NestFab Trial Guide
Overview
Whether you're exploring NestFab for the first time or evaluating it for use within your organisation, the trial allows you to experience the software using your own designs and workflows before making a purchasing decision.
This guide explains the complete trial process, from requesting a trial licence through to evaluating the software, extending your trial if required, and purchasing a full licence.
What to Expect
The NestFab trial is designed to give you sufficient time to explore the software's features and determine whether it meets your production requirements.
During your trial, you can install and use NestFab with your own projects, evaluate its functionality within your existing workflow, and contact our support team if you need assistance or guidance.
If you require additional time to complete your evaluation, you can request a trial extension. Trial extension requests are reviewed individually and may require additional company information.
Once your evaluation is complete, you can purchase a commercial licence and continue using NestFab without needing to change your workflow or recreate your existing projects.
Requesting a Trial Licence
Getting started with a NestFab trial is quick and straightforward.
To request a trial licence, complete the trial request form on the NestFab website: https://www.nestfab.com/free-trial
You'll be asked to provide the following information:
First name
Last name
Company name
Your position within the company
Country of residence
Business email address
Contact telephone number
Once your request has been submitted, a trial licence is automatically generated and sent to the email address you provided.
Your trial email includes:
Your NestFab trial licence key.
A link to download the latest version of NestFab.
The information you need to install and begin evaluating the software.
If you do not receive your trial email within a few minutes, please check your junk or spam folder before contacting our support team for assistance.
Activating Your Trial Licence
After downloading and installing NestFab, launch the software to begin the activation process.
When NestFab starts for the first time, you will be presented with a registration screen requesting the following information:
Name
Organisation
Serial Number
Telephone
Email address
Enter the required details using the information provided during your trial request. Your Serial Number can be found in the NestFab Trial email you received.
Once all fields have been completed, click Register to continue.
You will then be presented with four options:
Register - Use this option to submit or update your licence registration details.
Try - Start the NestFab trial.
Extend... - Use this option only after a trial extension has been approved. This synchronises your updated trial expiry date with the NestFab licence server.
Cancel - Close NestFab without starting the software.
To begin your evaluation, click Try.
The NestFab trial provides full access to the software, allowing you to explore all available features without restrictions. Each time you launch NestFab during your trial, you will be able to choose which nesting engine you would like to use for that session:
Standard nesting engine
Ultra-Performance nesting engine
Select the engine you wish to evaluate, then continue to launch NestFab.
You are now ready to begin exploring NestFab using your own projects and workflows.
Note: If you require additional time to complete your evaluation, you must request a trial extension from the support team. Please see the below section for the relevant details.
Once your extension has been approved, use the Extend... option to update your trial expiry date.
Evaluating NestFab
The quickest way to evaluate NestFab is to complete a simple nesting workflow using your own part files. This allows you to become familiar with the software while producing results that can be compared with your existing process.
For most users, the recommended evaluation workflow is:
Import one or more DXF part files using the Part Importer. See our short video guide on this process here: Importing
Configure the required nesting settings.
Run the nesting process.
Export the completed nest as a DXF file.
This workflow is particularly well suited to manufacturing environments where parts are created as DXF files and the resulting nests are either:
Sent directly to machinery capable of reading DXF files, or
Imported into CAM software to generate the machine code required for production.
Using your own production parts provides the most meaningful evaluation, allowing you to compare NestFab's performance, material utilisation, and ease of use against your current nesting process, using the same hardware for nesting.
Throughout your trial, you can choose between the Standard and Ultra-Performance nesting engines each time you launch NestFab. We recommend evaluating both engines using the same set of parts so that you can compare their performance and determine which is best suited to your production and financial requirements.
You can find an article detailing the differences between the two nesting engines here: Standard vs Ultra
While the DXF workflow provides the simplest introduction to NestFab, the software also supports a range of additional import, nesting, and export workflows to accommodate different manufacturing environments. If your workflow differs from the one described above, our support team will be happy to advise on the most appropriate evaluation approach.
Support During Your Trial
If you have any questions during your evaluation, the NestFab support team is available to help.
Whether you need assistance with installation, configuring nesting parameters, importing or exporting files, or understanding a particular feature, we're here to ensure you get the most from your trial.
For technical assistance during your trial, please email support@nestfab.com.
To help us resolve your query as quickly as possible, please include the following information:
Your company name.
The email address used to request your trial.
Your NestFab serial number.
A description of the issue or question.
Any relevant screenshots.
Any sample part files related to the issue.
Where possible, we also recommend sending your NestFab project file. This file contains your imported parts, nesting settings and the results generated at the time it was saved, allowing our support team to recreate your project and investigate your query more effectively.
To create a NestFab project file, select File → Save As and save the project before contacting support. Including this file alongside any relevant screenshots or sample files will help us diagnose and resolve your issue as quickly as possible.
Requesting a Trial Extension
If you require additional time to complete your evaluation, you can request a trial extension before your current trial expires.
Trial extensions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. To help us process your request as quickly as possible, we'll ask for some additional information about your organisation. This enables us to verify your request, maintain accurate licensing records, and ensure you continue to receive the appropriate level of support during your evaluation.
Information Required
When requesting a trial extension for NestFab, please provide the following details:
Company Overview
Please provide a detailed description of your company, including:
The industry you operate in.
Your products or services.
The evaluation objectives you are trying to achieve.
This information helps us understand your workflow and ensure your trial experience is properly supported.
Registered Company Address
Please include your company's full registered address, including:
Street address.
City.
County/State (if applicable).
Postal/ZIP code.
Country.
Company Director
Please provide the full name of your company director or primary business owner.
Current Trial Licence Key
Please include your existing trial licence key so we can quickly locate your current trial record.
Why We Request This Information
Collecting this information helps us:
Verify that trial extensions are granted to genuine businesses.
Tailor support and recommendations to your specific industry or workflow.
Maintain accurate licensing records.
Ensure compliance with our software licensing and distribution policies.
Your information will be handled securely and used only for processing your trial extension request and providing evaluation support.
How to Submit Your Request
Please email the required information to the NestFab support team, including:
Company description.
Registered company address.
Company director's name.
Current trial licence key.
After reviewing your request, our team will either approve your trial extension or contact you if additional information is required.
Once your extension has been approved, launch NestFab and click Extend... → Extend Online on the licence screen to synchronise your updated trial expiry date with the NestFab licence server.
Purchasing a Licence
Once you've completed your evaluation and decided that NestFab meets your requirements, you can purchase a licence by contacting our sales team here: sales@nestfab.com.
To begin the purchasing process, please email us confirming the licence option you would like to purchase.
NestFab is available in the following editions:
Standard
Ultra-Performance
Each edition can be purchased as either:
An Annual Subscription licence, or
A Perpetual licence.
Current pricing for all licence options is available on the NestFab website: https://www.nestfab.com/pricing
Once we receive your email, we'll prepare and send you an invoice containing the payment details for your chosen licence.
After payment has been received, your commercial licence will be issued along with instructions for activating it within NestFab.
Thank you for evaluating NestFab. We hope you've found the trial helpful in understanding how NestFab can improve your nesting workflow.
If you have any questions about licensing or would like help choosing the most appropriate edition, please contact our support team.