Pipe bending - odd angles

Discussion in 'SolidWorks' started by DAS, Jan 20, 2004.

  1. DAS

    DAS Guest

    I dunno if SWX is supposed to be good for this, but I'm burning a lot
    of time getting clunky results.

    I'm doing a lot of odd-angled routed round pipe, and the odd-angles
    between the segments are requiring a lot of trig. The trig
    approximations also mean the segments are disjointed. For smaller
    systems, that is a cosmetic issue, but later on it gets annoyning from
    accumulated error. Gotta not be shy about concocting a forest of
    reference planes (and also axes of revolution), too.

    I would rather split the tubing longitudinally (either actually or in
    effect), like inserting reference planes at 90-deg to, and thru the
    center of, a pipe-face-end (each end is a circle). I could use that
    split-plane to get the center of the pipe-end-face. The longitudinal
    centerline of each pipe segment, as I finish each one, is the
    objective (for beginning new geo. for each next segment).
    Q: Can I sketch from circle centers of extrusions (or 360-deg sweeps
    - yuk) cylinders, at their "free" ends? I just can't get the
    references that I need for this to be a speedy, segment-by-segment
    process.
     
    DAS, Jan 20, 2004
    #1
  2. DAS

    matt Guest

    If you're unwilling to pick up the piping (routed systems) add in, you
    could at least try 3D sketches. Once you get the hang of the 3D sketch,
    you'll probably have an easier time. It sounds like you are going about
    things the hard way.

    matt

    (DAS) wrote in @posting.google.com:
     
    matt, Jan 20, 2004
    #2
  3. DAS

    Eddy Hicks Guest

    I agree with Matt. You need to master the 3d sketch. Get the center of
    your pipes established then sweep a circle sketched at one end of the
    centerline. Using this technique you can create all sorts of accurate
    things.... pipes, wires, tubes, mandrel bent forms, etc.

    - Eddy
     
    Eddy Hicks, Jan 20, 2004
    #3
  4. DAS

    Brian Bahr Guest

    If you have 2004 use the weldent funtion, it will treat each section
    as a seperate body that you can pull the angle from. Yyou may want to
    do a trick for your libray part you make where you create a square
    with really big radius, i.e. for a 1" pipe create a 1.315 square and
    then create .6 radiuses so it still appears round, then you will have
    a flat edge to measure off of in your blueprint.
     
    Brian Bahr, Jan 20, 2004
    #4
  5. DAS

    DAS Guest

    I am grateful that anyone responded. I am more familiar with SWX than
    I let on, I guess.
    But not much.
    I committed a bandwidth sin, I think, in not informing that I have
    2001, and piping is installed.
    sketch,

    I don't see what piping does beyond sketches. I have been using
    sketches, and I used a couple 360 sweeps. Def down n dirty approach.
    Someone told me to try Inventor - but all I can see available in its
    routed systems is othographic extrusions - not flexible.

    Sweeps still leave me withthe problem of getting a fresh centerpoint
    for the next segment after I have extruded the last elbow.
    Extrusions have no center witnesses. Ya, the straight segments are
    obvious, if I have the references (a flat sketching plane and
    something to get the center on that plane).

    to

    sounds very helpful. I got 2001.
    hyuk, hyuk... sounds just crazy enough to be worth experimenting
    with.
    Vvverrry resourceful!

    Any knowledgeout there how I might easily get various odd elbows, all
    with something pointing to the centers?
     
    DAS, Jan 21, 2004
    #5
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