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bend tech software

twoslo4five0

twoslo4five0

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Anyone here using this software? I was thinking about picking up the ez or ez3d as im not a very tech savy person but it would be nice for cage design. I really dont know alot about it, and see alot of discussion on pirate about it that seems over my head. My thought is EZ would not be over my head but I could be wrong. Im looking for something to figure out angles and make building a cage easier with the hope of being quicker as well.
 
I had the bend tech EZ and used it for my cage and bumpers. It was easy to use and figure out, and I wasted zero tubing. Well worth the modest cost IMO.
 
tRustyK5 said:
I had the bend tech EZ and used it for my cage and bumpers. It was easy to use and figure out, and I wasted zero tubing. Well worth the modest cost IMO.
Click to expand...

Kind of input im looking for. EZ3D is supposed to make it even easier buy naming where the part of the bend is (front,back, celing, ect.)
 
Let me know how you make out with this. I was pondering the other day whether the bending specific programs had any advantage over laying out a cage in solid works, other than getting die start points etc.
 
my main reason for looking into bendtech (on the surface at least) is simplisity when building a cage, speed and cutting down on waste (ie drops)
 
Stomis said:
Let me know how you make out with this. I was pondering the other day whether the bending specific programs had any advantage over laying out a cage in solid works, other than getting die start points etc.
Click to expand...

I think die start points would be the best advantage of the program.
 
I started with Bendtech when the designer was working in his garage. I he was running xyz coordinates and anything down, back or left of centerline of the layout had to be entered as negatives. I suggested using forward, back, roof, floor, right and left. 3 days later a new CD was delivered.

I have lifetime upgrades. Have designed a boat load of cages with it. Super easy for a non tech or non engineer to use. My a pillar hoop was bent once with the first attempt at using the software. It runs through the dash, tight against the body lines.

Worth every penny.
 
twoslo4five0 said:
Kind of input im looking for. EZ3D is supposed to make it even easier buy naming where the part of the bend is (front,back, celing, ect.)
Click to expand...

The 3D version is the one to get for more complex bends for sure, but even the regular version is excellent. Depends on how goofy you plan to get with bending. If I were buying today I'd probably spring for the 3D version...I don't think it's much more.
 
tRustyK5 said:
The 3D version is the one to get for more complex bends for sure, but even the regular version is excellent. Depends on how goofy you plan to get with bending. If I were buying today I'd probably spring for the 3D version...I don't think it's much more.
Click to expand...

I should have said that also. 3d version is what I was using.
 
I have it, 3D rocks.

There's really no comparison, once you get things dialed in you'll be incredibly efficient and really there's no reason to waste tube anymore.
 
I will sell you mine if your interested. I have an EZ version and Bend Tech Pro I only bought because it was the very first and probably only sale BT had ever, and was ever going to have. I will tell you I didn't like the fact I had to calibrate the system to get correct bends. That shut me down when I read that. I just didnt want to have to. You have to waste tube to do so too. You have to bend "Test" bends then make adjustments. Wtf. Too much bs. This bugged me. Also, I didn't want to have to learn software to bend tube.

I wanted to be able to see the tube in my head, grab a stick and bend it correctly. So I used the bending 101 from Pirate. If has worked flawlessly for me. Took no time to get, and I was hands on bending tube in minutes of reading the short article on Pirate. Sure I'd like to be all up on my bending software. But I don't have time to do all I want to do and learn, and learn all I wish I could be or get good at.

Life just doesn't allow enough time in a day...
 
rdn2blazer said:
I didn't like the fact I had to calibrate the system to get correct bends. That shut me down when I read that. I just didnt want to have to. You have to waste tube to do so too. You have to bend "Test" bends then make adjustments.
Click to expand...


To the original poster don't let this steer you away from software. All you need to do is grab a piece of tube, make some marks on it for where you stick it in the die of your bender and bend a 90* bend.
Then you take some after measurements and punch them into the software to help it calibrate to YOUR specific setup. Your bender, die and methods of measuring are going to be different than the next guy so this is a good thing that they allow you to calibrate the software.
What it's really trying to do is figure out how much material is "sucked up" for each degree of bend in a given die (or more realistically I'm sure it's working in tenths or hundredths of degrees) as well as calculate a "spring back". The material relaxes and doesn't stay put when you remove it from the die. Every setup is different but you can get this pretty well dialed in on the software or just know your own setup. I know if I go about 2-3* past what I want on my 1-3/4" die it'll relax back to what I really want. No biggie, we crash through rocks not go to the moon.

Anywhoo, just wanted to clarify this process. Sure you "waste" a small piece of tube ONE time but theoretically it'll be the last tube you waste. Plus who can't find a use for a scrap piece of tube bent in a 90*? :D
 
There is a great beginner article on Pirate using just basic tools. It'll handle most any single plane bend.

I was also involved with BendTech at the very beginning. But I built my truggy using nothing but my wits, the PBB article, and a bit of trial and error. In my opinion, if you are doing anything more than a bumper or some minor stuff, the BendTech software is a no-brainer investment. It would not only have made my truggy SO much easier, but likely eliminated enough waste to pay for it as a happy bonus. Also note that if you have a larger project or multiple projects, your calibration pieces can likely be incorporated in various ways, pretty much eliminating the sacrificial material. I keep stuff like that (including mistakes, and ends needed to capture in the die) to use for making hand holds, supports, tie down points, gussets, etc depending on the size and bend.

In the CoG you'll find some old articles on fast/easy coping of tube ends to get good joints with nothing more than a chop or band saw.
 
BT is a great product don't get me wrong. It works period. I just did NEED it. No one NEEDS bending software to bend tube. It's a tool you can use that once learned will help you. But people have been bending tube looong before computer software was invented. For production bending sure. Use it. So far I've build two cages and one complete bumper. I would have rather put that $275 I spent on software to other better uses. Thats just my spicific situation though.
 
I never realized it was so cheap. $149 for EZ3D? Umm yes please!


This little note is confusing me though, from the website


Does this mean I need to have internet on the computer while in the shop? Because there is no internet in the shop....





"Security Dongle"

"If a valid internet connection is not available on your computer, you may choose to purchase a security dongle to use the software offline. This will allow your computer to run Bend-Tech software as long as the security dongle is plugged into an available USB port on the computer. This USB security dongle becomes the license for your software.

While the security dongle will allow your computer to run Bend-Tech software without an internet connection, there are a few drawbacks to using the offline method. Bend-Tech software will not be able to automatically download any new updates and the direct Help Session will not be available. Also, any maintenance of a security dongle requires shipment back to our facility and back to you at additional cost. If you are unable to provide shipment of your security dongle (such as loss or theft), you will be required to purchase the dongle with full price of your software."
 
Avery4jc said:
To the original poster don't let this steer you away from software. All you need to do is grab a piece of tube, make some marks on it for where you stick it in the die of your bender and bend a 90* bend.
Then you take some after measurements and punch them into the software to help it calibrate to YOUR specific setup. Your bender, die and methods of measuring are going to be different than the next guy so this is a good thing that they allow you to calibrate the software.
What it's really trying to do is figure out how much material is "sucked up" for each degree of bend in a given die (or more realistically I'm sure it's working in tenths or hundredths of degrees) as well as calculate a "spring back". The material relaxes and doesn't stay put when you remove it from the die. Every setup is different but you can get this pretty well dialed in on the software or just know your own setup. I know if I go about 2-3* past what I want on my 1-3/4" die it'll relax back to what I really want. No biggie, we crash through rocks not go to the moon.

Anywhoo, just wanted to clarify this process. Sure you "waste" a small piece of tube ONE time but theoretically it'll be the last tube you waste. Plus who can't find a use for a scrap piece of tube bent in a 90*? :D
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more.
 
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