The metals industry speaks a unique language, exchanging terms like chuck, kerf, remnant, margin, and more. This article is a living glossary of how key industry terms are interpreted in SecturaFAB and any vocabulary unique to the platform.
| Term | Definition |
| Primary Operation |
The first operation applied to an item in a quote, often the cutting operation. |
| Secondary Operation | Added after the part is created, such as bending, grinding, or painting. |
| Best Sheet (or Piece) | SecturaFAB's nesting engine nests any highlighted line items together based on material and material types with the highest optimization of material possible. |
| Chuck | Linear cutting tools might have a fixture, clamp, or "chuck" that holds material while it's being cut. SecturaFAB's nesting engine accounts for the space taken by the chuck. Chuck sizes can be selected for each nest, and defaults can be changed in equipment machine files. |
| Clearance | In flat nesting, the clearance is the spacing between the edges of nested parts. Clearance can be selected for each nest. |
| Edge Distance | In flat nesting, the edge distance is the spacing between the parts on the border of the nest from the edge of the sheet. Edge distance can be selected for each nest. |
| Kerf | Kerf is the width of a linear cutting tool. SecturaFAB factors out the material removed from the piece being cut. Kerf sizes can be selected for each nest, and defaults can be changed in equipment machine files. |
| X-Pitch | The parameter used to measure the distance between holes on the x-axis. This parameter is found using the shape library in SecturaFAB when the material has more than one hole needing to be created. |