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Thinking of buying Bend-Tech PRO
- Thread starter Mr.N
- Start date
vpd66
Well-known member
I've owned a Pro Tools one shot bender since 2000. I was always guesstimating doing my bends. I could usually come pretty close and every once in a while would have a screw up. 4 years ago I bought Bend-Tech pro and have never regretted it. My bends are right on the money now every time and no more scrap tubing. It pays off in the long run.
Thanks VPD66I've owned a Pro Tools one shot bender since 2000. I was always guesstimating doing my bends. I could usually come pretty close and every once in a while would have a screw up. 4 years ago I bought Bend-Tech pro and have never regretted it. My bends are right on the money now every time and no more scrap tubing. It pays off in the long run.
vpd66
Well-known member
What is also nice is if someone wants some tubing bent and don't want to bring what ever it is going in to my shop. I can take a tape measure, angle gauge, and my laptop to them and draw up the tube in Bend-Tech. This lets them see the final bent tube then I can go to my shop bend the tube and take it to them. I've never scrapped a tube yet with Bend-Tech (knock on wood).
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I think it's worth the money. The key is to go through the "calibration" process for each die. When I first got it I was impatient and used their data and it turned out to be pretty far off.
vpd66
Well-known member
I think it's worth the money. The key is to go through the "calibration" process for each die. When I first got it I was impatient and used their data and it turned out to be pretty far off.
You are exactly right. I did the calibration on all my dies before I used the program for any project.
I started bending roll cages back in 1990 with a Harbor freight pipe bender. I got an education on the difference between tubing and pipe right off the bat. I made shims so the tubing would fit in the pipe bender dies. Even after that you still could not make more then a 15 degree bend without kinking. I learned a way to do it and used it for about 15 roll cages till 2000 when I got my Pro tools bender. I would take the bending die and draw out the tube I wanted to bend on the floor with chalk. I would mark out my "bend starting points" and use that to bend the tubing. I'd say I was about 80% accurate with this method.
vpd66
Well-known member
Another good example of how Bend-tech saved me time and money is being able to duplicate parts. A buddy was racing IMCA modifieds and they have tubular front bumpers that are designed to bend and be replaceable. The rules state that they can't race without a bumper so they carry spares. He could call or text me when he needed some more bumpers and I had the bumper on file in Bend-tech. I was also able to adjust the bumper slightly so I could make them from 60" pieces instead of 62" like the chassis builder made them. This saved tubing because it is sold in 20ft sticks.
txvwnut
Well-known member
I’ve been using Bend-tech for 15 or more years, like stated above once you design something and save the file you have it forever. I will say this you will need to “calibrate” it for every type of diameter and thickness of metal you plan to bend, not every time just once and those get saved in a file too. If not don’t expect good results. For me I had a bit of a learning curve to figure design and getting it into the program correctly but once I passed that hurdle it’s easy peasy and you’ll wonder how you did and tube work without it.
vpd66
Well-known member
I’ve been using Bend-tech for 15 or more years, like stated above once you design something and save the file you have it forever. I will say this you will need to “calibrate” it for every type of diameter and thickness of metal you plan to bend, not every time just once and those get saved in a file too. If not don’t expect good results. For me I had a bit of a learning curve to figure design and getting it into the program correctly but once I passed that hurdle it’s easy peasy and you’ll wonder how you did and tube work without it.
You are 100% correct. Calibrate for every size tubing and die. Also make sure your measurements are has accurate has you can get. The software is only has good has the data you put into it!
Price dropped for Black Friday from $305 to $228...
Just downloaded it!
Can I install it on several computer?
Figure main computer with big monitors for tweaking it, and a Laptop for in the garage when I actually bend.
Just downloaded it!
Can I install it on several computer?
Figure main computer with big monitors for tweaking it, and a Laptop for in the garage when I actually bend.
txvwnut
Well-known member
Most likely they will not issue another release code, I lost a hard drive in my pc and they gave me another release number but if I remember it right I had to show proof of repair. I suggest just printing the cut/bend sheet and working with that. Bending tube is a busy job with lots of moving parts, if you knock a sheet of paper to the floor its not as bad as knocking the laptop to the floor. I prefer the cut sheet as I can stick it to my bender with a magnet.
Bending tube is a busy job with lots of moving parts, if you knock a sheet of paper to the floor its not as bad as knocking the laptop to the floor.
Awesome reply, thank you.
zkdiesel
Well-known member
Where at for deal? I’m gonna bite
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
Most likely they will not issue another release code, I lost a hard drive in my pc and they gave me another release number but if I remember it right I had to show proof of repair. I suggest just printing the cut/bend sheet and working with that. Bending tube is a busy job with lots of moving parts, if you knock a sheet of paper to the floor its not as bad as knocking the laptop to the floor. I prefer the cut sheet as I can stick it to my bender with a magnet.
I agree. You can print out your whole project. It's nice being able to scribble notes on the paper when you're too dirty to want to touch your computer.
mike528
Well-known member
they are running the black friday sale right now i believe, I need to get it but spent too much money on other stuff last week.
https://www.bend-tech.com/product/bend-tech-pro-master-collection/
https://www.bend-tech.com/product/bend-tech-pro-master-collection/
TauntDevil
Well-known member
I have had bendtech-pro since 2013 and it has served us well.
Use to go old school with the designs on the floor (always aimed for tight fit) and paper but when opening a fab shop, went with Bendtech to make things easier and faster.
In those years, have had to deal with their support team as well as other machines. They were pretty quick (within 24 business hours) on replies and were usually very well informed when it came to any information. We went through 3 computers while in the shop and two since I have closed down the shop. Mainly stolen devices in the shop and swapping of laptops as I am a tech person.
Used a tablet with RDP/Remote to the computer for measuring. Can use the phone too if you dont mind smaller text. I am a bit blind at the time. As long as you pay attention and learn the program, it worked amazing and was pretty accurate. I still use it to this day, just not doing as many projects that require it anymore.
You can print the measurements too if you choose that. If we made something that was going to be common or made multiple times, we would normally print them off and put them into a binder just in case.
Personally, I am happy I got bendtech, I use the basic stuff of it but here and there I have used the other apps. I mainly use solidworks for more advance stuff which is nice that it imports into SW.
Use to go old school with the designs on the floor (always aimed for tight fit) and paper but when opening a fab shop, went with Bendtech to make things easier and faster.
In those years, have had to deal with their support team as well as other machines. They were pretty quick (within 24 business hours) on replies and were usually very well informed when it came to any information. We went through 3 computers while in the shop and two since I have closed down the shop. Mainly stolen devices in the shop and swapping of laptops as I am a tech person.
Used a tablet with RDP/Remote to the computer for measuring. Can use the phone too if you dont mind smaller text. I am a bit blind at the time. As long as you pay attention and learn the program, it worked amazing and was pretty accurate. I still use it to this day, just not doing as many projects that require it anymore.
You can print the measurements too if you choose that. If we made something that was going to be common or made multiple times, we would normally print them off and put them into a binder just in case.
Personally, I am happy I got bendtech, I use the basic stuff of it but here and there I have used the other apps. I mainly use solidworks for more advance stuff which is nice that it imports into SW.