When you upload your bent files for quoting, you’ll be able to view a model of it in 3D to check the angles and flange orientations.
However, if your design is not previewing correctly in 3D, there could be a couple of reasons:
1. Your design needs bend reliefs
Bend reliefs can help prevent bulging in the corners of your part and is required for a successful bend in some cases. Check out our blog post on designing bend reliefs to learn when to use bend reliefs and how to create them.
2. The bend line doesn’t extend the full width of the part
It’s important that the bend line you include in your design extends the full width of the part because it will otherwise be ignored by our automated processing. Our Guide to Configuring Bends In Our App can show you how to properly include bend lines in your design.
3. The file is not set up correctly
There are a few factors that play into a file not being set up correctly for bending.
Common Bend File Issues
- Incorrect bend line indicator
- for example, the ‘Hidden’ line style is selected in a DXF exported from SolidWorks or AutoCAD
- see our tutorial for how to avoid this in SolidWorks: How To Map Bend Lines into Layers and Linetypes in SolidWorks
- for example, the ‘Hidden’ line style is selected in a DXF exported from SolidWorks or AutoCAD
- Incomplete geometry (broken contours / disconnected paths)
- Incorrect file type (for example, uploading a non-.ai file from Adobe Illustrator)
- STEP/STP format file contains a part that does not meet our guidelines
| Software | Format | Bend line |
| Adobe Illustrator | .ai | Solid, separate color from cut lines |
| AutoCAD | .dxf, .step, .stp | Dashed line (not hidden) |
| CorelDraw | .eps | Solid, separate color from cut lines |
| Fusion360 | .dxf, .step, .stp | Solid line (default)* |
| Inkscape | .eps | Solid, separate color from cut lines |
| SolidWorks | .dxf, .step, .stp | Dashed line (not hidden) |
*Follow our Fusion 360 bend file export guide here: Exporting to DXF from Fusion 360
Fixing Your Adobe Illustrator File
The most common issue we see with Illustrator files happens when paths in the file are disconnected and do not make a compound shape. To fix this, check out our tutorial on Setting Up Your File for Bending in Adobe Illustrator.
If you have any other questions about designing for plastic and sheet metal bending, see our blog for tutorials and tips!
In Summary
If your design is not previewing correctly in 3D, there could be a couple of reasons:
1. Your design needs bend reliefs: Check out our blog post on designing bend reliefs;
2. The bend line doesn’t extend the full width of the part: our Guide to Configuring Bends In Our App can show you how to properly include bend lines in your design;
3. The file is not set up correctly.
