# Flatten out to a pattern for laser cutting

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flatten-out-to-a-pattern-for-laser-cutting/6529>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [January 26, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flatten-out-to-a-pattern-for-laser-cutting/6529 "2020-01-26T23:32:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![coralfabandauto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@coralfabandauto](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/coralfabandauto)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flatten-out-to-a-pattern-for-laser-cutting/6529/1 "2020-01-26T23:32:10Z")

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Hi

I am a complete newbie to this cad design I’m wondering if I draw a design in 3D for sheet steel then want that laser cut and bent to form an angle how do you make a flat pattern to send to the laser cutters, is this possible work do it on solid works can it be done on this program

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Gelphyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gelphyn](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Gelphyn)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 6:00am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flatten-out-to-a-pattern-for-laser-cutting/6529/2 "2020-01-27T06:00:26Z")

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Hi @coralfabandauto  
Welcome to the Forum, happy S3Ding 🕶  
Unfortunately this is probably not what you want to learn.

[[https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flat-layout/1695/2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flat-layout/1695/2)]([https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flat-layout/1695/2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flat-layout/1695/2))

Sorry I cannot help further.

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**Author:** ![Victor\_Shapr3D](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/victor_shapr3d/32/3502_2.png) [@Victor\_Shapr3D](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Victor_Shapr3D)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 10:09am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flatten-out-to-a-pattern-for-laser-cutting/6529/3 "2020-01-27T10:09:20Z")

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Hi, if you can attach an image of what the end result should look like, we can try to find workarounds using the app.

Currently the app does not have specific sheet metal features. Thanks for your understanding!

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**Author:** ![Rahul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@Rahul](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Rahul)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flatten-out-to-a-pattern-for-laser-cutting/6529/4 "2022-03-28T19:42:32Z")

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Hi there.

This is Rahul from India. First of all, thank you for this awesome App. I am also a complete newbie but I must appreciate that this app is really easy to use.

I am a manufacturer making articles from Acrylic material by Laser cutting the same. I also face the same issue as mentioned above. I want to design a box and the design will be in flat pattern 2D. It will be laser cut and then I will manually bend the material to the desired shape. To get dimensionally accurate design I plan to use your App.

Do you have plan to roll out this feature where we can bend the flat layouts as per desired shapes? This will help us to get accurate dimensions for the flat pattern material.

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![McD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/mcd/32/15504_2.png) [@McD](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/McD)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 11:47pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/flatten-out-to-a-pattern-for-laser-cutting/6529/5 "2022-03-28T23:47:12Z")

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Bending acrylic vs metal is quite different. When bending metal, I use straight edge jaws. When bending acrylic, I use a radius jaw to form the bend. To model this in Shapr3D, I essentially draw circles to determine the length of the ends to be bent.