Bend-Tech
SM Sheet Metal Software is designed for the hobbyist, schools, proto-type
shop, maintenance facility or performance shops. It is their answer to the sheet
metal and plate design world. You will no longer need to spend the big dollar or
otherwise obtain the high-end solid modeling systems to design sheet metal
parts. In addition, being comfortable with this software doesn't require a
week-long training course or several volumes of help guides and tutorials.
Bend-Tech SM takes on an approach of design from a 2D
perspective; some may refer to it as 2 1/2D. Don't be fooled, most of the work
is done in 2D, however, the model that is built is full 3D. A user works on a
flange or the bend zone with easy-to-find CAD tools for geometry design and
manipulation.
The designers at Bend-Tech know sheet metal and understand what is needed to
make quick work of designs. You will find many specific features to make your
design faster, such as: path text, bridging, slots for bend relief, void slots
for bend zones and manual bending, corner notches, and specific hole shapes
including dimple die and ellipse; just to name a few.
Bend-Tech SM will output a DXF file to send to CAM systems for cutting or give
you a one-to-one drawing on multiple sheets of paper to be used as a scaled
template for fabrication. The software's flat layout will provide bend radius,
angle, and direction information, as well as allow a user to dimension the
tangents of each bend or the center bend line for help in bending.
If all of that wasn't enough, Bend-Tech SM has an assembly module. You can
design your plates or sheet metal and assembly them together. Assembly will help
you to determine if you have the look you want or make sure the parts go
together correctly.