Assigning folding to parts

How to add folding (or bending) to parts in ToolBox

In line with our goal to make ToolBox as easy as possible to use, all you need to do to assign folding to a part is to specify the number of folds and the length of the longest fold.

Our algorithm then takes your folding settings and calculates how much to charge for the folding process.

Note: To learn more about how the folding calculation works, click here.

The number of folds and the length of the longest fold values can be analysed from the part by ToolBox if you set the source of information to Drawing. Alternatively, you can type in the inputs manually after setting the source to Manual.

Adding folding to a part from part data

ToolBox will allow you the option to read the drawing for folding data: how many folds there are on a part and the longest fold length within the part too.

To use the drawing data to calculate folding costs you will first need a drawing containing fold lines within the geometry of the part like the following:

Part with fold lines

From here if you change the line type to Folding with one of two options:

1. If your drawing file had its folding lines on specific layers, head to the Layers tab on the left-hand menu within the Drawing Doctor screen, find the layer with the folding lines, and use the drop-down option to change the layer type to Folding.

2. Select the fold lines within the part by using CTRL + Left click so the lines are flashing to signal they are selected, then use the Line Entity menu to set these lines to Folding lines.

Setting lines to folding in the Parts screen

Once lines are set to folding they will change in colour on the screen.

Blue lines indicate they will be interpreted by ToolBox as folding lines

From here if you go to Layers tab on the left-hand menu within the Drawing Doctor screen you will see the option for Folding detailed at the top.

Folding option in Processes menu

To use the data from the drawing you will need to select the drop-down option for Source and change this to Drawing.

Selecting Drawing as Folding source

The drawing will then be analysed for any Folding specified lines, calculate how many there are and the longest length line. These values are then used in the calculation for setting up the press brake and running these parts on your press.

Folding data populated from drawing

Assigning folding with manual input

You can also add folding to a part manually if your drawing does not contain any fold lines. This can be done by following the same steps as above for the Drawing source, but rather than using the Drawing details as your source you can use the Manual source.

Changing Folding to manual source

Now you can simply type in the data you want to base your Folding costs on by entering the Max fold length on the Part and the Number of folds in total on the part.

Updating folding with Manual data

You can also change the folding source from the main quote page within each part.