I have 126 glass panes which range in size from (all measurements in
inches) 9x5 to 24x16. (It is not a uniform distribution -- almost 1/4
of them are 16x12.)
I want to mount them in frameworks to form decorative screens. The
size of the panels can be from 14 to 28 inches wide and from 60 to 84
inches tall, but there have to be several (2 to 6) panels of each
finished size to assemble them into a screen.
They cannot reasonably be cut [1], and a uniform pane size is not
desirable anyway (if you're familiar with art deco room dividers,
you'll know the look I'm after).
I could just mark out suitable dimensions on the floor, start grabbing
panes, and try to figure out a pattern, but that would be long,
frustrating, and tedious. (It would also be too much like work for my
taste.)
I could use a CAD program, making a rectangle to represent each piece,
and try to fit them into a suitable pattern, but that would also take
a long time, and I'm supposed to be cutting back on the hours spent at
the computer.
It strikes me, however, that there could be a parallel in some branch
of science, some method of determining arrangements of randomly sized
objects to form regular shapes.
But I don't have a clue as to where to start looking.
Any help appreciated.
[1] They are molded glass panels and many are tempered. They cannot be
cut by the usual 'score and snap' method. The only local that could
cut them charges $30 per setup plus a dollar an inch, with no
guarantee against breakage. To ship them somewhere is not really an
option -- glass is heavy, driving up the cost.
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