How 3D-to-2D Flattening Works

See 3D to 2D Surface Flattening in Action

Watch ExactFlat reduce 2-4 weeks of manual effort 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.