VTube-STEP

Import tube data from solid models, then produce reports, and send data to benders.

Import Solid Models from Any CAD Program to Convert to Bender Data

VTube-STEP extracts tube data from a STEP or IGES solid model file - from any solid model CAD package.

Quick Links

VTube Software Maintenance Plan
VTube-STEP Revisions
VTube-STEP Videos
We can perform remote demonstrations using GotoMeeting.
Also see VTube-LASER (for measuring with a FARO arm)
See the Model-based Definition page to learn how VTube uses this concept and why it is so important.

Partners and Distributors

FARO - FARO is the world leader in articulated arms. The FARO Americas division is our exclusive VTube-LASER distributor for North and South America. VTube-STEP is also a catalog item for FARO.
Horn Machine Tools - Manufacturer of benders and CSM benders
UNISON - All electric benders from the UK
SMI- Italian line of Silver benders
CRIPPA - Italian benders
UNIVERSAL TOOL & ENGINEERING - Alpine benders

CNC Bender Communications and Setup

VTube can communicate with many tube and wire-form benders. Follow these links to read about details in how it transfers data to and from CNC Benders.

About VTube Communication for Winton Benders
How to Setup VTube for Supravision Network Communication
About VTube Robomac Communications

Tutorials and Other Pages

See STEP File Analyzer for a program to test STEP files.
Download a PDF Quick-Start Guide - Version 2.2, December 23, 2015
How to Change the VTube Default Setup
About VTube Communication for Winton Benders
VTube-STEP replaced the retired TubeCalc software in March of 2010.
How to Setup VTube for Supravision Network Communication
Setup of SolidWorks Template File Paths
How To Calculate Cut Lengths in VTube
About VTube End Length Offsets
See VTube Overbend Calculations for Springback
Read about the VTube Language Editor
See Recommended VTube-STEP Screen Resolutions
How to Import VTube Report Templates
How to find the VTube Report Template Location
How to Setup VTube-STEP for the Network License Manager
How to Find and edit the HTML template files in VTube
How to Change the default linear units in VTube
Recommended VTube-LASER Screen Resolution
Recommended VTube Computer Specification
How to find the VTube Bender Template Location
How to check OpenGL Drivers versions
Read the VTube Software License
Recommended CAD Conversion Tools
How to Set the Number of Values Beyond the Decimal for VTube
How to Change the VTube User Interface Language
How to Import the Split Bend with STEP Version of "VTube-LASER Demo CAD Model 2"
Windows Floating Point Setup for VTube
Ideal Windows Font Size for VTube
How to BACKUP and RESTORE VTube configuration files

Export

VTube-STEP can export files that can be loaded into other CAD packages. This is a STEP file that was created by VTube-STEP and loaded into Autodesk Inventor 2011.

Multiple Language Support

VTube-STEP supports multiple languages - even East Asian. You can even translate the user interface to your own language.

Sample Screen Shots

This tutorial tube shape was designed in Alibre.

Language Support

Multiple languages are supported through Excel (XLS) files that can be edited in any spreadsheet that can load Excel files. VTube XLS language files each contain one language that is translated from English. The name of the XLS file is named according to the language. For example, Chinese is given the name "chinese.xls".
VTL files are text files that can be adjusted in a Unicode-supporting editor. They are stored in the c:\program files\VTube-STEP\config\language folder.
We use and recommend Notepad++ editor to edit your VTube-STEP language files. It is available for download from the net by searching for the name. Notepad++ allows you to show files side by side in parallel edit windows. To compare files this way, you right click on one of the tabs then press Move to Other View.
When VTube closes, it automatically generates a file called "current_language_setup.vtl" that is built from the latest user-interface elements. We've included this file so that you can easily find what user interface elements have been added between VTube-STEP versions. So when upgrading VTube-STEP, you will often find new additions in this file if they were added since the last version. If you are using a non-English VTL file, then any English labels in the generated file will indicate new words added since the last version.