Tempus Tools allows you to upload and view 3D models. It identifies the sheet metal components in the model and unfolds each one into a separate quote line. Tube and profile parts in the model (for example, a rectangular tube or an angle) are recognised too.
To add a 3D part:
Create a new quote
or open an existing one.
Click the
button on the top right-hand side of the quoting window.
Select Unfold 3D models from the dropdown:
Selecting this opens the 3D upload screen
The 3D upload screen
To load your 3D file(s), either:
Drag the file and drop it on the "Drop file here" text; or
Click the 'Select files' button to browse for and select the file.
All popular 3D formats are accepted, including STEP, IGES, SolidWorks and Inventor parts. Assemblies, multi-body files and mesh files are accepted too.
Tempus Tools processes the upload. When it finishes, you will see the 3D render and information about the sheet metal, tube and other parts on the right-hand side of the page.
A 3D model visualised, with sheet metal and non-sheet metal components listed on the right
Optional: Choose the material you want to specify for the part.
Lastly, click the 'Send to quote' button to send the parts to the quote as separate line items:
The sheet metal components from a 3D model, extracted into a Tempus Tools quote
Either upload button works. Unfold 3D models and Upload Tube models use the same engine, so each part is recognised as sheet metal or tube whichever one you use. For more on tube parts, see Adding rotary parts to a quote.
Warning: an angle or U channel with the same wall thickness all the way round a bent corner could have been folded from flat sheet, so it is unfolded and priced as sheet metal, not as a tube. Angles and channels with sharp corners, or a rounded outside corner and a sharp inside corner, are read as tube. Find out more.