When I get my shop lined out better, I want to try cutting some blanks freehand with a template. All of my designs are drawn in cad, so I need to use some offsets and create the templates. Nesting is big issue with large plates. My laser guy always ticks me off with how much space he wastes with his nesting. He won't accept my pre-nested drawings, claims the files are too big for his software. But for example, I nested 48 blades on a sheet and he nested only 36.
My whole knife making hobby is sort of on hold while I work on getting some interior walls added, insulation, ceiling etc. I just snapped one day and decided I was fed up with freezing/roasting, extension cords, poor lighting, etc.