Launched this week
Bendline
Sheet-metal unfolder in your browser
12 followers
Sheet-metal unfolder in your browser
12 followers
Upload a 3D sheet-metal STEP part and Bendline unfolds it to a cut-ready DXF — CUT and BEND on separate layers — right in the browser. Preview and unfold are free; pay only when you download. No CAD licence, no install.
Browser-based unfold is honestly great for quick jobs. One thing that would save me a lot of back-and-forth though: a small K-factor override field right in the unfold panel. Every shop has its own preferred value and having to edit the DXF afterward gets old fast.
@gokcep9181 Good news — it's already there, though you're the second person today who didn't spot it, so that's clearly my problem, not yours: in the panel on the left, under the 3D view, there's a K-factor slider next to the thickness box. Set it before you hit Unfold and the flat is computed with your value — no editing the DXF after.
That said, you've put your finger on a real flaw: a slider is the wrong control for a number your shop knows to two decimal places. I'm changing it to a proper type-in field (slider optional), and adding saved per-material presets so you set your K once per material and stop thinking about it — another shop asked for the same thing today.
Out of interest — what's your go-to K, and for what material/tooling? Collecting real-world values from working shops right now.
Uploaded a tricky flanged part and it unfolded with cut and bend on separate layers exactly like I needed, no CAD install which is a huge plus for quick quotes.
@mahirgkcenrxmi "Tricky flanged part" is the phrase I like hearing — the boring rectangles were never the point. If that part's not customer-confidential, I'd genuinely love to know roughly what shape gave it a workout; the awkward ones are how the unfolder earns its keep.
Since you're using it for quick quotes: on the Pro plan there's a batch mode — drop several STEPs in, one thickness/K across the lot, every DXF zipped into one download. Built for exactly that quoting pass. (Preview and single unfolds stay free regardless.)
And the standing ask I'm giving every shop in this thread: when one goes from quote to the brake, check the blank against what actually comes off the machine. If it's ever out for your setup, tell me which part — that's the feedback that makes this thing better.
The layered DXF split is super useful for our laser shop. One thing that would save a lot of back and forth: let us set a custom bend allowance or K-factor per material before unfolding. Right now we have to adjust in CAD after exporting, which defeats the in-browser speed a bit.
@kuzeyozbas33462R
Really glad the CUT/BEND layer split is earning its keep — that's exactly the workflow it was built for!
Quick check so I build the right thing: you can set thickness and K-factor before unfolding today (slider next to the thickness box, applies to the whole part before you hit Unfold) — so I'm guessing the pain is more that there's no way to save it per material, and you're re-dialling it every time. A few questions so I get this right:
Does your shop work from K-factors, or from bend allowance/bend deduction charts? If it's BA/BD — is that per material+gauge, or does it vary per bend (different radii/tooling) on the same part?
Would saved presets per material+thickness on your account (e.g. "304 SS 2mm → your number", one click before unfold, also usable in batch) cover it — or do you need per-bend control within a single part?
What's the adjustment you're making in CAD after export today? If you can share a before/after (or a part where our flat came out wrong for your brake), that's gold — I'll test against it directly.
This is near the top of the list — presets per material are likely shipping within the week; which flavour depends on your answers.
Dropped a STEP file in and the unfold preview showed up instantly with bends on their own layer, which is exactly what I needed for my shop. Free preview is a nice touch, no CAD install is even better.
@sudenazengez Cheers — that's the exact job it was built for: customer sends a STEP, your laser wants layers, nobody should have to open a CAD seat in between.
One ask, since you run a shop: when you get a chance, put a real part through it and check the flat against what your brake actually produces. Default K is 0.38 (adjustable next to the thickness box before you unfold) — if the blank comes out wrong for your setup, tell me the part, and I'll dig into it. That kind of feedback is worth more to me than the compliment — though the compliment's appreciated too!
Per-material saved presets (so you're not re-dialling K each time) are coming shortly, per feedback from another shop in this thread.