Build Sheets

Build sheets are automatically generated production documents that detail how materials should be cut and assembled to fulfill an order. They're essential for efficient manufacturing and minimizing waste.

Overview

When you create an order, TimberCloud automatically generates build sheets based on the parts configuration defined on your products. These become downloadable PDFs that your shop floor uses for production.

Build Sheet Contents

Each build sheet PDF includes:

Order Header

• Customer name and contact information
• Order number and date
• Delivery address
• Due date and lead time

Line Items Table

• Product name and quantity
• Customer-specified dimensions
• Selected options (material, edge, etc.)
• Unit and total pricing

Parts Breakdown

• Individual parts for each line item
• Calculated dimensions per part
• Quantities (expanded from line item qty)
• Material specifications

Photos (if attached)

• Images uploaded to the order
• Reference photos from the customer
• Inspection or design images

How Parts Generate Build Sheets

Parts defined on your products automatically expand into build sheet entries:

Example: Shaker Door Order

Order: 5 Shaker Doors, 24" × 36", Cherry

Parts Configuration:

Generated Build Sheet:

Quantities are multiplied: 5 doors × 2 stiles = 10 stiles

Build Sheet Builder

For more control over build sheet appearance, use the Build Sheet Builder:

• Drag-and-drop column creation
• Custom formatting for dimensions
• Multiple tables per product
• Formula columns for calculations
• Row source selection (Line Items or Parts)

The Build Sheet Builder creates production documents that match your shop's workflow.

Calculation Validation

Build sheet generation enforces strict validation:

Quantities

• Must be zero or positive
• Negative values are rejected
• Zero is valid (optional pieces)

Dimensions

• Must be strictly positive
• Zero or negative values fall back to defaults
• Invalid formulas trigger errors

This ensures your build sheets always contain valid, usable measurements.

PDF Settings

Customize build sheet generation in Order Settings:

Page Breaks

Control where page breaks occur:

• Per Line Item: Each line item on new page
• Per Product: Group by product type
• Continuous: Minimize pages

Header/Footer

Customize document headers:

• Company logo
• Contact information
• Custom text

Generating Build Sheets

From Order View

1. Open an order
2. Click "Documents" dropdown
3. Select "Build Sheet"
4. PDF downloads automatically

Batch Generation

For multiple orders:

1. Select orders from list
2. Click "Bulk Actions"
3. Choose "Generate Build Sheets"
4. Download as ZIP

Ships Assembled Setting

The Ships Assembled setting affects build sheets:

Ships Assembled = ON

• Product ships as one unit
• Parts still appear in build sheet (for manufacturing)
• Overall product dimensions used for shipping

Ships Assembled = OFF

• Product ships as separate parts
• Each part appears in both build sheet AND shipping packages
• Parts marked "Show on Build Sheet" appear in production documents

Material Optimization

Build sheets help optimize material usage:

Grouping by Material

Parts are grouped by material type for efficient cutting:

• All Cherry pieces together
• All Maple pieces together
• Hardware listed separately

Dimension Sorting

Parts are sorted for optimal sheet layout:

• Largest pieces first
• Similar sizes grouped
• Minimize waste cuts

Best Practices

1. Configure all parts - Include every component that needs cutting
2. Use consistent naming - "Left Stile" vs "Stile 1"
3. Validate formulas - Test with sample orders
4. Include overage - Add lip factors for finishing
5. Group by operation - Organize for shop workflow

Troubleshooting

Parts Not Appearing

• Verify parts are configured on the product
• Check quantity formulas return positive values
• Ensure product is attached to order item

Incorrect Dimensions

• Review formula syntax in part specs
• Verify attribute field names match exactly
• Test with known input values

PDF Generation Fails

• Check for invalid calculations (division by zero)
• Ensure all required fields have values
• Review order for data completeness

Next Steps

• Parts - Configure product components
• Build Sheet Builder - Create custom layouts
• Shipping & Logistics - Packaging and shipping setup