How 3D to 2D Flattening Works

If you’re using 3D CAD and you need to create 2D flat patterns for the cutting table, ExactFlat is the fastest, most accurate and simple way to do it.For manufacturers working with industrial fabrics, the common workflow for 3D to 2D flattening can take up to 2-4 weeks to complete. ExactFlat automates this process, getting you from a 3D CAD model to a production-ready 2D flat pattern file in minutes

See 3D to 2D Surface Flattening in Action

Watch ExactFlat reduce 2-4 weeks of manual effort for 3D to 2D flattening into 5 simple steps in less than 5 minutes.

A Gap in Automation Causes a Production Bottleneck

The problem is really a gap in automation, where manufacturers must go back to a manual process that hasn’t been updated for decades. This gap occurs whenever a 3D design is released to production.

The 3D design is created digitally, but then the physical prototype must be draped with actual fabric using manual trial-and-retrial techniques. The physical pattern created must then be digitized to generate a file that can drive a CNC cutting table. ExactFlat automates this workflow, getting you from a 3D CAD model to a production-ready 2D flat pattern file in minutes.

ExactFlat is Engineered Specifically for Fabrics

When a fabric is stretched, it pulls both laterally and longitudinally. Some manufacturers try to use metal flatteners to create 2D flat patterns, but cannot produce an accurate result. Metal flatteners do not account for this unique characteristic of fabric and therefore cannot produce an accurate flat pattern. This problem afflicts many companies that need soft goods as well as solid models:

Beyond the metal frame of a car or motorcycle, automotive manufacturers need seats, trunk linings, and saddlebags
Furniture companies need cushions, seats, and mesh backs
Boat makers need seats, canvas roofs, and boat covers
Buildings need awnings or suspended roofs.

Exact Flat is designed for the properties of industrial fabrics and this unique characteristic of fabric stretch to ensure an accurate result every time.