Tie-pair count & placement — derived per job, never stored

kerfmaster pin list · The spec — what we build to

rulingA decision by Aristide or Jordan. True because it was decided; it can be superseded, but it cannot be stale.

Content last changed 2026-08-13 — computed from the item itself, not typed.

The count of zip-tie pairs is an OUTPUT of the job, never a stored number (decided 2026-08-09, delegated by Aristide — “you are going to have to make a decision if 3 or 4 zip ties pairs is enough? a file in the future may need 5?”; calibrated to the option-C teaching file [[mvt-option-c-file]]). Derivation, in order:

1. Candidate sites: points on the art/template joint line where an opposed pair fits in never-seen metal at legal webs ([[fastener-holes]]). Ties exist ONLY at legal sites.
2. Floor: 3 pairs per mounted piece — two ties define a hinge line the part can peel about. A joint line too short for 3 at legal webs takes the max that fits, REPORTED.
3. Spacing: extremes of the joint line first, then fill until no neighbor gap exceeds 14" (option-C cloud holds at a measured 14.7" max gap; rounded down — closer is the safe direction). A small file derives 3, the 30" cloud derives 4, a longer joint derives 5+ — the count falls out.
4. Load: pairs × strap loop rating > weight × safety factor. The 2.5 mm strap's rating is NOT in the tables yet (pending Jordan); until tabulated this check reports UNVERIFIED, never silently passes. Cloud: 11.8 lb / 4 ties = 3.0 lb/tie nominal.
5. Sites run out: extend the hidden metal to the band (the orphan-dot fix), or use a strap, or report the constraint. Never a visible hole, never a silently under-tied part.

Every tie mark must have geometry behind it — a mark carrying intent with no holes drawn is a defect (self-QC re-measure applies to marks too).

Superseded in part (Aristide, 2026-08-10): when the customer DRAWS the pair spots — as the option-C file does — the drawn dots ARE the positions and the sliding search does not run; the dots give the position, the function gives the size (0.125" both plates). The derivation above stands for files where nobody drew spots.

Refined (Aristide, 2026-08-13): the verbatim dots left a measured 0.02" edge web to the shared cut line, and he ruled “this stays: 0.20 standard, 0.15 fallback, 0.11 last resort — 0.02 was not intended”. So a drawn dot is a SEED, never the final position: the opposed-pair search runs from his dot and the ladder binds even on a sacrificial jig. Re-placed on MVT: pairs 1/2/4 opposed at the full 0.20, the top pair at 0.15 (opposed-at-0.20 does not exist inside the peak), moves from his dots 0.21–1.31", all reported.