diff --git a/OpenNest.Core/ClampRail.cs b/OpenNest.Core/ClampRail.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae13b30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenNest.Core/ClampRail.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using OpenNest.Geometry;
+
+namespace OpenNest
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The machine's fixed clamp rail: identical rectangular clamps whose X centers are
+    /// measured from the plate origin along the origin-side (operator) edge. Plates always
+    /// start at the origin, so the same rail resolves onto every sheet size without
+    /// re-scaling; a clamp whose footprint lies wholly beyond a sheet is skipped and one
+    /// that still reaches onto it is kept, clipped to the sheet.
+    /// </summary>
+    public sealed class ClampRail : IEquatable<ClampRail>
+    {
+        public ClampRail(double width, double depth, IEnumerable<double> centers)
+        {
+            ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(centers);
+            if (!double.IsFinite(width) || width <= 0)
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(
+                    nameof(width),
+                    "Clamp width must be finite and positive."
+                );
+            if (!double.IsFinite(depth) || depth <= 0)
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(
+                    nameof(depth),
+                    "Clamp depth must be finite and positive."
+                );
+
+            var sorted = new SortedSet<double>();
+            foreach (var center in centers)
+            {
+                if (!double.IsFinite(center) || center < 0)
+                    throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(
+                        nameof(centers),
+                        "Clamp centers must be finite and measured from the origin (zero or more)."
+                    );
+                sorted.Add(center);
+            }
+
+            Width = width;
+            Depth = depth;
+            Centers = sorted.ToArray();
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Clamp extent along the edge (X).</summary>
+        public double Width { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>Clamp intrusion into the sheet from the origin-side edge (Y).</summary>
+        public double Depth { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>Distinct clamp centers along X from the origin, ascending.</summary>
+        public IReadOnlyList<double> Centers { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The zones this rail places on a sheet, in plate coordinates (the frame of
+        /// <see cref="Plate.ClampZones"/>: origin at the sheet's lower-left corner). The
+        /// quadrant locates the plate origin, and with it the origin-side edge, on the sheet.
+        /// Ids are <c>clamp-N</c> by rail position, so one physical clamp keeps its id on
+        /// every sheet even when others are skipped.
+        /// </summary>
+        public IReadOnlyList<ClampZone> ResolveFor(Size size, int quadrant)
+        {
+            var length = size.Length;
+            var sheetWidth = size.Width;
+            if (!(length > 0) || !(sheetWidth > 0) || !double.IsFinite(length) || !double.IsFinite(sheetWidth))
+                return Array.Empty<ClampZone>();
+
+            var extendsLeft = quadrant is 2 or 3;
+            var extendsDown = quadrant is 3 or 4;
+            var depth = System.Math.Min(Depth, sheetWidth);
+            var y = extendsDown ? sheetWidth - depth : 0;
+            var half = Width / 2;
+
+            var zones = new List<ClampZone>(Centers.Count);
+            for (var i = 0; i < Centers.Count; i++)
+            {
+                // Distances from the origin along the edge.
+                var near = Centers[i] - half;
+                var far = Centers[i] + half;
+                if (near >= length)
+                    continue; // wholly beyond this sheet
+
+                var clipped = near < 0 || far > length;
+                var start = near < 0 ? 0 : near;
+                var extent = clipped ? System.Math.Min(far, length) - start : Width;
+                if (!(extent > 0))
+                    continue;
+
+                // Plate coordinates are measured from the lower-left corner; a sheet extending
+                // to -X from the origin has its origin edge at x = length.
+                var x = extendsLeft ? length - (start + extent) : start;
+                zones.Add(new ClampZone($"clamp-{i + 1}", new Box(x, y, extent, depth)));
+            }
+
+            return zones;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>True when the plate's zones are exactly (ids and bits) this rail's for its sheet.</summary>
+        public bool Matches(Plate plate)
+        {
+            ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(plate);
+            return SameZones(plate.ClampZones, ResolveFor(plate.Size, plate.Quadrant));
+        }
+
+        internal static bool SameZones(IList<ClampZone> current, IReadOnlyList<ClampZone> expected)
+        {
+            if (current.Count != expected.Count)
+                return false;
+            for (var i = 0; i < current.Count; i++)
+            {
+                var a = current[i];
+                var b = expected[i];
+                if (
+                    !string.Equals(a.Id, b.Id, StringComparison.Ordinal)
+                    || a.Bounds.X != b.Bounds.X
+                    || a.Bounds.Y != b.Bounds.Y
+                    || a.Bounds.Length != b.Bounds.Length
+                    || a.Bounds.Width != b.Bounds.Width
+                )
+                    return false;
+            }
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        public bool Equals(ClampRail other) =>
+            other is not null
+            && Width.Equals(other.Width)
+            && Depth.Equals(other.Depth)
+            && Centers.SequenceEqual(other.Centers);
+
+        public override bool Equals(object obj) => Equals(obj as ClampRail);
+
+        public override int GetHashCode()
+        {
+            var hash = HashCode.Combine(Width, Depth, Centers.Count);
+            foreach (var center in Centers)
+                hash = HashCode.Combine(hash, center);
+            return hash;
+        }
+
+        public override string ToString() =>
+            $"ClampRail {Width:R} x {Depth:R} at [{string.Join(", ", Centers.Select(c => c.ToString("R")))}]";
+    }
+}
diff --git a/OpenNest.Core/Nest.cs b/OpenNest.Core/Nest.cs
index 2f9d1ca..6d288c8 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Core/Nest.cs
+++ b/OpenNest.Core/Nest.cs
@@ -65,6 +65,21 @@ namespace OpenNest
             return plate;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Makes <paramref name="rail"/> this nest's machine clamp rail: new plates follow it
+        /// (<see cref="PlateSettings.ClampRail"/>) and every existing plate re-resolves its
+        /// zones from it. Null, or a rail without clamps, removes the rail and every plate's
+        /// zones; the rail is nest-wide, so per-plate zones are replaced either way.
+        /// </summary>
+        public void SetClampRail(ClampRail rail)
+        {
+            if (rail != null && rail.Centers.Count == 0)
+                rail = null;
+            PlateDefaults.ClampRail = rail;
+            foreach (var plate in Plates)
+                plate.SetClampRail(rail);
+        }
+
         public void UpdateDrawingQuantities()
         {
             foreach (var drawing in Drawings)
@@ -114,6 +129,12 @@ namespace OpenNest
                 set { plate.PartSpacing = value; }
             }
 
+            /// <summary>
+            /// The machine clamp rail new plates follow, or null for none. Set through
+            /// <see cref="Nest.SetClampRail"/> to also update existing plates.
+            /// </summary>
+            public ClampRail ClampRail { get; set; }
+
             public void SetFromExisting(Plate plate)
             {
                 Quadrant = plate.Quadrant;
@@ -124,7 +145,7 @@ namespace OpenNest
 
             public Plate CreateNew()
             {
-                return new Plate()
+                var created = new Plate()
                 {
                     Size = Size,
                     EdgeSpacing = EdgeSpacing,
@@ -132,6 +153,9 @@ namespace OpenNest
                     Quadrant = Quadrant,
                     Quantity = 1,
                 };
+                if (ClampRail != null)
+                    created.SetClampRail(ClampRail);
+                return created;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/OpenNest.Core/Plate.cs b/OpenNest.Core/Plate.cs
index c441d96..3fa0ce8 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Core/Plate.cs
+++ b/OpenNest.Core/Plate.cs
@@ -85,9 +85,20 @@ namespace OpenNest
         public Spacing EdgeSpacing;
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// The size of the plate.
+        /// The size of the plate. A plate following a <see cref="ClampRail"/> re-resolves
+        /// its clamp zones for the new size.
         /// </summary>
-        public Size Size { get; set; }
+        public Size Size
+        {
+            get { return size; }
+            set
+            {
+                size = value;
+                ResolveClampRail();
+            }
+        }
+
+        private Size size;
 
         public CNC.CuttingStrategy.CuttingParameters CuttingParameters { get; set; }
 
@@ -122,6 +133,42 @@ namespace OpenNest
 
         private void OnClampZonesChanged() => ClampZonesChanged?.Invoke(this, EventArgs.Empty);
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The machine clamp rail this plate follows, or null when its
+        /// <see cref="ClampZones"/> are explicit (engine sheets, files without a rail). While
+        /// set, the zones are derived: re-resolved whenever <see cref="Size"/> or
+        /// <see cref="Quadrant"/> changes, because the clamps are fixed to the machine.
+        /// </summary>
+        public ClampRail ClampRail { get; private set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Follows <paramref name="rail"/> and replaces the zones with its resolution for
+        /// this sheet; null detaches and removes every zone. Unchanged zones raise no events.
+        /// </summary>
+        public void SetClampRail(ClampRail rail)
+        {
+            ClampRail = rail;
+            ReplaceClampZones(
+                rail == null ? Array.Empty<ClampZone>() : rail.ResolveFor(Size, Quadrant)
+            );
+        }
+
+        private void ResolveClampRail()
+        {
+            // Called from the constructor's Size assignment before the zone list exists.
+            if (ClampRail != null)
+                ReplaceClampZones(ClampRail.ResolveFor(Size, Quadrant));
+        }
+
+        private void ReplaceClampZones(IReadOnlyList<ClampZone> zones)
+        {
+            if (ClampRail.SameZones(ClampZones, zones))
+                return;
+            ClampZones.Clear();
+            foreach (var zone in zones)
+                ClampZones.Add(zone);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Regenerates all cut-off drawings and materializes them as parts.
         /// Existing cut-off parts are removed first, then each cut-off is
@@ -256,7 +303,11 @@ namespace OpenNest
         public int Quadrant
         {
             get { return quadrant; }
-            set { quadrant = value <= 4 && value > 0 ? value : 1; }
+            set
+            {
+                quadrant = value <= 4 && value > 0 ? value : 1;
+                ResolveClampRail();
+            }
         }
 
         /// <summary>
diff --git a/OpenNest.Tests/ClampRailTests.cs b/OpenNest.Tests/ClampRailTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eae374c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenNest.Tests/ClampRailTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,266 @@
+using OpenNest.Geometry;
+
+namespace OpenNest.Tests;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// The fixed machine clamp rail: X centers measured from the plate origin along the
+/// origin-side edge, resolved onto every sheet size without re-scaling (D2/D3).
+/// </summary>
+public class ClampRailTests
+{
+    // The user's machine: ~8 clamps, 1.5" along the edge x 0.625" into the sheet.
+    private static readonly double[] MachineCenters = { 6, 21, 36, 51, 66, 81, 96, 111 };
+
+    private static ClampRail Machine() => new(1.5, 0.625, MachineCenters);
+
+    // Plate(width, length): Width is the Y extent, Length the X extent along the clamp edge.
+    private static Plate Sheet(double width, double length, int quadrant = 1) =>
+        new(width, length) { Quadrant = quadrant };
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(0, 0.625)]
+    [InlineData(-1, 0.625)]
+    [InlineData(double.NaN, 0.625)]
+    [InlineData(double.PositiveInfinity, 0.625)]
+    [InlineData(1.5, 0)]
+    [InlineData(1.5, -0.5)]
+    [InlineData(1.5, double.NaN)]
+    public void NonPositiveOrNonFiniteSizesAreRejected(double width, double depth)
+    {
+        Assert.Throws<ArgumentOutOfRangeException>(() => new ClampRail(width, depth, new[] { 6.0 }));
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(-0.5)]
+    [InlineData(double.NaN)]
+    [InlineData(double.PositiveInfinity)]
+    public void CentersMustBeFiniteAndFromTheOrigin(double center)
+    {
+        Assert.Throws<ArgumentOutOfRangeException>(() => new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, new[] { 6, center }));
+        Assert.Throws<ArgumentNullException>(() => new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, null!));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void CentersAreSortedAndDistinct()
+    {
+        var rail = new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, new[] { 36.0, 6, 21, 6 });
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 6.0, 21, 36 }, rail.Centers);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void FullLengthSheetGetsEveryClampOnTheFrontEdge()
+    {
+        var zones = Machine().ResolveFor(new Size(60, 120), quadrant: 1);
+
+        Assert.Equal(8, zones.Count);
+        for (var i = 0; i < zones.Count; i++)
+        {
+            Assert.Equal($"clamp-{i + 1}", zones[i].Id);
+            Assert.Equal(MachineCenters[i] - 0.75, zones[i].Bounds.X);
+            Assert.Equal(0, zones[i].Bounds.Y);
+            Assert.Equal(1.5, zones[i].Bounds.Length);
+            Assert.Equal(0.625, zones[i].Bounds.Width);
+        }
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ShorterSheetSkipsClampsBeyondItWithoutRescaling()
+    {
+        // D2: a 60" sheet keeps the clamps at their table positions and drops the rest.
+        var zones = Machine().ResolveFor(new Size(48, 60), quadrant: 1);
+
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { "clamp-1", "clamp-2", "clamp-3", "clamp-4" }, zones.Select(z => z.Id));
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 5.25, 20.25, 35.25, 50.25 }, zones.Select(z => z.Bounds.X));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ClampStraddlingTheSheetEndIsClippedNotDropped()
+    {
+        var rail = new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, new[] { 59.5, 60.5, 60.75, 61 });
+
+        var zones = rail.ResolveFor(new Size(48, 60), quadrant: 1);
+
+        // 59.5 covers [58.75, 60]; 60.5 still reaches onto the sheet [59.75, 60];
+        // 60.75 only touches the end and 61 lies wholly beyond it.
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { "clamp-1", "clamp-2" }, zones.Select(z => z.Id));
+        Assert.Equal(58.75, zones[0].Bounds.X);
+        Assert.Equal(1.25, zones[0].Bounds.Length);
+        Assert.Equal(59.75, zones[1].Bounds.X);
+        Assert.Equal(0.25, zones[1].Bounds.Length);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ClampAtTheOriginAndDeepClampsAreClippedToTheSheet()
+    {
+        var rail = new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, new[] { 0.25 });
+        var origin = Assert.Single(rail.ResolveFor(new Size(48, 96), quadrant: 1));
+        Assert.Equal(0, origin.Bounds.X);
+        Assert.Equal(1.0, origin.Bounds.Length);
+
+        var deep = Assert.Single(new ClampRail(1.5, 10, new[] { 6.0 }).ResolveFor(new Size(4, 96), 1));
+        Assert.Equal(4, deep.Bounds.Width);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(0, 96)]
+    [InlineData(48, 0)]
+    [InlineData(double.NaN, 96)]
+    public void DegenerateSheetsGetNoZones(double width, double length)
+    {
+        Assert.Empty(Machine().ResolveFor(new Size(width, length), quadrant: 1));
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(1)]
+    [InlineData(2)]
+    [InlineData(3)]
+    [InlineData(4)]
+    public void ZonesSitOnTheOriginEdgeMeasuredFromTheOriginInEveryQuadrant(int quadrant)
+    {
+        var plate = Sheet(48, 96, quadrant);
+        plate.SetClampRail(new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, new[] { 6.0 }));
+        var zone = Assert.Single(plate.ClampZones);
+
+        // Plate coordinates start at the sheet's lower-left corner; translating by the
+        // sheet's placement corner gives machine coordinates around the origin.
+        var sheet = plate.BoundingBox(includeParts: false);
+        var machine = zone.Bounds.Translate(sheet.X, sheet.Y);
+        var awayFromOrigin = quadrant is 1 or 4 ? 1 : -1;
+        var intoSheet = quadrant is 1 or 2 ? 1 : -1;
+
+        Assert.Equal(6.0, System.Math.Abs(machine.Center.X), 12);
+        Assert.Equal(awayFromOrigin, System.Math.Sign(machine.Center.X));
+        Assert.Equal(0.0, intoSheet > 0 ? machine.Bottom : machine.Top, 12);
+        Assert.Equal(0.625, machine.Width);
+        Assert.Equal(1.5, machine.Length, 12);
+        Assert.True(zone.Bounds.Left >= 0 && zone.Bounds.Right <= 96 + 1e-9);
+        Assert.True(zone.Bounds.Bottom >= 0 && zone.Bounds.Top <= 48 + 1e-9);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PlateFollowsItsRailWhenResizedOrRotated()
+    {
+        var plate = Sheet(48, 120);
+        plate.SetClampRail(Machine());
+        Assert.Equal(8, plate.ClampZones.Count);
+        Assert.True(plate.ClampRail.Matches(plate));
+
+        plate.Size = new Size(48, 60);
+        Assert.Equal(4, plate.ClampZones.Count);
+
+        // Rotating swaps the sheet's extents; the machine's clamps stay where they are.
+        plate.Rotate90(RotationType.CW);
+        Assert.Equal(new Size(60, 48), plate.Size);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 5.25, 20.25, 35.25 }, plate.ClampZones.Select(z => z.Bounds.X));
+
+        plate.Quadrant = 2;
+        Assert.True(plate.ClampRail.Matches(plate));
+        Assert.Equal(48 - 6.75, plate.ClampZones[0].Bounds.X);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void UnchangedResolutionRaisesNoEvents()
+    {
+        var plate = Sheet(48, 120);
+        plate.SetClampRail(Machine());
+        var original = plate.ClampZones.ToList();
+        var changes = 0;
+        plate.ClampZonesChanged += (_, _) => changes++;
+
+        plate.Size = new Size(48, 120);
+        plate.Quadrant = 1;
+        plate.SetClampRail(Machine());
+
+        Assert.Equal(0, changes);
+        Assert.Equal(original, plate.ClampZones); // same zone instances
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void DetachingTheRailRemovesItsZones()
+    {
+        var plate = Sheet(48, 120);
+        plate.SetClampRail(Machine());
+
+        plate.SetClampRail(null!);
+
+        Assert.Null(plate.ClampRail);
+        Assert.Empty(plate.ClampZones);
+        plate.Size = new Size(48, 96);
+        Assert.Empty(plate.ClampZones);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PlatesWithoutARailKeepExplicitZonesThroughResizes()
+    {
+        var plate = Sheet(48, 96);
+        plate.ClampZones.Add(new ClampZone("manual", new Box(5.25, 0, 1.5, 0.625)));
+
+        plate.Size = new Size(48, 120);
+        plate.Quadrant = 3;
+
+        Assert.Equal("manual", Assert.Single(plate.ClampZones).Id);
+        Assert.False(Machine().Matches(plate));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void NewPlatesFollowTheNestRailAtTheirOwnSize()
+    {
+        var nest = new Nest();
+        nest.PlateDefaults.Size = new Size(48, 60);
+        nest.SetClampRail(Machine());
+
+        var plate = nest.CreatePlate();
+
+        Assert.Same(nest.PlateDefaults.ClampRail, plate.ClampRail);
+        Assert.Equal(4, plate.ClampZones.Count);
+        plate.Size = new Size(60, 120);
+        Assert.Equal(8, plate.ClampZones.Count);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void NestRailReplacesEveryPlatesZones()
+    {
+        var nest = new Nest();
+        nest.PlateDefaults.Size = new Size(48, 120);
+        var a = nest.CreatePlate();
+        var b = nest.CreatePlate();
+        b.Size = new Size(48, 60);
+        b.ClampZones.Add(new ClampZone("manual", new Box(1, 0, 1, 1)));
+
+        nest.SetClampRail(Machine());
+        Assert.Equal(8, a.ClampZones.Count);
+        Assert.Equal(4, b.ClampZones.Count);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain(b.ClampZones, z => z.Id == "manual");
+
+        // A rail without clamps is no rail: zones and the template are cleared everywhere.
+        nest.SetClampRail(new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, Array.Empty<double>()));
+        Assert.Null(nest.PlateDefaults.ClampRail);
+        Assert.All(nest.Plates, p => Assert.Empty(p.ClampZones));
+        Assert.Empty(nest.CreatePlate().ClampZones);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void RailZonesStayOutOfQuantityAndUtilization()
+    {
+        var drawing = new Drawing("part", new OpenNest.CNC.Program());
+        var nest = new Nest();
+        nest.Drawings.Add(drawing);
+        nest.SetClampRail(Machine());
+        var plate = nest.CreatePlate();
+
+        Assert.Equal(8, plate.ClampZones.Count);
+        Assert.Empty(plate.Parts);
+        Assert.Equal(0, plate.Utilization());
+        nest.UpdateDrawingQuantities();
+        Assert.Equal(0, drawing.Quantity.Nested);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void RailsCompareByValue()
+    {
+        Assert.Equal(Machine(), new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, MachineCenters.Reverse()));
+        Assert.Equal(Machine().GetHashCode(), new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, MachineCenters).GetHashCode());
+        Assert.NotEqual(Machine(), new ClampRail(1.5, 0.5, MachineCenters));
+        Assert.NotEqual(Machine(), new ClampRail(1.5, 0.625, MachineCenters.Take(7)));
+    }
+}