M-FAB

Add Single Hole

Pick a standard bolt size or enter a custom diameter, click OK, then click anywhere on the part.

Bolt Size Preset

Hole Diameter

Slotted Hole

A "stadium" hole — rectangle with rounded ends. After clicking Apply you'll click on the part to place it.

Slot Length (overall, in)

Slot Width (in)

Orientation

Slot length is the OVERALL length (centre-to-centre of the round ends + the diameter). Width = diameter of the round ends.

Hole Pattern

Centered on the selected part. Adjust offsets to shift the pattern.

Bolt Size Preset

Hole Diameter

Spacing / Bolt-circle dia

Number of Holes (Row / Bolt circle)

Center offset X

Center offset Y

👋 Welcome to M-FAB — Quick Setup

Tell M-FAB about your machine once so cuts, costs, and the readiness checks match your shop. You can change any of this later in Settings.

UNITS

Working units

MACHINE

Machine name (optional)

Controller

Plasma cutter

Cutter amperage (A)

Torch height control

TABLE SIZE

Table width (in)

Table height (in)

DEFAULT MATERIAL

Material to start with

Tip: after setup, run a kerf calibration coupon (Settings → Material profile) so M-FAB learns your machine's exact kerf.

Marking / Engrave Setup

How engraved labels are marked on the part. Marks always run before the cuts.

Marking method

PLASMA MARKING

Mark height (in)

Mark feed (ipm)

Mark pierce delay (s)

Dial the amperage down on the cutter for marking. THC is forced off and the torch is held at the mark height so the arc etches without severing.

Smart Holes

Small plasma holes cut rough at full feed. When on, M-FAB auto-applies clean-cut behavior to every round hole below the size threshold — no per-hole fiddling.

Enable Smart Holes

WHICH HOLES COUNT AS "SMALL"

× material thickness

or fixed Ø (in, 0 = off)

A hole is "small" when its diameter is under × thickness (e.g. 1.5× = holes under 1.5 plate thicknesses). Set a fixed diameter to override that rule.

CUT BEHAVIOR

Feed (% of normal)

Lead-in style

Lead-in radius (in)

Finishing overlap (in, 0 = none)

Lock THC through small holes (emits M66/M65) Force counter-clockwise direction Cut small holes first (heat control — all small holes before any part releases)

THC lock uses M66 (only when THC is in Auto mode) and is off by default until you've confirmed M66 runs on your CNC12 — a few installs reject it (error 503). Smart Holes still does feed + arc lead-in without it.

OR SKIP CUTTING ENTIRELY

Mark centre only — drill these holes by hand later

Sheet & Remnants

Pick a sheet size, see how much of it you're using, and reuse your offcuts. Remnants are saved on this computer.

Smart Part Labels

Auto-mark every part with a label that scribes / etches before the cuts. Tick what to include — each line stacks on the part centre.

Part name Material & thickness Quantity Job name "TOP ^" orientation mark

Label size (in)

Labels mark in the bundled stencil font (uppercase). Configure plasma vs scribe in ⚙ Marking / engrave setup.

Machine & Sheet Settings

Saved with every project. Controls G-code output and canvas size.

SHEET SIZE

Sheet Width (in)

Sheet Height (in)

MATERIAL PROFILE

Saved profile (loads kerf / feed / pierce / cut height)

Material Thickness (in)

Profile Name

MACHINE

Kerf Width (in)

Feed Rate (IPM)

Pierce Delay (sec)

Cut Height (in)

Lead-in Length (in)

Lead-out Length (in)

Machine Controller

🛠️

Machine Setup

Re-run the quick setup: units, table size, controller, plasma cutter, THC, and default material.

PROJECT NOTES

💾

Backup & Restore Settings

Save your machine settings, materials, and calibration history to a file — or restore from one.

🧪

Self-Tests — geometry & G-code

Verify kerf side, cut order, arcs, and Centroid output. Runs in a sandbox — your project isn't touched.

Grid Settings

How the canvas grid behaves. Auto adjusts the line density with zoom; Manual locks in a fixed spacing.

Auto-adaptive (recommended)

Manual — fixed spacing

Major spacing (inches)

Subdivisions (minor lines per major)

Tip: The grid snap (1/16") is independent of these display settings — change it in the status bar.

Display Sizes

Adjust the text size of each UI region independently. Changes apply live as you click + / − and persist next time you open the app.

Properties panel (right side)

px

Sidebar (Tools + Parts Library)

px

Top toolbars (buttons + labels)

px

Status bar + canvas hint

px

Tip: Defaults are 12 / 12 / 12 / 11 px. The Reset button restores those.

Rotate Selected Part(s)

Rotation is around the bounding-box center of all selected parts. When multiple parts are selected, they orbit the group center together (like a CAD app). Each shape converts to a custom outline.

Custom Angle (degrees)

Scale Selected Part

Multiplies all dimensions. 1.0 = same size, 0.5 = half, 2.0 = double.

X Scale factor

Y Scale factor

Keep proportional (uniform)

Array Selected Part

Create evenly-spaced copies in a grid or around a circle.

Columns (X count)

Rows (Y count)

X spacing (in)

Y spacing (in)

Align to Sheet

Snap the selected part to a location on the sheet.

Margin from edge (in)

Export G-code

Generate a CNC12-ready .nc file for your active material.

Active Material —

—

Cut Order Optimization Reorder cuts to minimize rapid travel

Estimated Cut Time

—:—

Calculating…

Path Stats

        Calculating…
      

Rapid speed (G0):

ipm

Pre-flight Checks

Checking…

Cut Text

Convert text into plasma-cuttable letters. Stencil fonts are recommended — they have built-in bridges so the insides of letters like O, A, D won't drop out.

Text

Font

Letter Height (in)

Letter Spacing (in)

Curve Smoothness

Cross-Lap Joint

Two slot lines captured — about to cut both plates.

Slot Width (mating plate thickness)

Each plate gets a slot the width of the OTHER plate's thickness. The two plates can then slide together at the slot line so they interlock at a right angle — perfect for X-supports, dividers, and stands.

T-Joint Slot

Slot will be cut where you drew the line.

Slot Width (mating part thickness)

TAB STYLE

Tip: "End Tabs" leaves a small tab at each end of the mating part's edge. "Multi-Tab" alternates tabs and gaps along the length — great for stronger T-joints. Slot width should equal the thickness of the part going through.

Pattern Tracer

Snap a phone photo of your cardboard pattern on a known grid (cutting mat, graph paper, etc.). The app will convert it to a cuttable shape.

Step 1 — Upload Photo(s)

Click here or drag up to 4 photos

JPG, PNG, HEIC. Top-down photos work best.

Step 2 — Grid Calibration

Grid spacing

Calibrate scale: Click on the photo at two points that you know the distance between (typically two grid intersections one square apart). The app will use that to compute pixels-per-inch.

No photo selected yet.

Step 3 — Outline Detection

Pattern contrast

Threshold 128

Slide the threshold until the cyan outline traces your cardboard. Lower = picks up darker pixels, higher = lighter pixels. If nothing or too much gets detected, try the other contrast mode.

Calibrate the photo first, then click Detect Outline.

AI Designer

Describe the part you want, drop reference photos, optionally use your current canvas as a starting point. AI returns SVG path data, which drops onto your sheet as an editable shape.

Step 1 — Describe the part

Tip: include dimensions in inches, hole sizes, material thickness, and any fillets/corners. Be specific.

Step 2 — Reference photos (optional, up to 3)

Click or drag up to 3 photos here

Reference sketches, similar parts, photos of what you want

Step 3 — Use current canvas as starting point (optional)

Send my current shapes as a starting point

Use this for "finish this design" or "add features to this part" type requests. The AI gets both a snapshot image of your sheet AND the underlying coordinate data.

Step 4 — Generate

Clipboard flow: Click "Copy Prompt", paste into Claude.ai (attach reference images there too), then paste the AI's SVG response below.

Awaiting input.

Auto-Nest Parts

Rearranges your parts on the sheet to minimize material waste. The algorithm tries different rotations and finds the tightest packing. Original part positions are saved so you can undo.

Nest which parts?

Spacing between parts (in)

Margin from sheet edge (in)

Allow rotation (0° / 90° / 180° / 270°)

True-shape nesting (pack by real outline, not box)

Tip: Parts with bend lines, text engraving, or hole patterns that must face a specific way: select the part, then in the Properties panel check Lock orientation so the nester won't rotate it.

Hold Tabs

Tiny bridges that keep each cut part attached to the parent sheet so it doesn't fall through the slats while cutting. The torch lifts briefly at each tab. Snip them off later with a grinder.

Enable hold tabs (apply to all parts)

Tabs per part

Tab width (in)

Apply to

Tip: Auto-placed tabs go on the bottom half of each part so the part doesn't tip after the cut completes. You can also click anywhere on a cut path (with the Tool Path preview open) to add a custom tab, or right-click an existing tab to remove it. (Click-to-place ships in Phase 16C.)

Alignment Marks

Small + crosses scribed at user-picked positions before the main cuts. Drop them at the corners of where your tubing or plate should sit. Run the program; if the marks land on the stock as expected, your alignment is good. If not, hit pause, nudge the stock, and resume.

Include alignment marks in the G-code

Cross size (half-arm)in (a 0.20" arm = 0.40" total)

Pause (M0) after marks — operator hits cycle-start to continue

Tip: Place 2-4 marks at the corners of where your stock should sit. After the marks are scribed the program pauses (if enabled) so you can compare the marks to your tube edges. If misaligned, adjust the stock and continue — the real cuts run AFTER you press cycle-start.

OFFLINE Looking for the bridge…

0/90PSI

Job Console

Status—

Cut Info

ProgramJob: —

LineLine —

Position

X

—

in

Y

—

in

Z

—

in

Preview / DXF

path —

Machine

Jog / Manual

Step

Jog moves immediately — no Cycle Start. One press = one step.

Plasma Control

—THC volts

— ipmfeed

OFFfeed hold

Feed Override

Advanced — homing, probe, MDI, bridge

HOMING

TOUCH-OFF PROBE (experimental)

Z dist feed

STEP SAFE-Z (optional)

Lift Z to If set, BACK / FWD raise Z to this work height before the X/Y move.

MDI COMMAND

BRIDGE

Same PC: http://localhost:8787 — separate design PC: http://<machine-pc-ip>:8787

RELAYS (power on / off via WiFi)

Machine

Mode

Air-filter fan

Mode

Air

Mode

AIR PRESSURE SENSOR (live PSI readout)

everys

Target ±PSI Job Console flags out-of-range air

Reads PSI from a sensor over the network. Plain-number or JSON response; the endpoint must send an Access-Control-Allow-Origin header so the page can read it.

Switches mains power via relays. The machine relay is NOT an E-stop — keep your physical E-stop wired.

Bend Calibration — your press brake

Textbook K-factors get close; your brake, die, and steel decide the truth. Cut a strip, bend it at the nick marks, measure, and every future bend uses YOUR number.

Material: —

STEP 1 · CUT A TEST STRIP

Strip flat length (in)

Strip width (in)

Inside bend radius to test (in)

Generates bend_calibration.nc — a strip with a tiny nick on each edge at the centerline. Cut it, then bend 90° exactly at the nicks.

SAVED CALIBRATIONS

Fold Designer

Design the FINISHED bent part: legs + bend angles, like bending a piece of wire. Watch it fold in 3D, then generate the exact flat pattern with bend lines — deductions included.

Strip width (in) Inside radius (in) K-factor

LEGS — OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS

Angles are the included angle between legs (90° = square corner). ▲/▼ flips which way the bend goes.

SIDE PROFILE

FOLDED PREVIEW — drag to spin

Calibrate Kerf · —

The kerf is the actual width of metal removed by your plasma cut. It varies by amperage, feed rate, torch height, and consumable wear. Calibrating tunes the program to YOUR machine so cut parts come out to exact dimensions.

STEP 1 · GENERATE THE TEST CUT

The program will create kerf_calibration.nc — a 2"×2" outer square with a 1" round hole. Current settings used:

Current kerf: —
Feed rate: —
Pierce delay: —
THC: —

CALIBRATION HISTORY

Through-Bolt Hole

Drills a matched hole on each of the two flanges of a bent part so a bolt can pass through both sides after bending. The part must have at least two parallel bends (a U-shape, for example).

Hole Diameter

Distance from base (in)

Centered along bend

Position along bend (in)

Tip: Distance from base is how high above the workbench the bolt will sit after the part is bent. The tool finds the part's two parallel bend lines and drops matched holes on each flange so they line up.

Fillet / Chamfer Corners

Rounds every sharp corner of the selected part (Fillet) or cuts a straight bevel across each (Chamfer). Use this to remove stress concentrations and snag hazards. The maximum size is automatically clamped so corners don't overlap.

Radius / Bevel Size (in)

Offset Outline

Makes a new version of the outline, grown or shrunk by the given distance. A negative value also works (flips direction).

Offset Distance (in)

Keep original part (make a copy)

Settings — Backup & Restore

Save your machine settings, material library, calibration history, CAM presets, and UI preferences to a single .ppb-settings.json file you can stash in OneDrive, copy to another computer, or share with a friend who has the same plasma cutter.

Currently in your settings:

⬆

Export Settings

Pick what to include, then save the file.

Machine settings (kerf, feed, THC, cost) Material library Kerf calibration history CAM presets UI preferences (theme, fonts, rulers) Parts library 🔑 AI API keys (sensitive — only check if exporting to your own private backup)

⬇

Import Settings

Restore from a .ppb-settings.json file. You'll be asked to confirm before anything is overwritten.

Pick how you want the output laid out. 1:1 paper templates are sized so one inch on the design = one inch on paper — tape pages over your material to verify fit before cutting. Fit-to-page shop drawing packs the layout onto one page with a title block, ready to share or hand to a crew.

1:1 Paper Template Real size. Big parts tile across multiple pages with crop marks and tile labels (A1, A2…). Print, tape together, lay over your steel. Fit-to-Page Shop Drawing Whole layout on one page with a title block (job name, material, cut time, part count). For sharing or filing.

Job name

Paper size

Orientation

Margin (in)

Crop marks + tile labels

Include red construction lines

Reference Image

Loads a picture as a background layer that sits behind your parts. Use the Polyline or Arc tools on the left panel to trace over it. The image is not cut — it's only a reference. Coming next: PDF support, on-canvas drag-to-position handles, rotation, and click-two-points calibration.

Accepts PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, WebP, and PDF (page 1 is used). After loading, you'll be able to set its real-world size and opacity.

Set Known Distance

You clicked two points on the image. They're currently apart on the canvas. What's the real-world distance between them?

Real distance

Select a step

Add Single Hole

Slotted Hole

Hole Pattern

👋 Welcome to M-FAB — Quick Setup

Marking / Engrave Setup

Smart Holes

Sheet & Remnants

Smart Part Labels

Machine & Sheet Settings

Grid Settings

Display Sizes

Rotate Selected Part(s)

Scale Selected Part

Array Selected Part

Align to Sheet

Export G-code

Cut Text

Cross-Lap Joint

T-Joint Slot

Pattern Tracer

AI Designer

Auto-Nest Parts

Hold Tabs

Alignment Marks

Bend Calibration — your press brake

Fold Designer

Calibrate Kerf · —

Through-Bolt Hole

Fillet / Chamfer Corners

Offset Outline

Settings — Backup & Restore

Print

Reference Image

Set Known Distance