May 14, 2025

Mastering the Bend Tool in Autodesk Inventor: Create Unique 3D Geometry with Ease

Gideon Bezuidenhout | Application Engineer

Autodesk Inventor offers a wide range of tools to help users create intricate and customized 3d models. Among these, the Bend tool stands out as a powerful feature designed to create geometry through bending. Unlike the Sheet Metal environment, which has its own set of bending functions, this tool resides in the Part environment, giving users the flexibility to bend solid bodies in unique ways that traditional modelling tools can’t easily achieve.

The Bend tool is especially useful when standard modelling approaches fall short, whether due to complexity or the limitations of the Sheet Metal workspace. It enables you to introduce angled or curved deformations in a solid part, expanding the creative possibilities of your design.

Here’s a quick walkthrough of how to use the Bend tool:

Create a Sketch

Start by drawing a single straight line on the face of your 3d part. This line will act as your bend line. Note: It doesn’t need to span the entire body—just be one continuous linear entity

Activate the Bend Tool

Head over to the 3d Model tab, open theModify panel, and select Bend.

Select the Bend Part

In the Input Geometry section, click the sketch line you created. This defines where the bend will occur.

Set the Bend Parameters

Under Behavior, choose the direction of the bend—either one side, both sides, or a specific direction.

Apply the Bend

Once you’ve adjusted the settings, hit OK to apply the bend to your model.

With the Bend tool, Autodesk Inventor empowers designers to model complex forms quickly, making it an invaluable asset when tackling creative and non-standard geometry challenges in the Part environment.

Still looking for answers? Start a discussion with other professionals in your industry!

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About the Author

Gideon Bezuidenhout | Application Engineer

Gideon is an Application Engineer at Micrographics with over a decade of experience in Quality Control. His career began in the steel industry as an NDT technician with qualifications in UT Level II, MPI Level II, and PT Level II. He holds ISO 9001 Awareness, Implementation, Facilitation, and Internal Audit qualifications. Additionally, he is a certified Autodesk Inventor User, an Autodesk Certified Instructor, and possesses a Multi-Discipline Draughting Office Practice qualification. His extensive experience, particularly in the forging industry, provides in-depth knowledge of material specifications, heat treatment, and mechanical testing standards.