Solidworks or Bend-Tec Pro

[ttginc]

Originally Posted by Gene

I would intersect with rear and top bracing.

Nice work for only one hour in Bend Tec. Harder for those of us that never used other programs you listed.

Nice work.

thanks, I'll change that.

The irony is that in the dedicated cad programs I spent an hour just looking for the right buttons to push. That is the beauty of Bend-tech...its so easy and just what I need.

[magnum4598]

it must be nice having all the toys
i had to make my own bender i just made a new die for it last night adding to the collection
of two now lol .....question how does all the softwhare relate to actuly cutting and bending up a frame i know it animates the bends how many of us have a cnc bender i feel like i would spend more time in front of the pc than in my shop and in my shop is where i like to be lol just a thought

[tenaja]

Originally Posted by ttginc

thanks, I'll change that.

The irony is that in the dedicated cad programs I spent an hour just looking for the right buttons to push. That is the beauty of Bend-tech...its so easy and just what I need.

I have a few questions, if you don't mind. Does Bend-Tech give you the dimensions and angles for cutting? Can it give you distances between tubes (on center and/or space between them)? Can you print out a drawing that looks like a cad drawing? I'm just curious... I use Alibre, but haven't tubed with it yet, except for a weekend test that was not too productive.

[Gene]

It does it all and works with a manual bender. Really a good program for this purpose. Does nothing for suspension geometry as already mentioned. I have not gone so far as to print anything but I understand that you end up with clear directions and measurements including, angles, roation, etc.

[sodman]

This stuff sounds really good but for the hobbiest are these programs worth it I' m new at this buggy building but is very interesting to be able to sit down and design your own frame or modifiy an exisiting frame . I have no cad experience is it hard to learn how to use these programs .
I'm just finishing my first build I would sure like to take what i learned buliding and reading the info on this site and apply it to building another buggy " God I hope My Wife Dosen't see this"
Just wondering what are the cost of these progams.
Later Sodman

[Gene]

Get Alibre free eition. BendTech Pro is low priced for what you get.

[Jay1823]

Originally Posted by sodman

I have no cad experience is it hard to learn how to use these programs .

I've never used Bend tech but i'm imagining it's a much more user friendly program than something like Solid works. I was a designer for a few years and i worked mostly on Unigraphics, some Solidworks and farted around in Catia. I'd say yes if you have no experience in any cad programs these would not be easy to just sit down and pick up

[ttginc]

This is the final version I ended up with. I am very happy with BT Pro. I was worth it. I am now building the frame and hope to have pictures and a build thread up soon.

In response to some of the previous threads...

Alibre is a solid program, not as nice as the $$ software but very powerful for a free program.

After you have finished your assembly in Bend-Tech Pro, you can print a spreadsheet with every tube listed. Each straight part is listed with its length before notching. The bent tubes are given with total length, location, rotation, and angle for each bend. It will also calculate the total weight of the assembly as well as each piece. You can also print templates for each notched joint or simply copy the angle and off-set of the notch if you are using a tube notcher. I print them out anyway with the notcher because it aids in alignment and when making compound notches.

To Sodman, it is very easy to learn and use. Well worth it in my opinion. I would call it an investment. Not cheap in general terms, but very economical compared to Solidworks or Inventor.

To Tenaja, you can print out dimensions between any two points you have created. It does not look like a CAD drawing but you can print in shaded, wireframe, or simple lines. Alibre is nice but two integral features missing in the free edition are the ability to create a 3D wireframe, and the ability to trim solid interferences (handy for creating notches).

Jeremy

[TTUBAJAMAN]

If you are a college student with a valid school issued email address, you can get a free 13 month legal copy of Inventor 2009 directly from autodesk. Go to students.autodesk.com and register.

[ttginc]

wow, thanks for that tip. I requested a 30-day trial but was reluctant to install it and lose design time with a busy schedule. This should be exciting to try out. Again thanks for the tip.