Options

Bend-Tech 7x Wiki :: Main Menu Bar :: Tools :: Options

The Options menu contains default settings, visual preferences, and general settings for each area within the software.

This menu can be accessed by clicking the Tools option on the main menu bar and selecting Options from the drop down menu.

Additionally, when adjusting any of these settings, be sure to click the Save button at the bottom of the frame to apply the new defaults or settings. When any default settings are changed, any designs that are currently open will not be affected. Any new designs or designs opened after changes were made will have these settings applied.

General Tab

Default Items

• Default Die: In the Default Die menu, a die can be chosen and set as the default. Once a die is set as the default, it will be the die that is initially selected when a new single part is created. To set a default die, click the drop down menu and select a die from the list.

• Default Tube/Pipe: In the Default Tube/Pipe menu, a tube/pipe material can be chosen and set as the default. Once a material is set as the default, it will be the material that is initially selected when a new single part is created.

• Default Plate: In the Default Plate menu, a plate material can be chosen and set as the default. Once a plate material is set as the default, it will be the material that is initially selected when a new plate is created.

• Default Machine: In the Default Machine menu, a machine can be chosen and set as the default. Once a machine is set as the default, it will be the machine that is initially selected when a new part is created.

File Storage

The file storage locations will determine where data (die, material, plate, etc.) libraries and part files will be stored.

To choose a new location for the data libraries, click the Browse button below the data libraries location.

To choose a default location for part files, click the Browse button below the parts location. This will be the folder that is initially opened when a part is being saved.

Tolerances

The decimal tolerance for the lengths, angles, and rotations can be adjusted here. The decimal tolerance controls how many digits will be allowed after decimals points for length, angle, and rotation. In the tolerance options, each digit place is represented by an n.

For example, if the angle tolerance is set to n.nn and the actual angle is 90.539°, the angle will be rounded to 90.54°. If the angle tolerance is set to just n, then the angle would be rounded to 91°.

• Rotation Angle: To change the decimal tolerance for part rotation values, click the drop down menu and select a tolerance option from the list.

• Bend Angle: To change the decimal tolerance for bend angle values, click the drop down menu and select a tolerance option from the list.

• Lengths: Length values can be displayed in either fractional or decimal format. To change the format and/or tolerance for lengths, click the drop down menu and select an option from the list.

Unit of Measure

The measurement units can be set to either inches or millimeters. Once a unit of measure is chosen, it will be the unit of measure that is initially chosen wherever units of measure can be adjusted throughout the software.

PickPoint Selection Method

The PickPoint Selection Method will determine how pickpoints can be selected in the plate and assembly interfaces. The Selected Point option will require a point to be directly clicked on in order to be selected. The Closest Point option will select whichever point is closest to the cursor when it is clicked.

Auto-Save Frequency

Using the Auto-Save Frequency menu, the time interval between auto saves can be adjusted or the auto-save function can be turned off. This setting will affect any open designs throughout the software.

Display Quality

The quality of the graphical representation of parts, plate designs, or assemblies can be adjusted. To change this setting, click on the drop down menu and choose either Low, Medium, or High.

Input/Interface

The type of input device being used with the software can be specified here. If a standard computer and keyboard is being used, the Keyboard option would be appropriate. If a touchscreen computer/computer without a keyboard is being used, select the Touch Screen option. When this option is chosen, a keyboard/number pad will open on-screen whenever text or a numerical value is needed to be entered. See the images below.

Undo/Redo

The number of steps allowed for redo/undos can be adjusted here. For example, if 10 is set as the number of steps, the undo button can be hit 10 times before it no longer has an affect on the plate or assembly design. There is a limit to 100 steps.

Invert Mouse Wheel Zoom

Check this setting box to reverse the zoom direction from the default (scrolling up to zoom out and scrolling down to zoom in) to the inverted setting (scrolling up to zoom in and scrolling down to zoom out).

Disable Automatic Updates

When this checkbox is clicked, automatic software updates will be disabled.

Disable Wireframe Mode

When this checkbox is clicked, wireframe mode will not be available.

Design Settings

Rotation

The rotation settings control how rotation values are displayed in the results table. Rotation can be measured in incremental or absolute terms. Each rotation angle range can also be chosen.

• Incremental: Rotation angles will start from the end of the previous bend's rotation. Click the incremental rotation option to select it.

• Absolute: Rotation angles will always start from the very beginning of the angle scale. Click the absolute rotation option to select it.

• Angle Scale: The rotation scale will determine what the rotation angles will range between. The rotation scale will show where the angle measurements begin and where they end. Choose a rotation scale by clicking on one of the scale options. The rotation scales available are 0 - 360, 360 - 0, (-180) - 180, and 180 - (-180). The 0 - 90 - 0 - 90 - 0 and 0 - 90 - 0 - 90 - 0 Reversed options will be added when the Absolute option is chosen.

Display Settings

In the bottom left corner there will be a list of checkbox options to control the display options for the results table on single part designers.

• Display parentheses () for negative values: Check this box to have all negative values enclosed in parentheses.

• Display Degree Symbol: Check this box for angle values to have degree symbols shown next to them.

• Display Feet/Meters: Check this box for large length values to be displayed in terms of feet or meters (feet will be used if inches are used as the units and meters will be used if millimeters are the units.)

• Display Minutes/Seconds: Check this box for angle values to be displayed in terms of minutes and seconds instead of decimal values.

• Display Fractions and Decimals:

• Display Spring Angles: Check this box for spring angle values to be included in the results table.

• Display Length of Bend: Check this box to have length of bend values included in the results table.

Length/Location

The lengh/location setting will determine how the bend location will be calculated in the results table.

• Distance from Start: Bend locations will be measured from the starting edge of the tube.

• Distance from End: Bend locations will be measured from the ending edge of the tube.

• Length of Straight Tube: Bend location values will be the amount of straight tube between each bend.

• Table Location: Bend locations will be based on index table values. If this option is used, the offset distance between the table and the bend will need to be supplied as well as scale length of the table. Check the Indexing Begins at Die option if the scale begins at the die.

• Dimension Location: This option determines where the bend location marks will be placed in reference to the bend. Bend locations can be placed at the start, center, or end of each bend.

Reverse Design - Length

This setting will determine how inputted part lengths are interpreted when creating a reverse design part.

• Incremental: Entered length values start from the previous bend.

• Absolute - Start: Entered length values are the distance from the starting edge of the tube to the starting edge of each bend.

• Absolute - End: Entered length values are the distance from the ending edge of the tube to the ending edge of each bend.

• Absolute - Center: Entered length values are the distance from the starting edge of the tube to the center of each bend.

• Absolute - Start(Reversed): Entered length values are the distance from the end of the part to the start of each bend.

• Absolute - End(Reversed): Entered length values are the distance from the end of the part to the end of each bend.

• Absolute - Center (Reversed): Entered length values are the distance from the end of the part to the center of each bend.

Reverse Design - Rotation

This setting will determine how rotations will be calculated in the results table when creating a reverse design part.

• Incremental: Entered rotation values start from the end of the previous rotation.

• Incremental - Reversed: Entered rotation values start from the end of the previous rotation with a reversed direction.

• Absolute: 0 to 360: Entered rotation values always start from the beginning of the angle scale (0) at each rotation.

• Absolute: 360 to 0: Entered rotation values always start from the beginning of the angle scale (360) at each rotation.

• Absolute: 180 to -180: Entered rotation values always start from the beginning of the angle scale (180) at each rotation.

• Absolute: -180 to 180: Entered rotation values always start from the beginning of the angle scale (-180) at each rotation.

Single Parts Tab

Features to Display

These settings will determine the kind of features will be displayed on the part model in any of the single part design interfaces. Click the check boxes next to the features you want to have shown.

• Dimensions: Length measurement values will be displayed on the part lengths.

• Cut-Off: If any cut-off is added to the part, it will be represented on the part display.

• Apex Guides: For each bend, guidelines will extend from the part model to the verification points.

• Tri-Star: The XYZ axis will be shown on the graphical display.

• Wall Thickness: The thickness of the material will be shown on the 3D part model.

• Verification Points: Points will be displayed at the apex of each bend.

• Bend Highlight: The current bend will be highlighted in red on the 3D part model.

• Orientation Axis: The orientation axis will be displayed in the bottom left corner of the part display.

Defaults

• Cut-Off Color: This will be the default color that will be used to represent the sections of cut-off on the 3D part model.

• Tri-Star Scale: The default scaling value for the XYZ axis.

• Dimension Size: The default dimension size.

• Grid Spacing: The default grid spacing size for the Sketch 2D and Sketch 3D part interfaces.

• Dim Type: The default dimension type that will be selected in the Dim Type menus for each bend.

• Notes: The default notes that will be generated in the notes area for new part designs.

Assembly Tab

Plate/Sheet Tab