Parcel Manager (@vancat/parcel-manager)

Parcel Manager adds shipping-aware packing to parametric models without adding geometry logic to the graph. Place the Parcel Items node in a graph after the solids you want to ship; it registers each solid’s oriented bounding box, volume, weight and label with the built-in Parcel Manager. After the graph settles, the manager packs those items into parcels and exposes the result in the Calculation panel.

Node groups

Shipping

• Parcel Items — marks solids for shipping. Its Geometries input accepts a required tree of solids. The optional Weight input accepts a tree of numbers in kg; one value applies to every solid. The Geometries output is a pass-through, so you can insert the node anywhere downstream without changing the model.

The node itself decides nothing; it only collects shipping facts. The Parcel Manager runs outside the graph after a short debounce, so heavy packing never blocks editing. If any item has no weight, the result is invalid and the offending items are listed.

Packing settings

Choose a strategy in the Parcels panel. Settings resolve from the preview override first, then the production model, then the organization, then built-in defaults.

Available algorithms:

• LBWP — length-bucket weight packing, with target weight and bucket dimensions.
• FFD — first-fit-decreasing 3D packing into boxes from a catalogue. Boxes have inner dimensions, maximum weight and tare weight. You can allow all six rotations or keepUp, which keeps each item’s thinnest side vertical — useful so a board is never stood on its edge. You can also set padding between items and box walls.

Oversize or overweight items become their own parcels, flagged accordingly.

Examples

1. Basic cartonization of a cabinet model

Build the cabinet solids as usual, then connect their geometry output into Parcel Items. Leave Weight empty if item weights are not needed. The original solids continue from the node’s Geometries output. In the Parcels panel, choose LBWP defaults and read the resulting parcels.

2. Weight-aware order

Connect a number tree to Weight so each solid or subtree receives a weight in kg. Combine that with FFD and a catalogue of box sizes. The manager packs larger, heavier items first, respects maxWeight, and reports which parcels are overweight or oversized.

3. Keep-up orientation for flat panels

For a model containing boards or panels, set FFD allowRotation to keepUp. The Parcel Items node still passes geometry through unchanged, but packing will not stand panels on their edge, making the parcel dimensions easier to validate.