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Soft Tool Engineering

Our own software · Soft Tool Engineering

A process engineer for every area of sheet metal

We are building the suite we want to become the preferred tool for developing sheet metal manufacturing processes: bending, laser cutting, punching, tooling and welding. More than 20 years of shop-floor experience turned into calculations, simulations and production-ready documents.

Join the betaView the suite
3D bending simulation in Bend Engineer with the side view of the hit and the progressive flat pattern

The suite · 100% developed in-house

Six applications, one goal

Give engineers, technicians and operators in a single tool what they solve today with spreadsheets, trial and error or machine software costing thousands of dollars. Each application covers one process and all share the same way of working.

BendingIn beta

Bend Engineer

From drawing to setup sheet: flat pattern, tooling, collision-free simulation, SOP and program release.

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Laser cuttingIn development

Laser Quote

Cost and price per part from the DXF or STEP, with the real data of your plant and your machines.

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Punching toolingIn development

Tool Estimator

Defines and quotes the punching tooling for each part and arranges it in the turret.

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Cutting parametersComing soon

Laser Engineer

Laser cutting parameters by material, thickness and gas, and cut quality diagnosis.

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PunchingComing soon

Punch Engineer

Punching sequence, die clearance, tonnage and nesting for turret punch presses.

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WeldingComing soon

Weld Engineer

Data-based support to define parameters and WPS for MIG, TIG, laser and arc welding.

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Bend Engineer · In beta

Bend Engineer: the complete bending process

From drawing to part release in seven stages. The program comes out with the right tooling, collision-free, with the operator's setup sheet and the quality record, like on a CNC control, but from your phone or computer.

  1. PartProfile with dimensions and tolerances, material, thickness and flat pattern calculation.
  2. MachinePress from your machine library, tonnage, clamping and back gauge.
  3. ToolingPunch and die per bend, stations and tonnage validation.
  4. SimulationCollision-free 3D bend sequence, hit by hit.
  5. SOPSetup sheet in PDF ready for the operator.
  6. QualityDimensioned profile, inspection points and statistical control.
  7. ReleasePPAP-style checklist before production.
Bend Engineer Machine stage with 3D press brake
Machine: your plant's press in 3D, with its tonnage and clamping.
Tooling stage with station layout on the press
Tooling: automatic punch and die search and station layout.
3D simulation of the bend sequence
Simulation: hit-by-hit sequence with side view and flat pattern.
SOP sheet generated by Bend Engineer
SOP: setup sheet in PDF with all the part data.
Quality stage with dimensioned profile
Quality: dimensioned profile with tolerances and part audit.
Program release checklist
Release: the program doesn't go to production until the checklist is complete.

Laser Quote · In development

Laser Quote: quote laser cutting with your own numbers

Calculates the real cost of every laser-cut part and gives you the price, based on your plant's data: your machines, your cutting table, your materials, your staff, your gases and your electricity.

  • Quote by RFQEach quote is a folder with its DXF or STEP parts, its nestings and its price.
  • Your machine's cutting tableSpeed, piercing and gas consumption by thickness; uses your laser's real values.
  • Machine hourly costLaser library with power, gases and costs for each one.
Cutting table in Laser Quote
Cutting table by material, gas and thickness.
Machine library in Laser Quote
Machine library with machine hourly cost.

Tool Estimator · In development

Tool Estimator: punching tooling, defined and quoted

Analyzes a project's parts, defines which punching tools each one needs (standard, special shape, cutting and contour tools), arranges them in your punch press turret and generates the quote and report.

  • Real turretsAmada and other turrets, with stations A to E, auto-index and keys.
  • Tooling by stationSelection of a tooling system compatible with your machine.
  • From analysis to quoteProject, parts, tools, quote and report in five stages.
58-station turret in Tool Estimator
58-station turret with its layout by size.

Coming soon

The next engineers in the suite

Coming soon

Laser Engineer

For fiber laser operators and technicians: cutting parameters by machine power, material, thickness and gas, and help diagnosing cut quality.

Coming soon

Punch Engineer

The punching process from start to finish: tool selection, die clearance by material and thickness, tonnage, hit sequence and turret layout, connected to Tool Estimator.

Coming soon

Weld Engineer

Support for MIG, TIG, laser and arc welding: parameters, simulation to train welders and help preparing the WPS based on data. It doesn't replace official documents or qualifications; it helps you understand and decide.

Want to try our software before launch?

Write to us and we'll include you in the beta program for Bend Engineer and the next applications in the suite.

Request a quote info@softooling.com