Idea for forum

[adbuch]

Im with Brayd, same boat here, like I couldnt care less if you all had access to my thousands of files, but 99 percent are one off jobs, brackets, repair parts, things that would be absolutely useless to anyone again. Takes so little time to draw something you just do it and forget about it. I pretty much quit artsy stuff because it takes to much time and isn't worth the fiddling around, at least for me. But I if we would make an industrial forum I could post some industrial things, like excavator bucket mounts, 359 peterbilt hood panel, Etc. But it seems like a waste of time to post things like that on on artsy site.

My feeling is that this site has a good amount of both mechanical and "artsy" files and discussions. Also - there are many members with quite a diverse set of interests, drawing abilities, and so on. I expect that if you posted your files of your excavator bucket mounts, hood panels, etc. there may very well be some that could use them.

David

[BrayD]

BrayD - I am not familiar with the BendTech software. Perhaps you could show some screen shots of your process of "throwing pick points into BendTech so we can see exactly how it works.

Thanks,
David

My pleasure!

Keep in mind BendTech was initially created as a tube bending software, but it now has sheet metal add-ons that make it excellent for plate work. This is all in their sheet metal module.

It's all pick point based. Place points where you want and connect them with lines, use them as hole center points, etc. I'll use the long tabs I showed earlier as a quick example.

Since I have the project in front of me, I'd throw a tape measure on it and see that it needs to be 12" long, 2" tall, with two holes 1" from the lower edge, 8" on center.

Over at the laptop, I'd enter a point at X 12, Y 2.

BT1.png

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Select 'rectangle' and click the two points (the origin and the single point I just made)

BT2.png

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Back into the points tab and place your hole center points. (all points could've been done initially, this just works well for demonstration purposes)

BT3.png

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Select the hole feature, input your size, and click your two center points.

BT4.png

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Add a couple fillets. Enter your fillet size and click the lines that create the corner you want to fillet.

BT5.png

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A couple clicks to jump to a tab and define the plate (flange)

BT6.png

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Then a couple more clicks to export that plate as a DXF.

BT7.png

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Done! Open that DXF in your CAM package of choice, create a cut path, and send the G code to your machine. That whole process is quite literally 5 minutes once you know what you're doing.

For the pad eye the OP used as an example, I'd likely use a pre-loaded tab shape from the module I linked previously. Enter your dims and it spits out a plate model that you can export.

If the slotted hole was an absolute necessity, I'd model it like shown above. I did a quick one while typing this reply. Poor representation, but it was quick to model. Easy to make accurately if you have the dimensions.

BT8.png

[adbuch]

BrayD - thanks for posting that example. That looks like a very handy program. I was checking out their site and it looks like I would have to purchase their tube bending software and then purchase the sheet metal module as an add-on. So around $375 for both (Trick Tools site).

I do have a couple of questions. Please see my attached screen shots.

Thanks,
David

bendtech plate question 1.jpg

bendtech plate question 2.jpg

[adbuch]

bendtech plate question 3.jpg

[adbuch]

Easy to make accurately if you have the dimensions.

I very much agree!

David

[BrayD]

BrayD - thanks for posting that example. That looks like a very handy program. I was checking out their site and it looks like I would have to purchase their tube bending software and then purchase the sheet metal module as an add-on. So around $375 for both (Trick Tools site).

I do have a couple of questions. Please see my attached screen shots.

Thanks,
David

bendtech plate question 1.jpg
bendtech plate question 2.jpg

That pricing seems about right. It's a lifetime license and updates regularly. Well worth it if you're doing this stuff to make money. I know this is a plasma site so we're talking about plate, but it really shines as a tube bending software. Now that I use it for plasma as well, it's one of the most valuable assets I have for metalwork in the shop.

Q1: It's all cartesian manual entry. I placed the first point at X 2 Y 1, then placed the second point at X 8 Y 0 (incrementally from the first point).

Q2: The link I provided in an earlier post will take you through that module. These links give a good breakdown of the tabs available:

https://bend-tech.net/wiki7/index.php?t ... P_Template

https://bend-tech.net/wiki7/index.php?t ... mplates_II

[adbuch]

BrayD - thanks for the answers to my questions and for the additional links. Design Edge works the same way for placing points by entering the coordinates, or relative coordinate offset from the first point.

David

[cutnweld]

Looks to me like any program you choose to use, you can get good with it. I can run turbo cad in a very similar fashion, pretty much all programs are easy one you get onto them. Matter of fact you could do the flat pattern example given and nest it in Plasmac conversational, just depends on preference IMO. Now when it comes to bending... that would be a can of worms without some designated bend software like bendtech

[BrayD]

Many ways to skin a cat indeed.

[acourtjester]

I'm with cutnweld we seem to find a package we like and use it well, prices can be a draw back for some. It helps if you are running a business having a write off for the cost. DIY guy like me I look for software the is cheaper and does what I need, there are some out there. Some like SheetCam it is well worth paying the price, great they don't have a subscription cost. They also offer optional package upgrades too. Other do have updates that have reasonable prices other it's like a replacement full price. Some that cross the category of functions and can be used for other areas of interest. Lightburn is one I just started using that is very good for composing drawings at a fair price ($60 and update for $30).

[adbuch]

I don't yet have the Bend-Tech tube bending software as I really don't do much in the way of tube bending except for the planishing hammer frames I build. But for someone who already has the Bend-Tech tube bending package, the Sheet Metal Designer Module would seem like a very useful add-on - particularly at the $75 cost. I do agree that there are many different programs that can work to create the same design. But sometimes it's fun to try out new cad programs.

I'm actually trying out the trial version of EnRoute 24 just to see what all the fuss is about. They say that it is similar to VCarve Pro or Aspire - but it has a totally different look and feel to me and seems like it is more geared to mechanical designs. So I'm trying it out for 7 days - but would never consider actually paying the $115 per month subscription fee.

As I said to one of our fellow members who is a former EnRoute user,

"I have only used it for a few hours. It seems like a combination of tools from CorelDraw, AutoCad, QCad, and others. I can see that it would be useful, and is easy to use - especially for beginners since it doesn't really use keyboard shortcuts like Inkscape, CorelDraw, Design Edge, AutoCAD, and others. Some were comparing it to Vectrics VCarve Pro or Aspire. I have those programs and use them mainly for cnc wood routing. Enroute 24 seems more aimed at mechanical design. From what I have seen - it would be a good value if it could be purchased outright at a reasonable cost - maybe under $2k. There is also a version just for drawing that costs less - I think it was around $59/month."

The screen shot below shows a bracket that I drew just to try it out.

David

https://www.thinksai.com/products-enroute/

EnRoute24 1.jpg

[acourtjester]

Thanks David for being willing to slog through the jungles of software to give you impressions and observations on them.
This will help many new comers to see and help them pick a package for their use, or for those who may be looking for a change.
Taking time to do screen shots showing interesting points for some of the packages. have fun

[adbuch]

Thanks David for being willing to slog through the jungles of software to give you impressions and observations on them.
This will help many new comers to see and help them pick a package for their use, or for those who may be looking for a change.
Taking time to do screen shots showing interesting points for some of the packages. have fun

Tom - it was fun to try EnRoute out for a few hours. I have already uninstalled it and cancelled my subscription. If you forget to cancel, then they start billing you for about $135/mo without telling you. For creating drawings for cnc plasma cutting - EnRoute didn't have any tools that I don't already have in the other programs I use. Plus I am really spoiled by the Design Edge/Inkscape/CorelDraw combination that I use.

EnRoute would cost over $1600 per year to "rent" the program. Back when I purchased my Plasmacam table, it came with Design Edge basic version and I paid the $996 to get the upgrade to Advanced Design. That was a one-time payment for a perpetual license about 8 years ago. So that works out to about 34 cents a day - which I don't mind paying for all the use I get out of it. Inkscape is free, and CorelDraw is extremely inexpensive to purchase the perpetual license.

David

[Fastyankee]

David Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s guys like you who are willing to spend the time and knowledge that make this forum what it is.
I used Enroute for about 4 years so I got use to it. I have version 6 which they no longer support. I was forced to either pay the $1600 a year rental or lay down the $5,000 for design edge. I chose to invest in design edge. As stated early I’m a fabricator and I have to say the statement that fabricators hate to sit in front of computer and are more focused on getting projects out the door is very accurate.
I also have Bend Tech Pro which I use for tubing bending and now they have add ons for tabs and fittings used for fabrication which I would use before drawing a sheet metal part. With all that I don’t have time to dedicate to learning multiple softwares Bendtech and Design edge is bad enough for me to learn . I messed with Ink Scape for a bit but I found it to be more geared towards art than fabrication but for a free program it’s really good. I went with Design Edge because it’s really good with importing files and cleaning them up. I work with a few engineers and they use the real CAD programs and those DFX’s would come in all jacked up in Ink Scape and have to be converted to SVG for Ink Scape. Design edge will even read cut files why they didn’t design it to read SVG files I have no idea but I can work around that.
Design edge is very hot key user which now that I’m getting use to it isn’t all that bad and work flow is really quick. Where I think it lacks is alignment and snapping tools. I Think for me it’s because I’m still very new to Design Edge I have only had it for like a week and a half.
Design edge also has a lot of formulas to type and have to be learned. I think they need more videos on using the program which they have a pretty decent video manual that covers the very basics of each function but does not go into detail on the functions. I think after some time It will be all I need in conjunction with Bend Tech.
A huge thank you Dave for continuing to help me out and sharing your knowledge.

[adbuch]

David Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s guys like you who are willing to spend the time and knowledge that make this forum what it is.
I used Enroute for about 4 years so I got use to it. I have version 6 which they no longer support. I was forced to either pay the $1600 a year rental or lay down the $5,000 for design edge. I chose to invest in design edge. As stated early I’m a fabricator and I have to say the statement that fabricators hate to sit in front of computer and are more focused on getting projects out the door is very accurate.
I also have Bend Tech Pro which I use for tubing bending and now they have add ons for tabs and fittings used for fabrication which I would use before drawing a sheet metal part. With all that I don’t have time to dedicate to learning multiple softwares Bendtech and Design edge is bad enough for me to learn . I messed with Ink Scape for a bit but I found it to be more geared towards art than fabrication but for a free program it’s really good. I went with Design Edge because it’s really good with importing files and cleaning them up. I work with a few engineers and they use the real CAD programs and those DFX’s would come in all jacked up in Ink Scape and have to be converted to SVG for Ink Scape. Design edge will even read cut files why they didn’t design it to read SVG files I have no idea but I can work around that.
Design edge is very hot key user which now that I’m getting use to it isn’t all that bad and work flow is really quick. Where I think it lacks is alignment and snapping tools. I Think for me it’s because I’m still very new to Design Edge I have only had it for like a week and a half.
Design edge also has a lot of formulas to type and have to be learned. I think they need more videos on using the program which they have a pretty decent video manual that covers the very basics of each function but does not go into detail on the functions. I think after some time It will be all I need in conjunction with Bend Tech.
A huge thank you Dave for continuing to help me out and sharing your knowledge.

AJ - you are quite welcome! This is fun stuff and I am always happy to try to help when I can.

David