Bend-Tech is one of the few manufacturers that designs custom software for our CNC plasma cutting machines, and because of this, we are able to offer in-software support at the click of a button. This makes us the industry leader in terms of ease of access to customer support.

Schedule a Support Ticket: Let’s Get You Up and Running

The most convenient way for you to get support is built into the software itself. Just look for the “Support Request” button inside our software. This automatically allows a Bend-Tech Service Technician to see what you’re working on, as well as any additional information you provide to help us better understand the problem. Of course, you can always give us a call, send an email, or submit a contact form to get support from Bend-Tech.

Our ticket system is set up so your inquiry is regarded with the same amount of urgency by our support team members no matter which method you use to contact us. We’re here to serve you in your preferred communication style.

How to Submit a Support Ticket

When you submit a support request, it will take snapshots of any open projects — as well as your libraries and settings — and sends it to our Service Technicians to take a look at.

You can also attach any relevant files that you’re having trouble with. These can be anything from a screenshot of a Bend-Tech computer to a design file you might be having trouble importing. There is also a spot for you to leave a short, detailed description of the issue you’re having to give Service Technicians additional background and helps us figure out what direction we will go in to resolve the issue.

We advise leaving the “Service Tech” option blank unless you are working with a technician. Leaving that box blank ensures that the support request is delivered to the entire support team and can be addressed promptly.

Annually or Every 2,000 Hours

The Bend-Tech A400 and A250 are designed to provide years of clean, accurate cuts. But like any piece of equipment you own–your vehicle, mobile devices or CNC machining center–regular maintenance is required to ensure your machine runs properly, avoid downtime, and maximize the life of the machine.

Thankfully, it doesn’t require much work or planning to keep your A400 or A250 running at peak performance. Most daily and weekly maintenance tasks only take a few minutes to complete—all with supplies that can be found in nearly any shop.

This article will explain the daily and weekly maintenance checklists, but there are additional maintenance processes to follow for monthly and quarterly maintenance checks.

Daily Maintenance Checklist

Small manufacturers looking to improve their operations and increase output often run into three primary concerns: efficiency, accuracy, and cost effectiveness. Bend-Tech’s CNC plasma cutting technology is versatile and designed to help manufacturers large and small improve their operations and do the work of multiple machines in one.

Small Manufacturer, Big Output

A big challenge that small manufacturers face is production speed, especially if several processes have to be carried out manually. Measuring and marking materials, as well as uploading files to the machine’s software are all major time-eaters. When skilled labor is in such short supply, a long list of time-draining manual tasks is an unsustainable business practice—especially when a lot of those tasks can be automated.

Bend-Tech’s CNC plasma cutting machines help small manufacturers resolve these roadblocks by automating tedious, manual processes, so operators can cut more tube and pipe in less time. The automatic tool changers on both the A250 and A400 models allow small manufacturers to cut, mark, engrave, and align your material without switching machines.

The Bend-Tech CAD/CAM software, which comes standard with all machines, is engineered to make the design and execution processes simple. Operators can design right within the software itself or import STEP and IGES files from a number of third-party CAD software (e.g., Solidworks, SDS2, and more). Bend-Tech’s software will take internal or imported CAD files and convert them into CAM-ready files, nesting the designs so that all guess work or reprogramming is taken out of the equation.

Eliminate Costly Errors

Manual operations—such as making end profiles at the correct angles, putting holes in material, and completing fit-up/layout operations—can turn into wasted time, material, and money if they are not done with precision and skill.

Automation cuts down on those costly errors that are more common with manual processes, saving small manufacturers time, money, and material. The process versatility of a Bend-Tech A400 or A250 helps small manufacturers produce intricate parts without exhausting their skilled operators by automating and perfecting repetitive operations. Bend-Tech’s software nests imported designs, so any repeat cuts, marks, and engravements can be completed with ease.

Budget-Friendly Options for Your Operation

The ability to increase overall output throughout a short period of time is economically beneficial for small manufacturers. Bend-Tech’s CNC plasma cutting technology has several tools built into one powerful machine, so small manufacturers can invest their resources into a single product that can do the whole job. The A250 and A400’s ability to cut, mark, engrave, and align streamlines operations that would be otherwise interrupted by alternating between machines.

Plasma cutters are also one of the most budget-friendly options on the market; with reasonable upfront and consumable prices, as well as a low operating cost, small manufacturers can invest in a tool that will serve their operations while keeping their expenses minimal.

Want to learn more about how a Bend-Tech CNC plasma cutter can help your small manufacturing facility? Contact us for additional ways that Bend-Tech can be beneficial to your environment.

There are many cutting technologies available when it comes to tube and pipe processing, but depending on the job, it may not be obvious which one is right for your operations. The most common options on the market are laser, saw, and plasma.

The materials, shapes, and sizes you work with are important factors to consider when determining which type of cutting method will work best for you. Each system can work with a variety of tube and pipe styles, but no one system can do it all. Another factor to consider is your budget. Upfront sticker price, operational expense, and replacement part costs all vary dramatically.

Which Cutting Technologies Can Handle Your Material?

Unfortunately, lasers aren’t laser-proof. The laser cutter’s biggest material limitation is its inability to safely cut reflective materials, such as fiberglass or aluminum, without damaging itself or its surroundings. Other materials are unsafe to cut with laser because of their chemical makeup and the dangerous gases or dust they create. Such materials include leather, PVC, and any material containing halogens. Lasers are also discouraged for any thin or heat-sensitive materials prone to warping.

Good, old-fashioned circular blade saws can handle most materials and shapes, but stability issues make it difficult to cut thin, flat material, or anything with smaller internal diameters. These blades also have more difficulty with the intricate and complex cuts that laser and plasma navigate with ease. Dross and slag buildup is common with a cold cutting method like sawing, resulting in additional clean-up before parts can be welded.

Plasma cutters work best with conductive metals that become part of their electric current. These materials include steel, aluminum, and more. Depending on the system and its add-ons, CNC plasma cutters should have no trouble accommodating the most common shapes and sizes (length and width) used by metal fabrication shops. Coolant support is encouraged to reduce dross and slag and keep a uniform cut around the diameter of the tube or pipe.

The Cost to Cut: Beyond a Sticker Price

The initial costs of certain systems may seem more appealing than their counterparts, but it’s important to consider the cost of running the machines and replacing consumables before making any investments.

Laser cutters have the largest price tag upfront, with better quality systems starting at $500,000. Consumables include nozzles, tips, lenses, gases, and more, and often cost in the thousands of dollars to replace. These machines also require specialized gear, including a safety enclosure around the system, and personal safety items to help shield operators from noise, glare, and gas.

The energy needed to run a high-powered laser is another operating cost to consider; industrial laser efficiency can range from 5-45%, and energy costs average $20/hour. However, lasers run at high speed, so they are more time-friendly than their manual counterparts especially when it comes to more complex cuts.

Saws are by far the least expensive option of the three. Average metal-cutting saws often stay within three to four figures, and any additional consumables trend toward the same prices. They require some safety gear, but nothing as specialized as its counterparts.

Saws run on electricity, but they are ultimately a cold cutting method; energy costs will be low for saw operation. Saws, however, have longer production times when making complex cuts and accounting for the dross and slag clean up prior to welding.

Plasma cutters land between lasers and saws on initial price and operating costs.. These systems start around $5,000, but the highest quality machines can be upwards to $50,000 after add-ons and consumables are considered. Consumables for plasma cutters include nozzles and tips, and depending on the quality, can range in price. Operators are encouraged to wear eye protection, but the arc does not require the same shielding as lasers.

Similar to laser, plasma requires energy to produce heat and cut tube or pipe. The differences are in the efficiency and average operating costs of the plasma cutter. Plasma cutters do not consume as much energy as lasers and cut at similar speeds, making them more efficient. Per hour, plasma cutters average between $8-15 to operate.

Which Cutting Technology is Right for You?

Deciding which cutting technology is right for your operation is no easy task. Between laser, plasma, and saw cutting, there are a number of pros and cons that companies and shops have to consider before purchasing and implementing a system. We’d be happy to discuss how our Bend-Tech’s plasma cutters system could fit within your operations.

Bend-Tech’s Dragon line of CNC plasma cutters brings all the capabilities of our CAD/CAM software solutions to life. The two models are the A400 or A250, which cut, mark, engrave, and align. Despite some key differences, both systems make processing your tubes and pipes more efficient.

With two different models to select from, it’s important to consider what you’re processing, what your current needs are, and what you’re looking for in a solution before you determine which Bend-Tech machine is right for you. Taking these three things into account, let’s explore the if the A400 or A250 suits your situation better:

Made for What You Make

While both plasma cutters are equipped to handle the same electrically conductive metals, the material shapes and sizes that each respective machine can process vary. Our A250 is a round-only CNC tube and pipe plasma cutter with a maximum of 4” outside diameter, whereas our A400 has the ability to cut round, rectangular, square, angle, and channel materials. On top of additional shapes, the A400 is also equipped to handle materials up to 4” (non-round) to 6” (round) in outside diameter. The weight capacity for a standard A250 maxes out at 260 pounds, while its A400 counterpart holds up to 400.

Without the help of add-ons, the material length capacity for each machine also varies. Standard A250s can handle up to 21 ft. in material, while the A400 supports 24 ft. However, our newest addition, the Coolant Support System (CSS), provides additional support for longer, heavier material, allowing you to safely and conveniently adapt for longer tube and pipe when needed.

Depending on what you are currently or looking to process, knowing what materials your machine can handle is important information to have prior to investing in the machine that will handle your business’ operations.

The A400 or A250 – Both Help You Meet Your Goals

You know what you’re cutting, and we know how to help you cut it. Depending on the jobs or projects your business is running, our Bend-Tech sales team can help you determine if the A400 or A250 is the better solutions for your applications.

If you’re in the automotive industry and primarily produce roll cages, chassis, or bumpers, you may find that our A250 model is the smarter choice. With its round-only focus, you can streamline your operations and increase the volume of output with a product meant to support your automation.

Our A400 is best for handling anything beyond smaller, round materials. If you’re in the miscellaneous metals market, this machine is the right one for you. However, there are plenty of software and physical add-ons that will further optimize your experience with the machine.

If you are getting your best design results with third-party CAD software, we provide plugins to integrate your existing designs with our machines. Our CAD helps you import outside files, and then traces their geometry to convert it into a CAM-ready file. If you’re manufacturing angle or channel material, we provide upgrade features to help you motorize the front gate for processing purposes.

Solution-Oriented CNC Plasma Cutting

Since the beginning, Bend-Tech has been a solution-oriented company innovating around the market’s needs and helping explore the possibilities for going above and beyond everyday operations. Bend-Tech began as a software engineering company to innovate the way tubes and pipes are fabricated with CAD/CAM software. Following the need for a more industrial machine that could not only execute the software’s capabilities, but one that could process larger materials, the Dragon CNC plasma cutter line was created.

Ultimately, our goal is to help you find the solution that makes sense for your process. Whether you’re looking to be more profitable and efficient, or to grow your company and bring versatility to your operations, let’s do it together. Looking for a personalized opinion on which of our Dragon models best suits you? Contact our sales team, and we’ll get started.