Pipe bending - odd angles

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.

 

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:

 

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

 

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.

 

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?