1. From drag-and-drop part models to nesting, laser,
punch press, and press brake modules, and even to
a sheet-metal ERP system, with this software built
on a 3D CAD kernel. This is the press-brake section.
Ed Huntress
Editor
ehuntress@fsmdirect.com
EVERYTHING
INTEGRATES
THAT
WITH
SOFTWARE
BRAKE
PRESS

2. APRIL 2014
SOFTWARE
I
t can be hard to put your arms
around this much front-to-back
software integration. Metamation
bills itself as a CAD/CAM software
company that makes products for the
fabrication industry, but it integrates
data so thoroughly among the modules
that you can progress from quoting
and 3D product design to a range of
ERP functions. Produce a part model
in their MetaCAD module, or import
one from other CAD software, and the
system produces nesting programs;
CNC programs to run your machines;
simulation; estimating; inventory
control; scheduling; and reports on how
your operators are doing.
As they say on TV,“but wait,
there’s more.” The entire package,
an enterprise solution, is oriented
towards figuring out what each
machine will do and then figuring
out the best workflow, from start to
finish, with features along the way
including 3D CAD, calculating things
like bend allowances and collision
problems, all the while being aware
of the cutting rates of your lasers,
your punch presses, your waterjets, or
whatever, and then planning just how
to schedule your mix of jobs while the
whole integrated system is avoiding
bottlenecks…and keeping you
informed of all that’s going on through
your smart phone. From a beach in the
Bahamas, perhaps.
But back to controlling press brakes:
“What we’re doing is adding a little
more science (as opposed to art) to
press brake operations,”says Andy
Chakraborty, VP of Metamation, Inc.
“Once you’ve done the nesting, you
pull the part program back to a 3D
representation in your computer,
find the best bending sequence
from the algorithm spread within the
computer, select the tool and the die,
and let the computer figure the bend
reduction. We’re computing with a lot
of information.
“With on-screen graphics, we can
show the operator, ‘Okay, this is how
to do the job, this is what the tool
looks like, what the die looks like, this
is how the datum should be,’We give
him a simulation on the screen. And
managers can just follow the reports
offline.”
We suggest a way to describe it:
“So, you’re taking a lot of the subtle
Reports and analyses are produced in graphical formats for quick and accurate
understanding
FIBER OPTIC TUBE LASER CUTTING SERVICES
PIPE & TUBE FABRICATION SERVICES
CUSTOM PIPE/TUBE BENDING & ROLLING SERVICES

3. APRIL 2014
BENDING BOTTLENECKS?
NO MOREOptimize Your Bending Offline With MetaBEND Press Brake
PRESSBRAKE LASER PLASMA PUNCH WATERJET NESTING
PRODUCTION CONTROL
1465 Terminal Way, Suite #2, Reno, Nevada 89502 | 480 Lively Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
T (775) 826-1717 | F (775) 826-1723 | www.metamation.com | sales@metamation.com
> Fully Integrated Sheet Metal Cad
> Import Engineering CAD Data
> Auto Tool Select and Sequence
> Full 3D Simulation
> Generates Code and Setup Information
Punch Specific Nesting Features:
> Automatic Tool Assignment Conflict Resolution
> Automatically Schedule Nests for Minimal Tool
Setup
Auto-Tool, Auto-Sequence, Auto-Nest Your Way
With Smart Punching Parameters:
> Extensive Tool Selection Features
> Customizable Sequencing Options
> In Depth features for Forming Tools
> Special Tool Creation and Recognition
> Die Checking and Management
> Tool Load Creation and management
PRESSBRAKE LASER PLASMA PUNCH WATERJET NESTING
PRODUCTION CONTROL
1465 Terminal Way, Suite #2, Reno, Nevada 89502 | 480 Lively Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
T (775) 826-1717 | F (775) 826-1723 | www.metamation.com | sales@metamation.com
JUMP START YOUR CNC PUNCHING
MetaCAMSoftware, Expert Solution For Automated Punch Programmin

4. APRIL 2014
SOFTWARE
skills that have been accumulated
over years of experience and
systematizing them with a
computer process that winds up
with a simulation, and then controls
the actual functions. Is that a fair
way to put it?”
Andy approves this description,
but it still isn’t adequate. As
Andy describes the process,
you can imagine he’s picturing
in his head…not the press
brake functions so much as the
flow of data and the operator’s
interaction with the screen
graphics. Periodically, something
physical happens: you mount a
tool, position a workpiece against a
backstop, make a bend, and so on.
The data goes in, helps you plan
and control the machine, and data
comes out.
This is where dealing with
highly integrated solutions
needs a demonstration. It is not a
linear, step-by-step process. But
it produces a set of step-by-step
instructions for the operator. Video
is good for this. Metamation has
some on their website (they’re
3D representation is
central to a variety of the
software’s functions

5. APRIL 2014
SOFTWARE
password-protected; get in touch with
them first).
Reduced to functional descriptions,
this is how the company describes the
process:
“MetaBEND can start working from
3D models designed in our native 3D
modeler or imported from other 3D
software like Solidworks, Solidedge,
Autodesk Inventor etc. MetaBend will
automatically assign punch and dies,
position back-gauges, and compute
an optimal bend sequence based on
the model.
“The interactive graphical tools
allow you to customize bend setups,
position back-gauges and re-
sequence bend operations.
“The Bend Overview window shows
you a comprehensive status of
the bend tooling assigned to the
active model. The software allows
centralized control over tooling,
gauging and sequencing operations
to completely program the part.
“MetaBEND can generate custom
setup sheets showing step wise praxairdirect.com
See the ProStar™
PRS 800HD
Cutting Machine
LIVE DEMOS!
thumbnails of bending processes, tool
lists and mount diagrams that help
bend the part on the machine.”
The program uses the 3D model
to generate a bend sequence,
based on tools assigned from your
inventory. It maintains a database
of practically all commercially
available tools. Modifications to
the graphic simulation can be
made in a way similar to actually
making changes on the machine.
The simulation will generate bend
reports in 3D for each bend.
The simulation is detailed and
functions such as back gauge
movement, ram stroke, part insertion
and retraction are all animated.
Again, as comprehensive as these
press brake functions may be, the
Metamation system’s power, as an
enterprise-wide solution, becomes
apparent as you incorporate
additional modules, for cutting,
punching, report-generating, and so
on. We’ll cover the other modules in
upcoming issues.
Metamation
Fiber Optic Tube Laser Cutting Services