Accu-Bend Model 26

[LayoutSigns]

Hello, I've just purchased an used Accu-Bend Model 26 and I am having difficulties getting it to bend my files... it does bend the files that was in the Accu-bend computer from the previous owner, but it doesn't recognize the files .dxf file that I export. I am sure I am doing something wrong, and it must be something stupid simple, but I just can't figure it out. I tried exporting the .dxf files using CorelDraw 2020, Ilustrator and Flexi 12, using all possible variations available, but it just gives out errors. Something to do with lines and arcs... If anybody has an Accu-bend machine I would gladly pay for an hour of your time.

Thank you!

 

[JBurton]

So, at least on my accubend freedom, the dxf files MUST be generated by enroute or casmate. And it's a pain in the ass to tweak all of the little things that one must to get it to bend without fowling up the return. Ironically, about a week ago a fellow posted offering design services, for me I was most interested in the return files. I can't find the post, but I'll post a link to his website. I got my first file free and it ran beautifully. I whole heartedly plan to use him moving forward to free up my design time for more pressing things. Here's a link to his website: https://baldguyfiles.com/try-it-out
Side note, if you offer him cash, he may help you figure out how to deal with making your own files, but that is not the service he is offering.

 

[LayoutSigns]

So, at least on my accubend freedom, the dxf files MUST be generated by enroute or casmate. And it's a pain in the ass to tweak all of the little things that one must to get it to bend without fowling up the return. Ironically, about a week ago a fellow posted offering design services, for me I was most interested in the return files. I can't find the post, but I'll post a link to his website. I got my first file free and it ran beautifully. I whole heartedly plan to use him moving forward to free up my design time for more pressing things. Here's a link to his website: https://baldguyfiles.com/try-it-out
Side note, if you offer him cash, he may help you figure out how to deal with making your own files, but that is not the service he is offering.

Hey JBurton, thank you very much for your reply... this is very helpful. I went to his website and his services looks great. I downloaded his "Crumbl Cookies Accu-bend Example" file setup and my machine still gave out the same error message.

I've reached out to him by email. I've sent him a file of my own in his "Try it out" feature on his website and hopefully he will return the files back to me soon and it will workout.

A friend of mine mentioned the Casmate software but he said its an old software and only works on windows 32 bits, so I didn't pay much attention. The EnRoute fabrication software should work and it is $52 per month, which is not bad, but I was just hoping to be able to export directly from Corel Draw as I am proficient in it.

I do have a Flexi Sign & Print 12 full license software, and the EnRoute is from the same family (SAi).

I am waiting for the Bald Guy reply and will keep this updated. Thanks again!

 

[JBurton]

Hey JBurton, thank you very much for your reply... this is very helpful. I went to his website and his services looks great. I downloaded his "Crumbl Cookies Accu-bend Example" file setup and my machine still gave out the same error message.

I've reached out to him by email. I've sent him a file of my own in his "Try it out" feature on his website and hopefully he will return the files back to me soon and it will workout.

A friend of mine mentioned the Casmate software but he said its an old software and only works on windows 32 bits, so I didn't pay much attention. The EnRoute fabrication software should work and it is $52 per month, which is not bad, but I was just hoping to be able to export directly from Corel Draw as I am proficient in it.

I do have a Flexi Sign & Print 12 full license software, and the EnRoute is from the same family (SAi).

I am waiting for the Bald Guy reply and will keep this updated. Thanks again!

That's really odd that his example file didn't work, you might shoot a follow up mentioning that you have a model 26, but I don't see them changing much of anything between models other than hardware. I will say, for a complex set of letters, I'll spend more time working on it and getting interrupted, to the point that that $60 or however much is well worth it. FYI, if you ask SAi, they'll sell you a perpetual license, but it's something like $2k. I guess mine will be outdated but coming out ahead after 3.5 years... but I hate subscriptions, so it's a win in my book.
I think you could setup and run casmate, if you had a copy, using compatibility mode, but you'll have to ask old folks in the forum for any help there, whereas SAi will help you out. Accubend folks aren't really keen on helping when you aren't the original owner, but it wouldn't hurt to inquire if they'd support the machine.

 

[LayoutSigns]

That's really odd that his example file didn't work, you might shoot a follow up mentioning that you have a model 26, but I don't see them changing much of anything between models other than hardware. I will say, for a complex set of letters, I'll spend more time working on it and getting interrupted, to the point that that $60 or however much is well worth it. FYI, if you ask SAi, they'll sell you a perpetual license, but it's something like $2k. I guess mine will be outdated but coming out ahead after 3.5 years... but I hate subscriptions, so it's a win in my book.
I think you could setup and run casmate, if you had a copy, using compatibility mode, but you'll have to ask old folks in the forum for any help there, whereas SAi will help you out. Accubend folks aren't really keen on helping when you aren't the original owner, but it wouldn't hurt to inquire if they'd support the machine.

Hello JBurton,

Yes, Jeff from the bald guy, reached out to me and he sent another file for the 'crumbl cookie accu-bend example' and the machine accepted the file fine... it also opened the file I sent him for the 'try it out' feature... So I thought I had all figured out now that the machine is reading the files but it started acting up, when u hit the 'start' button it makes a loud noise that wasn't happening before, and when we put the old files that always worked it's doing the same thing... so something happened to it in the past few days I just don't know what.

Now its not even bending the old files... I contacted Computerized Cutters and they informed me the ownership transfer fee is $5k and we need to pay that get training and technical support. I am just sad today...

Thanks a lot for your help.

 

[Ryze Signs]

It seems to me that the software doesn't like your export settings. My SDS bender software takes splines in dxf, but I can't draw toolpaths until I explode them into poly lines.

Hopefully someone can get you the right export settings otherwise keep wrestling with it and post it here for the next guy.

Try sending something simple without curves like an upper case E or T. Then try some circles.

I just did a set of cursive reverse letters and it took about an hour of fiddling to get the bender to software to draw my toolpaths correctly.

Your experience has officially kept me from ever considering buying an accu-bend product. $5k just to transfer ownership? All you asking for is how to give the machine a proper input file. You'd think they could at least send you a manual or tell you what drawing software works well to export files to your machine. If it were me I'd figure it out myself then post training videos on YouTube out of spite.

 

[LayoutSigns]

It seems to me that the software doesn't like your export settings. My SDS bender software takes splines in dxf, but I can't draw toolpaths until I explode them into poly lines.

Hopefully someone can get you the right export settings otherwise keep wrestling with it and post it here for the next guy.

Try sending something simple without curves like an upper case E or T. Then try some circles.

I just did a set of cursive reverse letters and it took about an hour of fiddling to get the bender to software to draw my toolpaths correctly.

Your experience has officially kept me from ever considering buying an accu-bend product. $5k just to transfer ownership? All you asking for is how to give the machine a proper input file. You'd think they could at least send you a manual or tell you what drawing software works well to export files to your machine. If it were me I'd figure it out myself then post training videos on YouTube out of spite.

Yes Ryze, we finally figure it out the file part... we used our flexi to export the .dxf files using some 'hidden' options and were able to select ARCS and it read the file fine....

But something happened to it... it started making a weird noise and is pulling the coil very slowly... This was not happening before, and I know it has nothing to do with the files... unfortunately I will have to pay the $5k to CCI to transfer the license to my name and according to them to be able to get technical support and hopefully get it back to work. Its supposed to be lifetime 0800 tech support.

 

[Bradley D]

Hello, I've just purchased an used Accu-Bend Model 26 and I am having difficulties getting it to bend my files... it does bend the files that was in the Accu-bend computer from the previous owner, but it doesn't recognize the files .dxf file that I export. I am sure I am doing something wrong, and it must be something stupid simple, but I just can't figure it out. I tried exporting the .dxf files using CorelDraw 2020, Ilustrator and Flexi 12, using all possible variations available, but it just gives out errors. Something to do with lines and arcs... If anybody has an Accu-bend machine I would gladly pay for an hour of your time.

Thank you!

I'm sorry you have the misfortune to try and make an Accubend kick out a letter. They need dxf files. You can use ECUT SOFTWARE to export a dxf file from corel draw. http://eng.e-cut.ru/ I use vectric software which is fantastic but may be more expensive. Enroute also works and I believe that is the software that Accubend would recommend. You will also probably need to really simplify or reduce the nodes in the dxf for the accubend to accept it as well as miter the inside of sharp bends to make up for the dumber software. I only know about Accubends from my time working with SDS Automation when I installed machines to replace them on a regular basis. Your best best would be to find an Accubend owner close by that come come over and train you how to use it. I've shared the tidbits that I know about the Accubend mostly from secondhand sources. You might just need to fork over the cash and get tech support.

 

[LayoutSigns]

I'm sorry you have the misfortune to try and make an Accubend kick out a letter. They need dxf files. You can use ECUT SOFTWARE to export a dxf file from corel draw. http://eng.e-cut.ru/ I use vectric software which is fantastic but may be more expensive. Enroute also works and I believe that is the software that Accubend would recommend. You will also probably need to really simplify or reduce the nodes in the dxf for the accubend to accept it as well as miter the inside of sharp bends to make up for the dumber software. I only know about Accubends from my time working with SDS Automation when I installed machines to replace them on a regular basis. Your best best would be to find an Accubend owner close by that come come over and train you how to use it. I've shared the tidbits that I know about the Accubend mostly from secondhand sources. You might just need to fork over the cash and get tech support.

Thank you for your feedback Bradley, it is good to know this ECUT plugin for Corel Draw would work, as I am very proficient in Corel Draw. Also good to know Vectric software works for the .dxf return files as I have it in my router's computer, it came with the AXYZ Infinity 4010 router.

As I've mentioned before, seems like I have a bigger problem now than getting it to recognize the .dxf files...

I really appreciate all the feedback and I will keep this updated as I get it to work and start kicking out some letters.

 

[JBurton]

Wait, I have e-cut, and I can't get my dxf files to work on the bender. What's the secret sauce here Bradley?

As I've mentioned before, seems like I have a bigger problem now than getting it to recognize the .dxf files...

You are going to need a manual for the machine. I know I've seen a couple of folks on here with the bender, don't know if they have the manuals.

 

[Bradley D]

Sorry my knowledge of the accubend only goes so far and it is all 2nd hand. Accubend might require Enroute and I believe it doesn't like very many nodes so that is done by having a larger tolerance in the arc fitting programs to reduce nodes as much as possible.

 

[JBurton]

Sorry my knowledge of the accubend only goes so far and it is all 2nd hand. Accubend might require Enroute and I believe it doesn't like very many nodes so that is done by having a larger tolerance in the arc fitting programs to reduce nodes as much as possible.

Just to say, I've spent plenty of time trying to get e-cut to spit out an acceptable dxf, as I hate enroute more than anything. Give me good old gravostyle 98 any day and I'm a happy camper.