Unit) steel bar, and cut it in to,

( 2 of 1.75 Unit length + 2 of 1.25 Unit length )
Do above procedure 76 times. ( Resulting a zero waste )

Finally you will have all your requirements ready with a zero
waste. Don't you think it is very convenient ?. You might find it
difficult to understand the above explanations at the first time
you read. Read it several times leisurely. It is quite simple.
The best way to know about BC-40 is to use it. Try anything you
can imagine. It will give you the best solution ever. As the
number of different lengths increase, the solution will be more
economical. This program can handle up to 40 different lengths.

[2] How to use ?.

It is very easy and straight forward. Run the program by

typing BC-40 and pressing ENTER key at the DOS prompt. ( Even
if you are a WINDOWS 95 user you can run it at DOS prompt. )
The first screen, provides a brief description of the program
and advises you to read the document file, before proceeding.
Read the contents and press ENTER.

The program will clear the screen and ask the standard length
available. When you enter the above, the length and the
number required will be asked sequentially. You should enter
these values with a space between them.
When you have
entered all the cut sizes in the list, type "0 0" and press
ENTER. The computing will start at this moment.
Example :Standard length ? = 5.00
Enter
Enter
Enter
Enter
Enter
Enter
Enter

L1
L2
L3
L4
L5
L6
L7

and
and
and
and
and
and
and

N1
N2
N3
N4
N5
N6
N7

=
=
=
=
=
=
=

2.3 40
1.8 75
1.5 90
1.1 411
0.9 69
0.6 123
0 0

The result will be written to the file BC40 as given below.

--------------------------

PROBLEM

---------------------------

Length of the standard bars available =

It is required to cut

40
75
90
411
69
123

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

of
of
of
of
of
of

Units.

2.30
1.80
1.50
1.10
0.90
0.60

Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit

lengths,
lengths,
lengths,
lengths,
lengths,
lengths,

with a MINIMUM waste.

--------------------------- SOLUTION --------------------------Standard length =

No.

40

5
75

90

411

69

123

Len.
2.30 1.80 1.50 1.10 0.90 0.60
Waste
---------------------------------------------------------40 x
1
1
.
.
1
.
0
35 x
.
1
1
1
.
1
0
27 x
.
.
2
1
1
.
0
1 x
.
.
1
1
2
1
0
87 x
.
.
.
4
.
1
0
---------------------------------------------------------190
0.00
Total bars =

190

950.00 Units )

Total waste =

0.00 Units ( 0.000 Percent )

To obtain a printed copy of the file, type the following

command at DOS prompt
type bc40 > prn
Width of the file BC40 will depend on the number of different
lengths you enter. When the width exceeds 80 characters you
may try following methods to print the file.
[A]. Use a smaller font ( 12, 15, 17 or 20 cpi ) on a dot
matrix or any other printer with 80 columns.
[B]. Use a dot matrix or any other printer with 132 columns.
Set 10, 12, 15, 17 or 20 cpi font as necessary.
[C]. Use a word processor and change the font to a smaller.

[3] Who needs it ?.

As this is a program that so many wished for and nobody had,

I think a vast number of people engaged in many different
trades / industries will need it. All the following people
will want it frequently in their day to day work.
Civil Engineers
Quantity surveyors
Structural Engineers
Building Contractors
Steel, Timber & pipe dealers

Grill makers,
Trellis makers
Furniture makers
Roof builders
Puzzle solvers

Some people, who badly need this type of solving method, may
not be aware of this program, or even may not have access to
a computer. It is nice of you to help them.

[4] How to order ?.

Three programs are available. Namely BC-20, BC-30 and BC-40.

They are different in capacity. Depending on your needs you
can order the suitable one.

No. of different

 Program
lengths that can
Price ( US$ )

handle (maximum)

BC-20

20

100

BC-30

30

120

BC-40

40

150

When you post ( Registered post is advisable. ) a Bank draft

for the right amount (US$) to the address given below, you
will receive a licensed copy of the program in a 3.5" disk.
( Sorry, unable to send 5.25" diskettes. )

M. Nimal Gunarathne,
23, First Lane,
Station Road,
Homagama,
Sri Lanka.

N.B: -> Please note that you cannot use BC-20 to find the
optimum solution when you have more than 20 lengths. For
example if you have 35 different lengths, you may feel, that
you can try 20, and 15 lengths in two sessions to find the
best solution using BC-20. But, this will never be economical
as the solution, you obtain using BC-40. Again it is a waste.
Therefore select a program that covers all your needs.

[5] Other

Warranty
-------BC-40 is provided on an "AS
Gunarathne ) disclaim all
software, whether expressed or
software bears all risk as to
the software.

IS" basis. I ( M. Nimal

warranties relating to this
implied. The person using the
the quality and performance of

Do not
-----If you alter the program, the program will not work.
You may not rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble

or reverse engineer BC-40.EXE.

Comments
-------Please let me know your comments. Whatever they are, it is
nice to learn that somebody is using my program.
Please post your response to

---> M. Nimal Gunarathne

23, First Lane,
Station Road,
Homagama,
Sri Lanka.

or E-mail

---> nimal@ou.ac.lk

The world thrift day is 31st October.

It reminds us the
importance of avoiding the waste of money and goods.
As a
person born on the same day, I am happy to be able to do
something to help the concept.