Bend Tech Pro Manual

Operations Manual
Getting started after installation:

If you have not done so, find the icon on your main screen or under the Start Menu to start using the software. Double click this icon and the software will begin loading.
Before using your Bend-Tech software you must register it. When first starting the software, a screen will be displayed prompting for registration. Follow the screens instruction to properly register your software.
Depending on how you installed your Bend-Tech software, one of two different registrations screens will be displayed. If you installed the software from a download, a dialog similar to the image to the left will be displayed, along with a Computer ID. This id number is unique to each computer and must be supplied with your registration information. Email the requested information to the address shown or select the On-Line Key Request button to enter the information into an online form. If you installed the software from the CD and have entered the CD Key Code, the image to the left below will be shown. Email the requested information to the address shown or use the Get Registration Code On-Line button to enter your information into an online form. Bend-Tech uses a multiple document interface. This allows multiple parts to be viewed at once in separate documents. We will start by discussing the pull down menus and the main form icons.
We will be using an arrow to point toward the area we are explaining throughout this manual, as shown below.
PRO
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The pull down menu:

The pull down menu is located at the top of the main screen. Under each item are several sub items. Use your left mouse button to select each pull down menu. Many of the items under each menu will be described here:
Select the File pull down and you will find several choices. They include New, Open, Close, Save, Save As, Print and Exit. Note: Document is the term we use for the work area of a tube or part window.
The New menu selection will create another document or Assembly. The limit to the number of documents will be determined by your computers memory amount. Selecting Close will close the current document. This selection will not close the software, but only close the currently active document or window. The Exit command will completely close the software. Any opened documents will be closed first. You will be prompted to save any modified documents before they close. The Open pull down selection will bring up a screen allowing you to select a part file on your computer system or network to open. The following dialog window will be shown:
The Open dialog box defaults its location according to a setting under the options area. Click on the part file you desire then select the <Open> command button.
At the top of the Open dialog box you may select the pull down and change directories, hard drives or computers in your network.
Selecting the Save command will save the current part you are working on. If this is the first time you are saving a part, or if you select Save As..., you will be prompted to give the part a name and select the location to save the file. A dialog box similar to the Open Dialog Box will be displayed when saving with a new name.
Selecting Save All will save all document that are currently open. Any document that hasnt been saved before will prompt you for a name and save location.
The pull down menu continued...

The Print pull down will print out a setup sheet for your part or other information; depending on the currently active document. Select this item and the sheet will be printed on the default printer. Set Printer will allow you to choose the default printer to use when printing within your Bend-Tech software. Choose the printer from the list displayed and that printer will be used for any printing within Bend-Tech. Select documents also have the ability to display a print preview, allowing you to preview the information to be printed before actually printing the sheet. Select Print Preview from the menu for this feature.
The Edit menu has several choices. Cut, Copy, and Paste allow for interaction with the Windows clipboard from text boxes. When text is selected in a text box, selecting Copy will copy the text to the clipboard. Selecting Cut will copy and remove the text. Selecting Paste in any other text box will place the copied text in the active text box. The Undo and Redo commands are only available in certain documents, such as Assembly. Selecting these commands will undo or redo the last action. This may be repeated for up to 10 actions. This feature is handy for quickly fixing a mistake, such as accidentally deleting a feature or undoing a change.
The View menu allows you to toggle the display of the Toolbar and the Status Bar. The Toolbar is displayed below the menu, and contains buttons for common tasks. The Status Bar is located at the bottom of each document, and displays useful information for that window.
The Window menu allows interaction and display of any open documents in the Bend-Tech software. Select New Window to open a new document window. At the bottom of the menu, all open documents and windows will be listed. Select any entry to view that window. A check mark will be displayed next to the active window. Cascade will align all windows with a cascade effect, stacked on top of each other in a diagonal fashion that allows you to see each windows title. Tile Horizontal and Tile Vertical will tile the windows, either horizontally (left to right) or vertically (top to bottom).
Note: Several features of these menus were skipped in this section. They will be discussed in detail in further sections of this guide.
The Help Menu

The Help Menu is the last item in the main menu. This menu contains information about your Bend-Tech software, as well as many useful tools when using the software. The Operation Manual is this guide you are reading now. You may view this guide as a PDF at any time by selecting this option. The Assembly Tutorial is only available to customers who have access to the Assembly. This short guide will walk through the creation of a simple assembly, giving new users a great introduction on how to use the software. The Calibration Document is used when first setting up your dies for use within the software. Carefully read and follow this guide to properly setup any dies you will use with the software.
You will need a PDF viewer installed on your computer for the above guides. If you do not have a viewer installed, visit our web site to obtain one. These guides may be read on your computer or printed out for viewing.
Trig
Trig is a help window to allow a user to calculate angles and lengths. If you know the angle and length of a bend and the software is asking for an absolute location, it might be a good idea to use the Trig function to help obtain the correct values. You can enter in 3 lengths and Trig will figure the angles, or enter one angle and one side and Trig will calculate the rest. Use the Reset command button to start over entering in values. Note: The triangle displayed will not be to scale or proportions, it is only to illustrate the dimension locations.
Fraction Chart
The Help Menu continued...
Fraction Chart is a fraction to decimal conversion chart. You can view /32 or /64. The decimals are output using 3 or 4 place decimals.
Apex Finder
This tool will allow you to determine the location of a bends Apex. When working with higher degree bends, the Apex can be difficult to determine and this tool will help greatly. This tool can help find the Apex for two different types of common bends.
Type 1: All that is need for this type of bend (shown above), is the distance from the center of the bend to the Apex of the bottom leg (A) (this point could also be the centerline at the end of the Material if no bend is present here). The other dimensions needed are the distance from the point just mentioned to the centerline of the bend (B) and the CLR of the bend (CLR). Enter in these three dimensions and the Apex location will be calculated automatically. Type 2: This type requires the distance from the centerline of leg 1 to the centerline at the end of the Material (B), as well as the distance from the centerline of the bend to the centerline at the end of the Material (A). The point highlighted in the picture can be the end of the Material, or a point drawn on the Material to measure to for A and B. The CLR is the last dimension needed and the other measurements shown will be calculated. B-Ang is the angle at the Apex; the angle of the two green lines in the picture.
Crown Wizard
Crown Wizard: This tool is useful for determining the dimensions of a Crown that has perpendicular legs; as shown in the picture. Four dimensions are needed to calculate the results: Click the Exit button to close this window.
The values you need to input are described below:
r1: The radius of the bend for leg 1. r2: The radius of the bend for leg 2. w: The width of the part from leg 1 centerline to leg 2 centerline. h: This is the height of the Crown, from the original centerline of the piece to the centerline of the desired height. Once all four dimensions are entered, click the Calculate button and the results will be calculated. The Results:
Main Radius: This is the radius of the Crown. If the Crown continued in a complete circle, this would be the radius of that circle. Main Angle: If the Crown continued in a complete circle, this would be the angle at the center point to a point on each leg where the legs radius meets the beginning of the Crown. R1 Angle: This is the angle that this leg would need to be bent to. R2 Angle: This is the angle that this leg would need to be bent to. Apex Main Run: This is the distance from the centerline of either leg to the Apex of the Crown; the center point of the Crown. Apex Main Rise: This is the distance from the original centerline of the Crown (the point where h input was taken from) to the Apex of the Crown. Apex R1 Rise: This is the location of the Apex for leg 1, as a distance from the start of its bend (tangent). Apex R2 Rise: This is the location of the Apex for leg 2, as a distance from the start of its bend (tangent).
Cord
This tool can be used to find the length of a Cord or the radius of a circle using a Cord length. Two different methods are available in this tool, click the tab buttons at the top to switch between types. Click the Close button to close this window. Type 1: This method will determine the length of the green line, which is the distance from the blue cord to the edge of the circle. The Radius of the circle and the length of the Main Cord is needed for this calculation. Enter in both values and click the Calculate button.
Type 2: This method will determine the radius of a circle using the lengths of the two cords shown. Enter in the length of the Main Cord and the length of the Secondary Cord. Click the Calculate button and the Radius of this circle will be calculated.
The About window of the software contains the version number and product name. This is also a good place to find email addresses and phone numbers for support and sales. The System Info button shows all the hardware information for your computer. Click the OK button to close this window.
Tools Menu
Options Dialog
Under the Tools drop-down menu is the Options item. Selecting this item will open the Options Dialog. The Options Dialog Box consists of several items including; die default, material default, cut off, display, notes, file storage, simulation and setup sheet. These items are the defaults when a new document is created. If you find yourself always changing a setting, chances are it has a default in this dialog box. The settings in this area will affect many areas of the software and will be recalled whenever the software is opened. The options are organized into Tabs. Use the Apply command button to update the changes that you have made. Use the OK command button to update the changes and close the dialog box. Use the Cancel button to cancel changes and close the dialog box. The Die Default allows you to select the die you wish to have as a default. Select the down arrow on the right hand side of the combo box to select the die you desire. If you do not see the die you would like to use, the Die Library must be updated. This is described later in this manual. The Display Spring Angle option, when checked, will show the spring angles for each bend. The spring angles must be setup under the Die Library before they will be displayed.
The Material Default tab is similar to the Die Default tab, it allows you to choose which material to use as a default. You must update the material in the Material Library before it can be selected here.
The Cut Off default is for users who desire to leave extra material at the ends of the tube to be cut off after bending. This is common in the environment where you may need a extra material to manufacture a bend. Enter a value in either field and that value will be default for any new part created.
Options Dialog continued...

Display Tab
Decimal / Fraction:
Select whether to have decimal or fractions displayed for dimensions and other measurements, as well as the precision.
Dimension Location:
This setting determines the location for marking a bend (Start, Center, or End of the bend). Determining which setting to use depends largely on the model of bender being used. Use the Calibration Worksheet for more information. (Found under Die Library or the Help menu).
Pos Rotation Direction:

This is the direction in which a positive rotation would traverse: clockwise vs. counter-clockwise.
Shade Iso Part:

If checked, the software will render (show) any part in shaded mode, rather than with wires and lines. This option can be used for most computers, but older computers may suffer performance issues when working with large parts and this option may be turned off in those cases.
Tri-Star Scale:
This will determine how large the Tri-Star will appear. A value of 4 for inches or 100 for millimeters is standard.
Units:
The type of units to use, inches or millimeters. The choice selected will dictate the units the software will use when outputting values as well as the values you input for creating a part.
Notes Tab
Notes are output on the Setup Sheets. If you have a statement that you would like to have on all Setup Sheets, such as, your company name or a spring back chart, you may want to place that information here. If you dont have a default for notes, delete the text in the box and hit apply.
File Storage Tab

On this tab, you may select the initial directory location when saving or opening a file. If you select the Bend-Tech default, the Save File or Open File Dialog will start at the Bend-Tech directory. Otherwise, the dialogs will start at the last location they we at.
Setup Sheet Tab

Print Transitions:
This provides a secondary Setup Sheet for your shop, which shows the transitions for each movement needed in the bender.
Print Rotation Dial:

When checked, the Setup Sheet will display a rotation dial to help illustrate the rotation values in the part.
Print Tri-Star:
If this is turned off, the Tri-Star will not be shown on the Setup Sheet.

Simulation Tab
The simulation tab contains settings for Simulation Mode, a mode in which the bending of a part can be visualized via a simple graphic simulation. These settings determine items such as the style and speed of simulation. For information on these settings, refer to the Simulation Section of this guide.
Tolerance Tab
The Tolerance Tab allows you to select the degree of precision for rotation and bend angles. Either setting has the option to choose several precision levels (n, n.n, n.nn, or n.nnn). For example, with n.nnn an angle might be displayed as 35.678 degrees, while with n.n it would be rounded to 35.7 degrees.
Rotation Angle:
The tolerance of rotation angles using one of the precisions mentioned above.
Bend Angle:
The tolerance of bend angles using one of the precisions mentioned above..
Rotation Tab
This tab allows you to choose the type of rotation to use when defining a part. Incremental Rotation:
Each amount of rotation will be the amount of rotation for that bend from its current state. The rotation amount depends on the current rotation of the Material. -180 to 180: Rotation amounts will be outputted with a range of 180 degrees to a positive 180 degrees. 0 to 360: Rotation amounts will be outputted with a range of zero to 360 degrees.
Absolute Rotation:
Each amount of rotation will be relative to the start rotation (usually zero). Absolute Rotation has five available settings: -180 to 180 or 0 to 360 or 360 to 0: Rotation amounts will be outputted with the specified range. 0-90-0-90-0 or 0-90-0-90-0 reverse: Rotation will be outputted with a format of zero to 90 degrees as well as the direction in which the rotation is towards (N, S, E, W).
Use parentheses () for negative value:

When checked, negative values and amounts will be surrounded with parentheses ().

Location Tab
The Location Tab contains the settings on how dimensions for a part are output
Distance from End:

When selected, the software will output location dimensions with a reference to the start of the Material. Measurements for each bend will be measured from the start of the Material.
Distance from EndReversed:

When selected, the software will output location dimensions with a reference to the end of the Material. Measurements for each bend will be measured from the end of the Material, rather than the start.
Length of Straight Tube:

When selected, the software will output location dimensions for each bend as the length between each bend. The measurements for each bend will be the distance from the end of a bend to the start of the next bend.
Display Length of Bend:

When checked, the software will output the length of Material in each bend on the Setup Sheet and in the Results Window.
Reversed Table Length:

If using an index table with reversed values (zero at the far end and largest number near machine), enter the length of the table here.
Sketch Tab
The Sketch settings are for coloring and sizing in the Sketch interface. We would like to recommend that you leave the sizes, except for the PickPoint Diameter.
Model Tab
Model defaults are for the coloring and sizing in the Model Interface. The sizes are related to screen scale. Therefore, if you use millimeter values, the default values should still be valid.
Flat Layout Tab

The Flat Layout settings are for the Flat Layout interface. The sizes are related to screen scale as with Model. The abbreviation for Angle, Rotation, and CLR can be defined here.
Primary Templates
The Primary Templates pull down allows for templates which are down in the layers of the template selection window to be added to the top. (see arrow below-right)
The Primary Templates dialog box has two primary selection windows. The window on the left is an entire list of the templates available. The window on the right shows the templates that have been defined as primary templates. To move a template from left to right or from right to left, select the desired template and then select the highlighted arrow. Once you are satisfied with the templates on the right, select the Apply command button. Click the OK button to close this dialog. Note: The software may need to be restarted for the changes to take effect.
Die Library
The next pull down selection under the Tools menu is the Die Library. The Die Library is the definition of the dies you will use in the software. The die definition includes; name, centerline radius and the calibrated or achieved centerline radius. Note!! Any die to be used in the software must first be calibrated and entered into the Die Library. Failure to properly calibrate your die(s) will result in incorrect values being calculated. Refer to the Calibration Guide at the end of this guide, as well as the Calibration Worksheet to properly calibrate your die(s).
Using generic or inaccurate values will result in incorrect bending instructions!!!
Die Library continued...

The Die Library consists of a die list on the left and the detailed information about each die on the right. To create a new die, select the Add New command button. Use the Die Name as a unique description for the die. Place a value into the Centerline radius field. Warning: It is recommended that you place an actual achieved centerline radius here.
You must use the Calibration Guide and/or Calibration Worksheet when adding a die Note: When entering values for a die, only numbers and decimals can be used. Letters, commas, or symbols are not allowed.
Adding a New Die To add a new die, select the Add New command button and then fill in the previously mentioned values for the die. For determining the CLR, Calibrated CLR, and Bend Location Offset, you must use the Calibration Worksheet and/or Calibration Documentation. Once you have entered all the values, click the Apply command button and the Die should now be available in the Die List.
Deleting a Die To remove a die you no longer need, select the die from the Die List and select the Delete command button. At the message prompt, select Yes to permanently delete the die. Use caution as deleting a die is not reversible and the die would have to be added as mentioned above in order to use it again. Once you have deleted the die it will no longer be available in the Die List or when creating a part.
Modifying a Die To modify a die, select the die from the list and modify the desired values. Once all modifications have been made, click the Apply command button. This button must be selected after making changes otherwise the changes will not be applied to the Die.
Note: Make sure when closing the Die Library that you use the OK button. Selecting Cancel or closing the window with the upper-right X will cancel any changes.
Machine Library
The Machine Library allows users to quickly change a majority of the software settings to accommodate for different models of benders or different environments. Select Machine or Environment from the Tools drop-down menu to access this feature. The following window will be displayed:
To add a machine, select the Add New button and give the machine a name. After entering a name, click the OK button and the machine settings will be created based off the current settings. You may then change any setting in the list below for the selected machine. When a machine is made active, these settings in the list will be used by the software. Select the Remove button to delete the currently selected machine. Select the Copy button to create a copy of the currently selected machine with a new name. If you change any settings for a machine, you must select the Save button to apply the changes.
The purpose of the Machine Library is to allow you to change the software settings when switching between different machines that will be used to manufacture the parts. Once the machines have been defined in the Machine Library, you may activate it at any time by selecting it from the list and clicking the Select button. Any changes to a machine must be made in the Machine Library. Changing the settings in the Options Dialog will affect the software, however, they will not be applied to a machine item in the Machine Library.
Material Library
The Material pull down selection is similar to the Die pull down in that you have a material library that is available. The material library consists of material names, diameters, wall thickness, weights and colors. To add a new material, select the Add New command button. Give the material a name, diameter, wall thickness and weight. The weight isnt needed and a value of 0 can be entered. The wall thickness and the diameter must be added in decimal form. After all of the values have been filled in correctly the Apply command button will light up. If the Apply button does not light up, one of the values is incorrect and a warning will be displayed. The two most common mistakes are forgetting to select the Add New command button and the wall thickness is not less than 1/2 of the of material diameter. It has been very common for customers to try and use values like 0.65 when they wanted 0.065. The material color can be changed by using the Color command button. When this button is selected a color dialog box appears. Select the color desired and then select the Ok command button in the color dialog box. To further expand the colors available select the Define Custom Colors command button. Once an additional color is selected from the define custom colors area, that color will appear in the Custom colors area. Select the color from the Custom colors area and select the Ok command button.
Creating A Part
Part creation consists of 4 types of Interfaces. 1. Predefined shapes 2. Custom Part 3. Custom 3D Part 4. Assembly Interface Most predefined shapes include center line, outside and inside dimension styles. To create a part, you may select any one of these interfaces. Each interface will be discussed in detail here: Page 15 Copyright 2010 2020 Software Solutions, Inc. Discussion Forum: www.bend-tech.com
Part Interface Window

When using any of the single part interfaces, much of the working areas are the same.
The Results Window is located in the upper right hand corner of the interface. It provides most of the manufacturing information needed. As you enter and change values to the template the values are automatically updated. The results window consists of 5 columns. The first column (A) is the Bend Number in order of creation. The second column (B) is the part Bending Order. The third column (Location) is the place to mark the tube. The forth column (Rotation) is the amount of rotation needed from the previous bend. The fifth column (Angle) is the angle to bend the tube. (Some products and/or settings may show different columns than these). The default positive rotation direction is clockwise as you are looking at the front of the die. We are calling the front of the die the side where material is being bent and not the feeding side. At the top of the Results Window is the Cut Length and the Weight. The Tab Window is located in the upper left hand corner of a Document. Each tab has several choices to set. Many of these settings are defaults in the Options Area under the Tools menu. Refer to the Options section of this guide for more information about many of these settings. Changing the settings in this area will only affect the current part. The Part Display Window is located in the lower right hand corner of the interface. This window is updated as values are entered. The shade color is defined for the part in the Material Library.
The Reset button can be used to reset the view of the part to the original starting view. The Arrow button is used for selecting features of the part in certain interfaces.
The Rotate button is used to rotate your view of the part. Click and drag to rotate the view. The Zoom button is used to zoom in or out away from the part. Click and drag to change the zoom. The Auto-Scale button will zoom the part to fill the viewing area. The Pan command button will allow you to move the part in the view. Click and drag to pan the view.
Working with Predefined Templates

What are templates? Templates are a predefined set of drawings or parts. Templates are quick and extremely easy to use. In most cases only five steps are needed to complete a job using a predefined template. 1). Select a Template 2). Select a Die 3). Select a Material 4). Enter the correct dimensional values. 5). Select the print icon. To begin, make sure the Document window is displayed as shown to the left. This window should automatically be available when first starting the program. If the window is not displayed, or you wish to create a new window, click the left-most button on the Toolbar (pictured above). You may also use the main menu and select File -> New -> Tube. To begin using a template, select a template from the list towards the bottom of the list. Notice a + sign in front of the predefined template selections. This designates more choices under this item.
A single left button mouse click on the + or on the description will expand the list. The - represents the list has been populated. In many cases the final selection of a template will be several layers deep. Most template types include three styles. They include center, outside and inside dims. The difference between styles is based upon how the template is dimensioned. Centerline dims uses the centerline of the material, outside dims uses outside locations for dimensioning and inside dims uses the inside locations. When the cursor is over a template style a graphical representation of the template shows up on the right. Look carefully to see if this is the template type and style that is desired. Most templates have three different styles: Center, Outside, and Inside dimensions. Be sure that you understand the type of template you are selecting. Single click with the left mouse button to select the template type and style you desire.
Working with Predefined Templates continued

After selection of a template type and style, the document window will appear similar to the picture on the right. Notice the statement on the left side stating Select your Die and Material before continuing!. This will appear if you have not set up your defaults. This is also warned by the red X on the tab window. On the Die Tab:
Select the down arrow on the right hand side of the Die list box. This will display your entire list of Dies. Select the Die from the list that is desired. If the Die you desire is not in the list you may select the Die Library command button to add, alter and change the Die Library. Once a Die is selected, notice the red X changes to a green check. This indicates the Die has been selected.
On the Material Tab:

Select the down arrow on the right hand side of the Material list box. This will display your entire list of Materials. Select the Material from the list that is desired. If the Material you desire is not in the list you may select the Material Library command button to add, alter and change the Material Library. Once a Material is selected, notice the red X changes to a green check. This indicates the Material has been selected.
When selecting Die and Material, make sure the Material is capable of performing the bending radius of the Die. Using too small of Die for the Material will yield unexpected results when creating a part.
After properly selecting a die and material, the template working area appears. The tab window, which was used to select the die and material, has several other tabs available. Each of these tabs have different features and settings that may be accessed while creating a part. For more information on these tabs and settings, refer to the Tab Window section later in this guide. The Template Input window is located in the lower left hand corner of the screen. It allows the dimension values to be entered for the part. As values are entered, the Part Display window will be updated with the current part values. Fractional input is available for the predefined templates. Use a space between the whole number and the fractions. As shown below, the two values are identical and either one can be used.
Working with Custom Part

The Custom Part interface allows for the creation of custom parts that cannot be found in the templates. Both two and three dimensional parts can be created in this interface, which uses Length, Rotation, and Angles to define a part. To create a part, first follow the steps detailed in the Templates section of this guide to select your die and material. Warning: The Custom Part interface uses the centerline of the material only. While many predefined templates have the ability to use outside or inside dimensions, Custom Part uses centerline dimensions only.
To begin using the Custom Part interface, select your die and material, and then select the number of bends in the part. To change the number of bends, select the down arrow on the right hand side of the Number of Bends combo box and select the number of bends desired. The maximum number of bends available is dependent on the software product. Angle is defined as a positive value being counter clockwise and a negative value is clockwise. A negative value is entered with a - (minus) sign in front of the value.
The last length is entered without an angle. The first direction displayed in the Part Display window is always drawn from left to right. First Angle is the angle direction of the first edge of the part. Numbers from -360 to 360 are acceptable. For each bend you will also need to select the Dim Type. More information on this value can be found in the Understanding Dimension Type section of this guide.
Working with Custom 3D Part

The Custom 3D Part interface is unique. Most, if not all, 3D CAD systems use XYZ coordinates to input 3D data. Bend-Techs Custom 3D Part uses terms such as; left, right, front, back, ceiling and floor. Warning: The Custom 3D Part interface uses the centerline of the material only. While many predefined templates have the ability to use outside or inside dimensions, Custom 3D Part uses centerline dimensions only. Once the 3D part interface is available, select the number of bends for your part. This is done by selecting the down arrow on the Number of Bends combo box. The maximum number of bends is dependent on the software type. With the number of bends selected, there is a bend number available plus an end E list item. Select the list item for the bend you wish to work on.
Die changes are allowed for each individual bend by using the die drop-down list after selecting a bend.
The Dim Type has 2 choices; Apex and Tangent. For more information on these values, refer to the Understand Dim Type section of this guide.
The lower left hand corner of the interface is defined with the Tri-Star input window. It has values of; to front, to back, to left, to right, to ceiling and to floor. If you are familiar with XYZ; to front is +X, to back is X, to left is +Y, to right is Y, to ceiling is +Z and to floor is Z. The value entered into the fields is an incremental value. That is the distance from the previous bend to this bend. You can also see the Tri-Star in the Parts Display window. When selecting a bend, the Tri-Star will be re-located to that bend.
Working with Custom 3D Part continued

To input values for the part, select the bend number from the Bend List. The E represents the last section of the part. Warning: Duplicate values cannot be entered for a bend. In other words; if you want a value to ceiling, the to floor should be 0. However, non-conflicting directions may both have values greater than zero, for example, to floor and to right. The picture to the right shows a part with a value of 12 to ceiling.
In the picture below, the second bend has been selected and a value of 8.5 to front has been entered. Notice how the Tri-Star has jumped to that bend. In the next picture, the E has been selected and the values of 5 to ceiling and 10 to front have been entered.
Working with Part Verify

The Verify window is designed as a quick way to do some rough verifying. It allows the user to view the part from 3 different sides and to collect information about the horizontal, vertical, and linear distances as well as angles. Select the Verify button from the Misc Tab in the Tab Window to access Part Verify. Use the XY, XZ or YZ command buttons to select the view for examining the part.
With the cursor, select 2 points on the screen. The third and every following pick of the screen will use the previous pick and the current pick for the results data. The Results area shows the Horizontal, Vertical, and Linear Distances and the Angle of the 2 picked points. The Verify window is a great place to check to see if bends or ends are lined up properly or to look for an improper skew in the part. You may switch between XY, XZ, and YZ views at any time with the appropriate buttons.
Results: Distances
Angle
Using Simulation
The simulation is executed from the Simulation tab. Many default values are also located here for defining the simulation. These settings can also be changed under the options area, which will affect every document.
Simulation is a set of still shots run in sequence to appear to be the actual movement of your part and die. Each still shot is saved in memory and as the still shots accumulate they will use a significant percentage of memory available. If your computer is limited to memory such as 256 MB or less you will need to increase the per slide values. By increasing these values you will reduce the number of slides. The direction combo box is used for the direction of bending direction signified by your machine tool. The style combo box has to choices of with die rotate or with out die rotate. Select the Run Simulation command button to create the simulation. This could take several seconds. In most cases over 500 still shots are being created in the back ground. As the scale is set to a larger value the smaller the display of the simulation, hence, on a large part you will see more of it. The Simulation dialog window is setup like a CD player. On the left is the simulation viewing window. On the right is the results window. The results window highlights where the current position is. Under the simulation viewing window is the simulation control bar. It includes; play, fast forward, fast reverse, pause, stop and step back and step forward. The Play, Pause, Rewind, Stop, and Fast Forward buttons are straight-forward and easy to use. Using the right mouse button for Play will play to the end from the current location; but will also start over again after a couple second delay. Step Back button will step back one slide. Step Forward button will step forward one slide. BMP button will create a bitmap image of the current slide and save it to a file. Speed Slider. As moved to the right the simulation runs faster. As moved to the left the simulation runs slower. A Transitional slide is available by selecting a value in the Results window under location, rotation or angle. Page 23 Copyright 2010 2020 Software Solutions, Inc. Discussion Forum: www.bend-tech.com
Using Simulation continued

Another useful feature of Simulation Mode is the View Straight-On feature. This feature allows you to view the part from a different angle, useful for better display of a rotation. While visualizing bends and straight transitions of material is easy in Normal View, rotations can sometimes be hard to see in this mode. Straight-On View allows you to better see these rotations, however, bends and straight transitions are very hard to see in this mode. To enter Straight-On View, select the View Straight-On command and then select the feature in the Part Information Table to see with this view.
The above images show Normal and Straight-On Views for the indicated feature. In this case, we selected the rotation of bend 2 to view. The wire frame shows the part before rotation and the shaded part is after rotation. The images below show the two views for the indicated feature; bend 2. Notice how the Straight-On View is basically useless for visualizing this feature. Again, the wire frame shows the part before bending. Using both views for a part can help you better understand exactly how the part is to be manufactured. Note: The green highlighted feature in the table represents the current location of the simulation, not your selection for viewing.
Spring Back Charts

Spring back charts are built into the software. To use the spring back chart, select the Spring Back Chart command button in the Die Library. You must first select a die from the Die List to enter spring back information. Spring Back Charts allows for any number of numerical inputs, however, it must have a minimum of 2 for the chart to be functional for the selected die. Select the green Add button in the chart in the upper-left to add an input. The dialog shown below should be displayed and will allow you to enter the date and spring back information from a bend test. Enter the values and click OK. Again, at least two bend tests have to be completed and entered in for the die in order for the chart to be active. When finished adding values to the chart select the Apply and then the Ok command buttons.
Chart (right) is inactive as no results have been entered (above).
To display spring angles with the manufacturing instructions, select the Display Spring Angle choice under the Die Tab. This setting is also available as a global default under the Die Default Tab in the Options Area.
Spring-Back Chart Active after inputting the results of 3 bend tests.
Now you can see the spring angles in the charts.
Understanding Dimension Type

An important concept in the Bend-Tech software is the Dimension Type The Dim Type has four selections; Apex, Tangent, Perp, and Crown. Crown is only available in the XYZ interface and is discussed in that section of the guide. Apex is the intersection of two straight lines defining a bend. Tangent is the location where the end of a straight line and the start of an arc (or bend) touch each other. Perp (Perpendicular) is location of the Tangent of the bend plus the CLR. In the case of a bend which is greater than 180 degrees there is no Apex (intersection of two straight lines), so we must use Tangent. The following images show some simple demonstrations of using Apex, Tangent, and Perp. All three parts are the same and have a CLR of 3.5 inches Note: In the case of a 90 degree bend, the Perp and Apex are the same. Note: Dim Type effects the entire bend, but each bend may have its own Dim Type.
8.5 8.5 12 12
15
The three bottom examples to the right show the same part with different methods of creation. The top (second picture) shows the part with measurements to the Apexes of both bends.
The middle part (third picture) demonstrates the usage of the Tangent dim type for both bends. The last picture shows a Tangent dim type for the first bend and the Apex setting for the second bend. Note: In all parts, the first leg starts in the lower-left corner of the screen.
12
11.5
8.5
Results Window and Manufacturing a Part

We are focusing on the Results window, however, the exact same concepts applies for the Shop Instructions on the setup sheet. By showing the results window, it will be easy to show how different options will affect our environment. The Results window consists of:
1). Cut Length: This is the length to mark the tube for cut. 2). Weight: Defined from the Material Library; total weight for the part. 3). A: The order the part was created in the software. 4). B: The bending order. 5). Location: Places to mark the tube for bending. Each location is from the start end of the tube. 6). Rotation: Amount in degrees to rotate the tube prior to its bend. This is an absolute or incremental rotation depending on your settings. 7). Angle: Number of degrees to bend the tube. This is the finished angle and does not take into account additional degrees for spring back. 8). CLR: This is the Centerline Radius for this bend.
Every bend has a bend zone. This is the amount of material used for the bend. It is very important when marking the tube to make sure it is understood which end of the tube is the start end. This is especially the case when parts are nonsymmetrical. To the right is a diagram of locations and how the bend zone follows the location. Note: Bend-Tech starts bending on one end and will continue bending down the tube unless Flip is used. Flip is described later in
this section of this manual.
Results Window and Manufacturing a Part continued

The Display tab has several items which will affect the values in the Results window. The Decimal/Fraction combo box allows for Decimals to 3 places and Fractions from a tolerance of 1/2 to 1/32. The pictures on the right show a change from n/8 to n/32 in the Display Tab. Notice how the values are changed in the Results window. Select the output type and tolerance to your preference. This setting is also available under the Options Area as a global default. The Dimension Location under the Display Tab has 3 choices: 1). Start 2). Center 3). End The desired selection will depend on your machine tool. Some general rules of thumb: A rotary draw machine will use Start. A wrap around compression machine will use End. A wishbone or bow machine will use Center. The examples to the right show our part changed from Start to End.
Pos Rotation Direction (short for Positive Rotation Direction) refers to the direction for positive rotation. The reference point is looking to the front of the machine. In other words, we are referring to side of the machine where the material is being bent. Clockwise and counter clockwise refers to a wall clock. A negative value is represented with parentheses and a minus (- ) in the Rotation field. The examples to the right show our part changed from Clockwise to Counter-Clockwise.
Results Window and Manufacturing a Part continued

Flip Piece and Reverse Order
The Flip Piece combo box under the Bend Order tab is used to flip the part end for end during the manufacturing process. The word flip can be deceiving. When we say flip we are referring to swapping the tube end for end. Remember Bend-Tech as a default is bending from one end and you continue to push the material through the die. The Results window shows the word flip at the correct location during manufacturing. Notice the bending order (B) changes after the flip. We are starting at one end of the tube and bending the first 3 bends. After the tube is flipped we are bending on the other end and working our way back towards the center of the tube. The rotation values will change for calculation of the flip and do take into the account of the rotation of the bends which are not bent yet.
The Reverse Order check box allows for the bending sequence to swap starting ends for bending. The default starting end is the same end of part creation. In this example you will see the A values are reversed and the Rotation values have slightly changed. On a part that is non-symmetrical you will find the values to change significantly.
The Locations after the flip are also swapped to the other end of the bend zone. This is because when flipped we are using the other side of the bend zone.
Predefined Template Tutorial

This tutorial is going to describe step-by-step on how to create a part from a Pre-defined Template. Bend-Tech is delivered with 70 templates (24 different parts, most with centerline, outside and inside templates). Take a close look at the picture to the right. This is the part we are going to make. When the Bend-Tech software is first executed, a new document should be shown. On the left hand side of the documents is a list of interfaces and templates similar to the one shown here. A plus sign in front of a template group represents the ability to expand the list. To find the right template, follow these steps: 1). Select the plus sign + in front of the Hoops template group. 2). Select the plus sign + in front of the Double Bevel Hoop template subgroup. 3). Select the Double Bevel Hoop (Outside Dims) As you move the cursor over a template notice the sketch on the right hand side. Note: All cursor selections are done by using the left hand mouse button! Unless the Tooling and Material defaults are set, you need to select a tool and material from the libraries. Notice the note: Select your Tooling and Material before continuing! Select the down arrow on the right hand side of the Die list box. Select the 4.0 die from the list. Note: The 4.0 die is a generic die that comes with the software. If this die is not available, select a similar die or create a new one. Refer to the Die Library section for more information on creating dies. Page 30 Copyright 2010 2020 Software Solutions, Inc. Discussion Forum: www.bend-tech.com
Predefined Template Tutorial continued

Select the Material Tab and select the 1.75 DOM material from the list. Note: The 1.75 DOM material is a generic material that comes with the software. If this material is not available, select a similar one or create a new one. Refer to the Material Library section for more information on creating material. When Bend-Tech accepts the die and material the Template Input window and the Part Display window are visible. The Template Input window has several dimension data fields available for input.
Type 48 in the top dimension field as shown below:
Type 24 in the next dimension field as shown below:
As there becomes enough information to work with, a graphical Part Display will be available.

Place 12 in the dimension data field as shown to the left.
Place 36 in the dimension data field as shown to the right.
Place 48 in the dimension data field as shown to the left.

Notice the Results Window and the shaded model in the Display Window.
To print a setup sheet select File, Print or the print icon. To save the part, select File, Save or the save icon. A save dialog box will appear. Give the part a name and select the Save button.
Save
Your part is now complete.
Print
Custom Part Tutorial

This tutorial is going to describe step-by-step on how to create a part from a Custom Part. Take a close look at the picture to the left. This is the part we are going to make. When the Bend-Tech software is first executed, a new document should be shown. On the left hand side of the documents is a list of interfaces and templates Select the first item which is Custom Part. Note: All cursor selections are done by using the left hand mouse button!
Unless the Tooling and Material defaults are set, you need to select a tool and material from the libraries. Notice the note: Select your Tooling and Material before continuing! Select the down arrow on the right hand side of the Die list box. Select the 4.0 die from the list. Note: The 4.0 die is a generic die that comes with the software. If this die is not available, select a similar die or create a new one. Refer to the Die Library section for more information on creating dies. Select the Material Tab and select the 1.75 DOM material from the list. Note: The 1.75 DOM material is a generic material that comes with the software. If this material is not available, select a similar one or create a new one. Refer to the Material Library section for more information on creating material.
When Bend-Tech accepts the die and material the Custom Part interface will appear. The next step in creating the part is to select the number of bends.
Custom Part Tutorial continued

To select the number of bends, select the Number of Bends combo box and select 4. You will notice additional fields in the data entry area will appear. For every bend there is a Length, Angle, Rotation, and Dim Type field. In addition there is a length for the end of the tube. For help with Dim Type, refer to the Understanding Dimension Type section of this guide. For this tutorial we will be using the Apex dim type. After you have selected the number of bends, we can begin entering in the values for the part.
Enter 12 into the first Length data field.
Enter 90 into the first Angle data field. A positive number for an angle allows the bend to stroke counter clockwise from the start or previous bend. A negative number for an angle will stroke the bend clockwise
Enter 10 into the second Length data field. Notice how the Part Display window is updated as values are entered in.
Enter 180 in Rotation and 45 into the second Angle data field.
Enter 8 into the third Length data field. Enter 180 in the Rotation field and 45 into
the third Angle data field
Custom Part Tutorial continued

Enter 10 into the forth Length data field.
Enter 0 into the fourth Rotation field and 90 into the forth Angle data field.
Enter 17 into the fifth Length data field.
Your part should look like the one pictured here.
Your part is now finished. More information is available throughout this manual on the Tab window, how to read the Results grid and Apex vs. Tangent.
To print a setup sheet select File, Print or the print icon. To save the part, select File, Save or the save icon. A save dialog box will appear. Give the part a name and select the Save button.
Save
Your part is now complete.
Print
Custom 3D Part Tutorial

This tutorial is going to describe step-by-step on how to create a part from a Custom 3D Part. Take a close look at the picture to the left. This is the part we are going to make. When the Bend-Tech software is first executed, a new document should be shown. On the left hand side of the documents is a list of interfaces and templates Select the second item which is Custom 3D Part. Note: All cursor selections are done by using the left hand mouse button!
Unless the Tooling and Material defaults are set, you need to select a tool and material from the libraries. Notice the note: Select your Tooling and Material before continuing! Select the down arrow on the right hand side of the Die list box. Select the 4.0 die from the list. Note: The 4.0 die is a generic die that comes with the software. If this die is not available, select a similar die or create a new one. Refer to the Die Library section for more information on creating dies. Select the Material Tab and select the 1.75 DOM material from the list. Note: The 1.75 DOM material is a generic material that comes with the software. If this material is not available, select a similar one or create a new one. Refer to the Material Library section for more information on creating material.
When Bend-Tech accepts the die and material the Custom 3D Part interface will appear. The next step in creating the part is to select the number of bends.
Custom 3D Part Tutorial continued

To select the number of bends, select the Number of Bends combo box and select 3. You will notice additional fields in the data entry area will appear. For every bend there are 6 directions that may be entered. Only up to 3 may be used for a single bend, as two conflicting directions cannot be used. There is also a Dim Type field for each bend. For help with Dim Type, refer to the Understanding Dimension Type section of this guide. For this tutorial we will be using the Apex dim type. After you have selected the number of bends, we can begin entering in the values for the part. Select 1 from the Bend list. This will bring up a display of the Tri-Star. The Tri-Star uses directions such as; to front, to back, to left, to right, to ceiling and to floor. The values entered are incremental in nature. This means Bend-Tech is asking for the distance from the previous bend.
Enter a value of 10 into the to ceiling data field. Notice the Tri-Star on the Part Display window is also shown at the location we are referencing from.
Select 2 from the Bend list. Notice how all of the fields are set to zero. This will be true on new bends. If you go back to the 1st bend you will find your value of 10 still in the to ceiling data field. Change the to front data field to 12 on the second bend.
Custom 3D Part Tutorial continued

Select the 3 from the Bend list. Enter the following values: To floor: 10 To right: 5 To front: 6
Select E from the Bend list. Change the to front data field to 8.
Your part is now finished. More information is available throughout this manual on the Tab window, how to read the Results grid and Apex vs. Tangent. To print a setup sheet select File, Print or the print icon. To save the part, select File, Save or the save icon. A save dialog box will appear. Give the part a name and select the Save button. Your part is now complete.
Save
Print
Working with Assembly

Additional documentation is available at www.bend-tech.com/forum
Creating a Part:
There are 2 different ways to create a part. 1). Using one of the Part Interfaces (Custom Part, Custom 3D Part, etc.) 2). Creating the part in Assembly
Bringing a Part in from one of the Part Interfaces:

You can create a part in any one of the 3 main interfaces; Templates, Custom Part, or Custom 3D Part. These parts can then be transferred to an assembly by either selecting a single button or loaded from a saved part file. When you are done creating the part in the part interface, you can select the Misc Tab and then select the Set Up for Assembly button. Select the Assembly (or New Assembly) to add the part and give it a name. If you are in Assembly, you can pull a part in from a saved part Once a part has been created, you may need to rotate it into the correct orientation.
On the Main Tab on the left hand side you will notice a small picture of a part that was created in our template interface. We will select the part from the Master Parts List and then select the Rotate button.
Open Part button to open a saved part file for use in the Assembly.
To open a new Assembly or a previously saved Assembly, select the appropriate button on the main toolbar. You may also you the File, Open or File, New menus. New
Open
Working with Assembly continued

After selecting the Rotate button, the Rotate Window will appear. This area will allow us to rotate the part into the desired plane. When rotating a part, the rotation order is important, as a different order will product a different final orientation. The first rotation we will do will be about the X or front/back axis 90 degrees. Imagine you are grabbing the axis in your thumb and pointer finger and spinning like a drill. This will help you to determine which axis to rotate the part. In the picture to the right, we have entered X in the 1st order field and 90 in the X axis.
Now we will rotate the part about the Z or ceiling/floor axis 90 degrees. You can see in the picture below-right how we took a part that was laying on the floor on the left side of the vehicle like a rock slider and rotated it into place like a windshield location. To finish the rotation, select the Apply Rotation button. To close the Rotate Window and use the newly rotated part, click the Apply button
Now we have selected the "Paste Part" button and the part is snapped to scale on our cursor. Also notice it has the orientation we setup.
As we move the cursor around the Assembly area, the part will move with it and a message will prompt us to select a point to place the part.

To place the part into the Assembly, we selected the Tri-Star location. There is also a PickPoint at this location, created with the new assembly. PickPoints are very important in how Assembly works and this item will be discussed several times throughout this guide. Once the part is located, additional cyan colored pickpoints automatically appear. These are at both ends of the part, start and end locations of the bends, center of the bend and at the midpoint of a bend. The part has now been transferred from a part interface into assembly. The master part will remain in the Master Parts List and can be used as many times as needed.
Creating a part from Pickpoints

In the example to the right, pickpoints have already been created (the creation of PickPoints will be discussed later). Select the Bent Part button and tell the software the number of bends. As we select our PickPoints the part follows the cursor and we see a help note tied to the cursor telling us what we need to do next. When the last PickPoint is selected, the software will ask for a part name. After the name is entered, the bends are automatically located, PickPoints are created and the part is entered into the part list. The material and die are defined at time of the part creation or the software will automatically use the defaults.
The newly created part is displayed and also added to the Master Parts List. At any time, this part can be added to the assembly by selecting it in the list and clicking the Paste Part button.
Working with Assembly continued PickPoints

There are 2 type of PickPoints; Automatically created by the part (cyan) & user defined points (green). In addition our 0,0,0 point is an automatic point and it resides in the center of the Tri-Star. The Tri-Star is our directional definition locator. To create a pickpoint, select the PickPoint Tab. There are several different ways to create User Defined PickPoints; Single, 2 Points, Plane, Angle, Intersection & Arc. Each of these methods will be described in detail here:
PickPoints - Single
To create a pickpoint using Single, select a PickPoint to reference from by selecting the Select Reference Point button and then selecting the point. You can change the reference PickPoint at anytime. Entered a value into any of the fields. This interface is similar to the Custom 3D Part Tri-Star, and will allow up to 3 directions to be entered. Two opposite directions can not be used for the same point. XYZ values can also be entered. As values are entered, a purple pickpoint will appear, demonstrating the current point entered. Click the Apply button once the values have been entered. The purple pickpoint will turn green and is now part of the assembly.
PickPoints - 2 Points
This method allows you to add a point on a line defined by two selected points. To create a point using 2 Points, select the Add PickPoint 2 Points button and then select the two points. Entered a value into the Delta field, or select the Split Value in half button. This button will add a point in the middle of the line; half-way between the points. Enter a custom value in this field, which is the distance between the first point selected and the new point that will be created. The distance is the length along the line created by the two reference points selected. As values are entered, a purple pickpoint will appear, demonstrating the current point entered. Click the Apply button once the value has been entered. The purple pickpoint will turn green and is now part of the assembly.

PickPoints - Plane
This method allows the creation of a pickpoint where a line intersects a plane. Select the Add PickPoint Plane button and select the origin of the plane. A circular plane will be displayed, depending on the Plane selected. Next select the first point of the line, followed by the end point of the line. Where the plane and the line intersect, a purple pickpoint will be displayed. Use the Delta field to move the plane on its axis, moving the purple point to the new intersection point. The Plane axis can be changed at any time. Click the Apply button once the proper value has been entered. The purple pickpoint will turn green and is now part of the assembly.
PickPoints - Angle
This method allows the creation of a pickpoint at a given angle and distance from a reference point. Setup the reference point by selecting the Select Reference Point button and selecting the point in the assembly. Next you must select a direction to create the new point, such as to ceiling and to front (represented by the solid red point in the image below). Next, enter in the desired angle, as well as either the length or distance along an axis. The length is the linear length between the points at the given angle. Using a distance along an axis will create a point at the desired angle, but at a distance along the axis, rather then the length directly between the points. A purple pickpoint will be displayed in the assembly area, representing the current point determined by the angle and distances. Click the Apply button once the proper values have been entered. The purple pickpoint will turn green and is now part of the assembly.

PickPoints - Intersection
This method allows the creation of a pickpoint where two lines intersect each other. Select the Select Reference Points button and select the four points representing the two lines. The first two points represent the first line, while the last two points make up the second line. Where the two lines intersect, a purple pickpoint will be displayed. Click the Apply button if the point is correct. The purple pickpoint will turn green and is now part of the assembly.
PickPoints - Arc
This method allows the creation of a pickpoint along an arc (or bend). To begin, select the Select Arc button and select the bend to add the pickpoint to. The total sweep of the bend will be displayed. Next, enter in the desired angle, with zero representing the start of the bend. A value greater than the total sweep may be entered, allowing the pickpoint to be off of the part. A purple pickpoint will be displayed in the assembly area, representing the current point determined by the angle. Click the Apply button once the proper value has been entered. The purple pickpoint will turn green and is now part of the assembly.
Creating pickpoints in the assembly is crucial to building and adding parts. All parts are located using pickpoints.

PickPoints - Color
The PickPoint Color Tab allows you to change the colors of the pickpoints. The top setting determines the color of newly created points. Click the Color Setting button; a color dialog box will appear, allowing you to select the color. Any pickpoint created from now on will have the selected color. To change the color of previously created pickpoints, select the Set Color to Change button and select the desired color. Next, click the Select PickPoint button and select a pickpoint to change its color. The two color blocks show the currently active colors.
PickPoints - Delete
In order to delete a pickpoint, select the Del / Dis Tab (short for Delete / Display). Click the orange Remove PickPoint button and then select the pickpoints to delete. Any user-defined pickpoint may be deleted, however, pickpoints automatically generated with the parts cannot be removed.
PickPoints - Display
Also available on the Del / Dis Tab is the ability to hide and show pickpoints. To toggle the display of single pickpoints, select the Toggle Display button and then select the pickpoints. Again, only user-defined pickpoints can be hidden. To display all pickpoints, select the Display All button. To hide all user-defined pickpoints, select the Suppress All button.
PickPoints - Verify Mode

Verify Mode is also available on the Del / Dis Tab. This feature allows you to check certain information about a pickpoint. Select the Verify Mode button and select a pickpoint. The XYZ coordinates of the pickpoint will be displayed. Select a second pickpoint, and more information will be displayed. This information includes the XYZ values, as well as the distance between the points. The angle between the points is also displayed for each axis.

Creating a Straight Part
Creating a straight part in the assembly is relatively straightforward. Click the Straight Part button on the Main Tab to begin. Next, select the start pickpoint of the tube, followed by the end point. The straight tube has then been created. As you select the two end points of the new tube, a representation of the tube will be displayed on the cursor. If the current material selected is square tubing, you will be prompted for the rotation of the square part. Enter a value between 0 and 90 degrees; the tube will be rotated on its axis the specified amount. To two images below show a square tube from its end. The image to the left has a rotation of zero, while the right tube has a rotation of 45 degrees.
to front
to front
Flush Removing a Part
Flush All
In order to remove a part from the assembly, you must first select the Remove button on the Main Tab (shown above). After selecting the button, pickpoints will be displayed on each part in the assembly. Straight parts will be displayed with a red pickpoint on their centers, with bent parts having blue pickpoints near their bends. Pick a point on the part you wish to remove. The part will be removed from the assembly. You may continue selecting parts to remove, or move on to another task.
Removing a Master Part

When you remove a part from the assembly, it will still be available in the Master Parts List. This list contains all parts in the assembly, as well as any parts transferred or opened from a saved file. To remove a part from the list, the part must not be used in the assembly. The Qnty column of the master list will display how many times the part is used in the assembly. If the quantity is zero, you may remove the part by selecting it and clicking the Flush button.
Flush All
To remove all parts from the Master Parts List that are not in use, click the Flush All button. The software will automatically remove any parts that are in the master list that are not being used in the assembly. Page 47 Copyright 2010 2020 Software Solutions, Inc. Discussion Forum: www.bend-tech.com

Moving a Part
Once a part has been added to the assembly area, it may be moved at any time. There are two different methods for moving a part: moving the part, or moving a feature. To move the entire part, select the Move Part button on the Main Tab. After selecting this button, pickpoints will be displayed on all the parts in the assembly. Click the pickpoint of the part you want to move. Next you must select the coupler point of the point; the couple point is the point that you will use to attach to the new point. After selecting the coupler point, select the new pickpoint you wish to move the part to. The part will then be moved to the new location. Moving a Feature Moving a feature is different than moving the part, as moving a feature allows you to move certain sections of a part, while the remainder of the part remains in the same position. Select the Move Feature button and pickpoints will be displayed on the parts in the assembly. Click the pickpoint on the part you wish to move. Next you must select the feature of the part you wish to move. Select the pickpoint of the feature to move and the feature will move with the cursor. Select the new pickpoint to move the feature to and the software will recalculate the part. Ends of a part as well as any of its bends may be moved, essentially reshaping the part.
Move Feature Mirror If you need to mirror a part, select the part in the Master Parts List and select the Mirror button. A dialog similar to the one shown here will be displayed: The dialog will show three different variations of the part being mirrored. Select the button under the image that has the correct representation of the part you desire. You will then be prompted to give the new part a name. After naming the part, it will be mirrored and placed in the Master Parts List. You may place the part in the assembly at any time. The newly mirrored part should also be ready to paste and be attached to your cursor. Simply select a pickpoint to locate the part. Paste Part At any time you may add a part from the Master Parts List in to assembly. Simply select the part from the list and click the Paste Part button. The part will be attached to your cursor and a message will prompt you to select a point. Select a pickpoint in the assembly to paste the part to that location.
Move Part

Stretch
The Stretch function of the software will allow you to stretch a part of the entire assembly using an incremental value. For example, you can widen the entire assembly by six inches. To use this feature, select the Stretch button on the Main Tab, you will then be asked which view you wish to work in. The view you select is important, as it will orient the assembly so you are looking at it with that view. This will allow you to correctly select the portion of the assembly you wish to stretch. For example if you wish to make the assembly taller, you should select a left/right or front/back view. Selecting the top/bottom view would not allow you to stretch the assembly up or down. Once you select a view, the assembly will orientate itself into that position. You will then need to select the portion you wish to stretch. Using the mouse, you must create a rectangle around the objects to stretch. Create the rectangle by left-clicking in the upper corner of the rectangle you wish to create. Next, click in the lower-opposite corner of the rectangle. These two points you selected will generate a rectangle. Any parts of the assembly inside this rectangle will be stretched. After selecting the first point, a rectangle will be drawn to your cursor, allowing you to better visualize the rectangle you are creating. The points you select for the rectangle can be any point in the assembly area, they do NOT need to be pickpoints, but rather just imaginary points. Once you have selected the portion of the assembly you wish to stretch, the software will prompt you to enter the direction and value (shown right). Select the direction in which you wish to stretch the selected portion of the assembly. Enter the distance to stretch and select the Apply button. The assembly will be stretched and a prompt will ask if the stretching is correct. Review the newly stretched assembly and click Yes if it is correct. If the changes do not look correct, select No and the changes will be undone.
Material and Die Tab

Using the Material and Die Tab, you may perform several function regarding the material and dies used in the assembly. Click the large top button to change the die or material default used when creating new parts. The settings chosen will be used for each new part created in the assembly. To change the die or material for a single part that has already been created, select the appropriate column for the part in the parts list. A dialog will be displayed, allowing you to choose a new die or material for the part from a list. Select the new item and click the Apply button. The part will automatically be re-calculated with the new properties. To change the die for a single bend of a part, use the Single Bend CLR Change function. This function is only available in the Bend-Tech SE product. To begin, first select the new die for the bend from the list. After the die has been selected, click the Select Bend to Change button and pickpoints will be displayed on the possible bends in the assembly. Click the pickpoint representing the bend you wish to change and the software will automatically recalculate the part with the new die. With the Material and Die Tab, you may freely change the material and/or die for any part in the assembly. Page 49 Copyright 2010 2020 Software Solutions, Inc. Discussion Forum: www.bend-tech.com

Dimensioning
The Dimension Tab has many features for dimensioning the assembly. When this tab is selected, the assembly will be shown from the three different views. These views, as well as there location relevant to each other can be changed in the Dimension Defaults list at the bottom of the tab. Each view can be hidden or displayed, and can be moved relative to the other views. The first three top buttons allow you to place distance dimensions on the assembly. Select one of the buttons and then select the two pickpoints in the assembly you wish to dimension. A third click will place the dimension text at the desired location. Horz Dim: Allows you to place a horizontal dimension, with the distance between the points being measured along the horizontal axis, not in a linear path. Vert Dim: Allows you to place a vertical dimension, with the distance between the points being measured along the vertical axis, not in a linear path. Linear Dim: Allows you to place a linear dimension, with the distance between the points measured in an actual linear path. Angle Dim: Allows you to measure the angle of two lines. When using this feature, you must create two lines by selecting four points. Begin by selecting the outside point of the first line, followed by the inside point. The image below illustrates picking the four points for an angle dimension. Once the two lines have been selected, you must select the location to place the dimension text. As you move the cursor, you should see the dimension being displayed with it. Once you have clicked to place the dimension text, the dimension should be displayed similar as shown in the image to the right. Before clicking to place the text, you may also select Flip Angle, which will flip the dimension to measure the opposite side of the two lines. Click the button again to revert back to the previous state.
Moving a Dimension
You may move the text location of a dimension that has already been created by selecting the Move Dim button. The dimensions will be displayed with a pickpoint; pick the pickpoint that represents the dimension you wish to move. The dimension will be attached to your cursor. You may now select a new location for the dimension.

Dimensioning Continued Deleting a Dimension
You may delete a dimension that has already been created by selecting the Delete Dim button. The dimensions will be displayed with a pickpoint; pick the pickpoint that represents the dimension you wish to delete. The dimension will be deleted and you may continue selecting dimensions to delete if you wish.
Changing Dimension Text

You may also change the displayed text for any dimension. To use this feature, select the Change Dim Values button. The dimensions will be displayed with a pickpoint. Select the pickpoint representing the dimension you would like to change. A dialog similar to the one shown below will prompt for the new text. Enter the text you wish the dimension to display and click OK. The dimension should now display the text you entered. Changing Dimension Settings The list at the bottom of the Dimension Tab has several settings you may change for the dimensions. To apply any of these settings to a dimension that has already been created, select the Change Dim Setting button. The dimensions will be displayed with a pickpoint; pick the pickpoint representing the dimension you wish to change the settings for. The current settings in the list will then be applied to the selected If you wish to change the settings for all dimensions that have been created, update the settings to the desired values. Next, click the Change All Setting and the settings in the list will be applied to every dimension that has been created.
Printing / Viewing
You may use the No Point Display buttons (pictured right) to display the dimension views with no pickpoints. This is a useful feature for printing the dimensioning or getting a cleaner view of the assembly. Click the No Point Line button to have the dimensioning views display in line mode with no pickpoints. Click the No Point Wire button to display a wire-frame of the assembly with no pickpoints. An example of a normal and the two no-point views are shown below.

Assembly and Part Details
The Part Detail Tab will allow you to view detailed data about each part as well as the entire assembly. The details include; materials, die, part name, weight, length, number of bends, etc... Total weight and materials used is displayed in the 2nd grid. These details are printed into a spreadsheet format by selecting the Spread-sheet button. In this tab you can send a part back to the Custom 3D or XYZ Part interface for complete bending instructions. Select a part from the list at the top and then click the appropriate button. When you select a part in the top list, the list in the middle of the tab will display additional details about that part. Use the Calc Weight button to re-calculate the weight information for the entire assembly. The Price command will open the price window. More information on the price window will be discussed later. Note: The price option and XYZ interface is only available in Bend-Tech SE products. The bottom list displays a listing of the total weight of the assembly, as well as the total measurement of the different materials being used.
Settings
The Settings Tab has several different settings you can change for the assembly. These settings include the Axis Star to use, either XYZ or the Tri-Start. Different pickpoints can be turned on or off, such as the part pickpoints automatically generated by the software. Auto-Zoom is a feature that will zoom in or out as the assembly is created, to give a total view of the assembly. This auto-zoom can be turned off by un-checking the box. Auto Recover is a function that will automatically save the assembly in case of a application or system error. When reloading Bend-Tech, any auto-recovery files found can be re-opened. When working with large assemblies, this feature may be turned off to increase performance. There are also several features that affect the Shaded Display window. More information on this window will be discussed later. You may also change the background color of the main display window. Select the BackGround Color button and you will be prompted to select a new color. Select the desired color and click the OK button. The background color of the main display should now be the desired color.
Color
The Color Tab allows you to change the color of the parts in the assembly. Select a part from the list and you will be prompted to select a new color. You may also select the Color Setting button and choose a color. Next, select a part in the assembly by clicking the pickpoint for the part. The part will then be set to the color you chose beforehand. You may continue selecting parts to change their color.

Cutting
The Cutting feature of the software will allow you to print out wrappers for cutting the ends of the tubes. Before using this feature, your software needs to be configured to your printers scale-size. To configure the Print Scale, select the Print Scale button on the Cutting Tab. The selected printer will print a test piece of paper. On this paper are two lines; measure each line and input the results into the software. The dialog shown below should be displayed in the software. Input the results here for the horizontal and vertical lengths of the lines on the printed paper. After entering the values, select the Apply button. You may now use the cutting feature of the software. To begin creating cutting information for the assembly, select the Select Tubes button. Next you must select the tube that will be cut by selecting the pickpoint that represents the tube. The tube will be highlighted green. Next you must select the tube that is going to be cut to. This tube will be highlighted red. After selecting the tubes, click the Selection Complete button. The cutting wrapper will be generated for the first tube selected. The cutting wrapper will contain two guide or reference lines. These lines will line up to certain features of the part. In some cases, the lines may be referenced to another cutting wrapper. The first line, as shown in the image below-right, will determine the location of the wrapper, usually from the end of the tube. The second line will determine the rotation of the wrapper. The rotation is usually referenced to the wrapper on the other end of the part or to the outside radius of the previous bend. It is important that you understand how these lines are to be used and that they are lined up to the correct reference points. When selecting the tubes for the cutting wrapper, the tube to be cut is always first. However, you may select more than one tube after selecting the first tube. In many cases, more than two tubes are coming together, and this allows you to get the cutting information for the tube based on multiple tubes coming together. The image to the right shows an example of this, while the image to the left shows the resulting wrapper. As you create new wrappers, the software will keep track of them. The list in the middle of the tab will display these wrappers and you may select one from the list at any time. Click on the Print button to print the currently selected wrapper. Bend-Tech SE users can also use the File, Export menu to export the cutting wrapper as a .dxf file.

Cutting Continued
You may also view cutter information for each cut, instead of the wrapper. Click the Wrapper vs. Cutter button and the software will display the information relevant to using a hole-saw cutter. Click the button again to return to the wrapper. You may remove a cutting wrapper from the main list by selecting it from the list and then clicking the Remove button. Using this feature will remove the cut from the list and it will no longer be available. If you wish to delete all the cutting wrappers from the list, select the Clear All button. Careful, as this will remove all the cutting information that has been setup for the assembly. The Calculate outside diameter only setting will ignore the material thickness for the cutting wrapper, calculating the cut based solely upon the outside diameter. The second setting at the top of the tab determines the reference mark that is displayed on the cutting wrapper; whether the mark should be determined from the end of the tube or the perpendicular of the previous bend. When using the cutting feature of the software, it is crucial that the following items are taken into consideration: 1). A proper print scale has been completed. 2). You understand how to use the reference marks. 3). You have properly selected the tubes to be cut and cut-to.
PickPoint and Part Suppression

Below the assembly area is the PickPoint Display button. This button will bring up the PickPoint Display window, allowing you to toggle the display of most any pickpoint or part. Click the X in any column to hide/show that part or point. Part column: represents the entire part or user-defined pickpoint. End column: represents the end points of a part. Apex column: represents the apex point of each bend. Tangent column: represents the two tangent points of each bent. Center column: represents the center point of each part. Midpoint column: represents the midpoint of each bend.
Click the Display All button to have all parts and points displayed. Click the Clear All button to have all parts and points hidden.
Main Display Window

Below the Main Display window are several buttons. These buttons control the display of the main window. Line Mode: parts will be drawn with single lines only. Use this mode to receive the best performance when working with the window. Slower computers may need to use this mode exclusively. Wire Mode: parts will be drawn as wire-frame. This mode allows you to visualize the full dimension of the assembly while being relatively efficient. With larger assemblies, this mode may not be feasible for slower computers. Quick Shade: parts will be drawn with rough shading. This mode is most taxing on your computer and is only recommended for quick visual of the assembly. Model Shade: parts will be drawn with high precision and full shading. This display will be shown in a separate window from the main display. When first opening this window there may be a loading time. When refreshing this window, there may be a brief reloading time. This mode will be discussed in detail at the end of this page. PickPoint Display: This feature is discussed in a previous section of this guide. Print: Depending on the current view, this will print the assembly. To print the Model Shade mode, select the Model Shade button and make sure the window is visible. To print one of the other modes, make sure the Model Shade window is NOT displayed. Projection: Click this button to display several preset views for the assembly. These views include all six straight-on views, such as Front, Left, or Bottom; as well as 4 isometric views. Click any of these views to have the assembly orientated to that view.
Model Shade
This mode will allow you to view the assembly as a higher quality shaded model. While opening this view may take a few seconds, it can be navigated with high speed and accuracy. The image on the right shows a preview of this window. Click the Auto button to auto-fit the model to the screen. The model will be zoomed in/out to fill the full window. The Reset button will reset the zoom and rotation to the original state. The Refresh button will refresh any changes made in the assembly to show them in this view. Use the buttons in the upper-right to Maximize or Close this window Use the Help button in the upper-left to display helpful controls for navigating the model. This view is a model view of the assembly. Any changes made in the assembly will not be shown here until the Refresh button is selected. Also, no editing or altering of the assembly can be done in this window. Page 55 Copyright 2010 2020 Software Solutions, Inc. Discussion Forum: www.bend-tech.com

Assembly Copying
As multiple assemblies may be opened at any time, it is also possible to copy portions of an assembly to another assembly. Portions of an assembly may also be copied back into the same assembly. On the Main Tab, select the Assembly Copy button to use this feature. After selecting the Assembly Copy button, the dialog shown below will be visible. To begin copying of the assembly, you must first setup a base/coupler point for the section you are copying. Select the Select Reference Point button and then select a pickpoint in the assembly to serve as the base point for the copied section.
After selecting a base point, you may begin selecting the features you want to copy. Select the Select Features button and select the type of features you wish to copy: Parts or PickPoints.
Now you may begin selecting features in the assembly. Select the pickpoint of the parts you wish to copy as well as any user-defined pickpoints. Once you have selected the features you wish to copy, click the Selection Complete button. The selected features will be copied to the clipboard and the Paste Selection button should be enabled.
To paste the copied features, select any assembly and open the Assembly Copy dialog (if it isnt already open). Next, select the Paste Selection button and you are ready to paste the parts. The parts you copied will be attached to your cursor based upon the base point you picked in the first step of copying. To paste the parts into the assembly, pick a new base point for the parts. As shown to the right, the copied features will be attached to the cursor. Select a point to add them to the assembly. The features can be pasted multiple times into any assembly.
Appendix A
Troubleshooting and Common Problems (Revised 11/2010)

Area
Display
Symptom
Can not see the entire screen
Solutions
Change your resolution to a minimum of 1024 x 768 Or Move the main window of document. Increase the number of colors. 16 bit or 32 bit are recommended.
Part Display Limited to a few documents displayed
Shaded tube is grainy
After a few documents are This is a limitation of RAM. Best performance is with displayed, the software 512 MB or greater memory. hangs or crashes. Check to make sure the predefined templates is the Off by material thickness correct side. or 1 material thickness Or The custom template uses centerline only.
Part does not come out correct
Check dimension side Part is a long way off. Or Part was flipped end for end after marking. Calibrate your centerline radius using the Calibration Document.
Everything is slightly off.
Select the Add New button Or Apply button does not light Check to make sure the wall thickness is equal to or up. less than the material diameter. It is common to represent .065 by typing .65. Material Library Is added but will not show up in the list Select the OK button before exiting the material library and do not select the X to close the window Or Exit the software and re-open.
Appendix A
Common issues that can cause incorrect results. 1). Using the incorrect die in the software. 2). Using the incorrect material in the software. 3). Not understanding Apex and Tangent. 4). Only predefined Templates and Sketch Interface uses Inside or Outside dimensions, all other interfaces use the center of the tube (centerline). 5). Having a value in one of the Cut Off fields. 6). Having an individual bend with the incorrect Die (applicable to Bend-Tech SE versions only). 7). Not updating the Die Library by using the Apply and the OK buttons 8). Feeding the material into the bender incorrectly. The start end (end with the X where you hook your tape), needs to go into the bender first. The start end will be the end that is always swinging around. The cut end or far end needs to go into your bender last. The cut end should be feeding slowly toward the bender during a bend and/or between bends. In addition, unless you tell the software to flip the material, the tube needs to be continuously pushed into the bender from bend to bend without flipping it over. Some important things to know: 1) When you update the Die you must reselect it out of the list for the part to be updated. 2) If the CLR or Calibrated CLR is smaller than the die is labeled there could be a problem. 3) Bend-Tech EZ does not use as extensive of calibration as EZ-3D, PRO, and SE. With EZ to come up with correct values you must find your CLR by using the single bend U or the two 90 degree bend U. After this is accomplished you can use the wizard to finish the calibration. EZ does not have the Bend Location Offset feature used in EZ-3D, PRO, and SE. 4) When evaluating the problems with the part you must take your time and carefully decide which edges are too long or too short and by how much. In addition, knowing which end is the start end will help to narrow down the appropriate measures to follow. Basic rules of thumb: 1) If the start side is not correct the CLR and maybe the Bend Location Offset need to be adjusted. It is recommended to start with the CLR 2) If the start side is good and the 2nd side is not you will need to adjust the Calibrated CLR. The opposite is true when using End for Dimension Locations. 3) If the 2 sides are off by the same amount in opposite directions the Bend Location Offset may need adjusting. 4) If parts that are 90 degrees come out correct and parts that are not 90 or 180 degrees do not come out correct you will need to adjust your CLR and your Bend Location Offset Page 58 Copyright 2010 2020 Software Solutions, Inc. Discussion Forum: www.bend-tech.com

Bend Tech Pro Manual

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Operations Manual

Getting started after installation:

The pull down menu:

The pull down menu continued...

The Help Menu

The Help Menu continued...

The Help Menu continued...

The values you need to input are described below:

The Help Menu continued...

Options Dialog continued...

Pos Rotation Direction:

Shade Iso Part:

File Storage Tab

Setup Sheet Tab

Print Rotation Dial:

Options Dialog continued...

Use parentheses () for negative value:

Options Dialog continued...

Distance from End:

Distance from EndReversed:

Length of Straight Tube:

Display Length of Bend:

Reversed Table Length:

Flat Layout Tab

Using generic or inaccurate values will result in incorrect bending instructions!!!

Die Library continued...

Part Interface Window

Working with Predefined Templates

Working with Predefined Templates continued

On the Material Tab:

Working with Custom Part

Working with Custom 3D Part

Working with Custom 3D Part continued

Working with Part Verify

Using Simulation continued

Spring Back Charts

Chart (right) is inactive as no results have been entered (above).

Spring-Back Chart Active after inputting the results of 3 bend tests.

Now you can see the spring angles in the charts.

Understanding Dimension Type

Results Window and Manufacturing a Part

this section of this manual.

Results Window and Manufacturing a Part continued

Results Window and Manufacturing a Part continued

Predefined Template Tutorial

Predefined Template Tutorial continued

Type 48 in the top dimension field as shown below:

Type 24 in the next dimension field as shown below:

Predefined Template Tutorial continued

Place 36 in the dimension data field as shown to the right.

Place 48 in the dimension data field as shown to the left.

Predefined Template Tutorial continued

Custom Part Tutorial

Custom Part Tutorial continued

Enter 12 into the first Length data field.

the third Angle data field

Custom Part Tutorial continued

Enter 17 into the fifth Length data field.

Your part should look like the one pictured here.

Custom 3D Part Tutorial

Custom 3D Part Tutorial continued

Custom 3D Part Tutorial continued

Working with Assembly

Bringing a Part in from one of the Part Interfaces: