Flux Reference Manual

  • Welcome to Flux
  • Introduction
    • Installing the Software
    • The User Interface
    • Part Workflow
    • The Machine Database
  • Cut
    • Basic Workflows
      • Part Workflow
        • Load Part
        • Sketch Mode
        • Measure
        • Modifying Laser Part
        • Nesting
        • Sequence Navigator
        • NC Code Generation
      • Job workflow
        • Create Job
        • Set Laser Technology Table (LTT)
        • Nesting
        • Automatic Part Placement
        • Manual Part Placement
    • Advanced Topics
      • Geometry Import Options
      • Advanced Tooling Options
        • Editing Microjoints
        • TwinLine
        • FlyLine
        • Dimple Approach
        • Remainder Sheets
        • Pie-Slug Circular Holes
        • Avoid Retooling Pierces
        • Finishing Rules
        • Clone LTT
      • Advanced Nesting Features
        • Mirrored Parts
        • Find a Part in Nest Layout
        • Filler parts in Nest Layout
      • Advanced Tooling Optimization
        • Contour Quality
        • Optimizing Stability with Scrap Cutting
        • Optimizing Tilting Behaviour
        • Space Out Slice Cuts to Avoid Collision
        • Minimize Number of Different Layouts
        • Dynamic Level Setting
      • Advanced Menu Options
        • Context Sensitive Menus
        • Hierarchy of Settings
        • Multi-Selections
        • CSV Output
      • Manual Sheet Slicing Cuts
      • Text on Parts
    • Application Settings
      • Cut CAM
        • Layout
          • Nest Settings
          • Sheet
          • Sheet Handling
          • Skeleton Cuts
          • Work Support
        • Laser CAM
          • Sequence
      • Cut Outputs
      • Cut View
  • Bend
    • Basic Steps of Flux Bend
    • Basic Workflow
      • The Main Panel
      • The Workflow Panel
      • Batch processing
      • Modifying the Geometry
      • The Bend Navigator
      • Editing the Bend Solution
        • Editing a Bend
        • Changing the Bending Sequence
        • Editing a Tool Mount
        • Editing a Bend Setup
        • Editing the Back-Gauges
        • Angle Measurement
        • Using a Pre-Bend
        • Editing multiple mounts
        • Adding a Tooling station
      • Recomputing the Bend Solution
      • Generating Bend Outputs
      • Export Bend Report
    • Design of bend parts
      • Min Radius and Flange Length
      • Corner Design
      • Bending Tolerances
      • Selection of Tools
    • Advanced Workflow
      • Preparation of Bend Parts
        • Preparing a 2D drawing
        • Editing a Drawing
        • Add Bending Information as Text to DXF
        • Measuring and changing Outer Dimension
        • Preparing 3D models
        • Preparing an Assembly
        • Component Detection
        • Form Detection
      • Edit Tools
        • Changing Tool Map
        • Change Tool Segmentation
        • Editing Tool-mount Segments
        • Adding a Gap into the Tool
        • Use a Double-V Adapter
        • Tool Priority
        • Creating a Tool
      • Using Bend Deductions
      • Control Visibility
      • Comment Section in Bend Panel
      • Tools/Machine Tonnage Check
    • Settings
      • Application Settings
        • Bend CAM
          • Bend Outputs
          • Bend View
          • Bend Cell
      • Database Settings
        • Materials
        • Machines
        • Bend Tools
        • Bend Deductions
        • Bend grippers
        • Forms/Components
      • Bend Settings
      • Machine Defaults
  • Robotic Bending
    • Overview of Robotic Bending
    • Basic Steps of Robotic Bending
    • Workflow
      • Part Pickup
        • Pickup from a Pallet
        • Pickup from a Dispenser
      • Insertion Strategy
      • Bending Strategy
      • Regripping (RG) Stations
        • Re-Grip Stations
        • Methods of Regripping
        • Adding ReGrip
        • Modify ReGrip Position
        • Remove ReGripping
        • Regrip with a Jaw Gripper
        • Gripper Panel & Suction Panel
      • Extraction Strategy
      • Part Deposit
        • Adapt Part Deposit
        • Adding Parts & Stacks
          • Deposit Panel
          • Add Separator Sheets
          • Lock Part-Rest
          • Repeat Grid Field
          • Deposit Sequence
        • Deposit Pattern Types
      • Waypoints
        • Adapt WayPoints
        • Display Waypoints
        • Simulate Waypoints
        • Modify WayPoints
        • Properties of Waypoints
    • Advanced Topics
      • Cell Configuration
        • Track Setup
        • Gripper Inventory
        • BendCell settings
      • Gripper Configuration
        • Create/ Edit a Gripper
        • Import Gripper from DXF
    • Troubleshooting Bend Errors
      • Part Pickup Error
      • Collisions with Machine
      • Overtravel of Axis
      • Modifications of Waypoints
      • Collisions while Insertion and Extraction
  • Fold
    • Switching to Fold CAM
    • The Fold View
    • Editing Operations
      • Editing a Bend-Op
      • Editing a Side/Section
      • Changing the Sequence
      • Editing the Blank-holders
      • Editing the Gauging
      • Editing the Blades
      • Editing the Loading
      • Editing the Unloading
    • Tool Management
    • Fold CAM Summary
  • Generic Application Settings
    • Drawing
      • Layers
      • Dimensions
      • View
    • Environment
    • Import/Export
  • Flux Reports
    • Report Designer
    • Fields, Pictures and Tables
    • Bands (sub-reports)
    • Labels, Bitmaps and Shapes
  • Appendix
    • Supported 3D Formats
    • Separator Sheet DXF
Bend
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Basic Workflow
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Editing the Bend Solution
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Editing a Bend

Editing a Bend

Some basic settings for a bend can be viewed and edited by using the Bend panel. To bring up the bend panel for a particular bend:

  • Click on a bend in the bend navigator to select the bend.

  • Click again on the same bend to open the bend panel to edit that bend.

An alternative method:

  • Ctrl+Click on a bend in the bend navigator, to select the bend and to open the editing panel for that bend.

The Bend Panel

Bend Panel

The Bend panel looks like the image alongside. This has some settings and operations for working on the bend.

  • The Position input is used to move the bend along the machine. The value displayed here is the position of the left end of the bend on the machine’s scale. (You can also drag the bend to interactively set the position, see the section below).

  • The Setup and Station lists are used to move this bend-operation to a different setup,[1] or to a different station[2] within this setup. These choices appear only if the part has multiple setups, or if the setup has multiple stations, respectively. (You can also move a bend to a different station by just dragging it there).

  • The Flip Part button is used to flip the part (insert it with the other side into the machine). The image below shows the effect of clicking this button (clicking it again will restore the original orientation):

Flip Part
  • The Ungroup button appears when you are editing a multiple-span bend (a bend made of two or more collinear bending spans). If the grouped bend can be ungrouped and processed as separate bends, this button can be used to break this bend operation into two separate ones. The image below shows how bend 1 (displayed as 1a and 1b in the sequencing mode) splits into bend 1 and 2 after ungrouping:

Ungroup
  • The Angle Measure button is used to display the angle-measurement panel for this bend. This button is visible only if one or more angle measurement methods are available for the selected machine.

  • The Skip Bend button is used to tell Flux not to process this particular bend. This is useful to mark some bends as being processed with a different technology than the press-brake (for example, a punch-press or a panel-bender).[3]

  • Turn on the Coining check-box to tell Flux to use a coining operation. This is enabled only if a coining would be possible (typically, this means there is a coining-capable punch and die that can be used). Coining requires more press force, but can result in a tighter bending radius than an air-bending can. Coining also requires that you have a punch and die with the exact angle that is required for this bend operation.

  • Turn on the Pre-bending option to split this bend into two separate operations - a pre-bend, and the finishing bend. By default, Flux will move the finishing bend to a position that is just after the next bend in the sequence. See the section below for more on using a pre-bend.[4]

  • Use the Prev and Next buttons to cycle through editing the different bends in the part.

Dragging a Bend

The Position input box can be used to position a bend precisely. Often, it is easier to just drag a bend into the required position. To do this:

  • Ensure the bend editing panel is open (by clicking twice on the bend number).

  • Click on the part near the bend line and start dragging the part left/right.

Depending on where you hold the part (near the center of the bend line, or near the the left/right edges), Flux will generate automatic snap lines that help you position the bend precisely with respect to a tool station. The image below shows a bend being dragged by holding it near the center, or by holding it near the left edge.

Drag Bend

The snap lines in the figures above show the bend being positioned exactly in the center of the tool station, or with the left edge aligned exactly with the punch and die.

Editing Multiple Bends

It is possible to edit multiple bends at the same time. To do this:

  • Click on a bend in the bend navigator to select it.

  • Hold down Shift and select additional bends to edit them all together.

Edit Bends

An editing panel like the one alongside is displayed. Some editing operations that can be done on all the bends together are displayed here. In addition, this panel may display some additional buttons:

  • The Group button is displayed if you select two or more bends that are collinear and could be grouped together into a single multi-span bend operation.

  • The Swap Bends button is displayed when you select exactly two bends, and allows the two bends to be swapped in the sequence (this is displayed only if the two bends can be swapped in the sequence).

  • If the two bends are parallel, in opposite directions, and are a short distance apart, it may be possible to combine them into a single Z-Bend. In this case, the Make Z-Bend button is displayed.[5]


1. A setup is a complete assemblage of punches and dies on the machine; some parts require multiple setups to be processed fully, and for such parts, Flux will generate multiple NC codes (one for each setup).
2. A station is an aligned set of punches and dies in a setup, used to process a bend. Depending on the complexity of the part, some setups may contain a number of stations positioned along the table of the machine. Different bends may be processed at different stations.
3. You can move a skipped bend to the beginning or the end of the process sequence, depending on whether it should be treated as already done or to be done later. Setting this correctly will help Flux to do a more accurate collision check.
4. Usually, Flux can determine automatically when a pre-bend can be used to avoid such collisions, and will turn on the pre-bending option for such a bend. This switch provides a manual override for this (to turn on/off a pre-bend).
5. Usually, Flux can determine automatically if two such bends should be grouped into a single Z-bend (sometimes called an offset bend, or a joggle bend) for processing. This switch exists for some situations where you want to manually override that decision.

Contents

  • The Bend Panel
  • Dragging a Bend
  • Editing Multiple Bends
Editing the Bend Solution Changing the Bending Sequence

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