best way to layout exhaust pipe

[dustbull]

Hello everyone, i joined this site a few days ago since google kept sending me here with my inquiries. So far the help has been unbelievable, thanks for that...maybe one day i can share some kind of relevant knowledge with you all haha

Well, for a class i had to make a 3D model in AutoCad of anything we wanted. After i did that (with advice along the way from the forum) i figured id do a similar design on solidworks to learn both programs.

It took me half the time to do in solidworks, but heres what i have so far:


Now, before i could get too far and screw myself over on the part..What do you think would be the best way of laying out the piping for this? I saw solidworks' piping expert or whatever, but is that the best for this application, is it worth learning and experimenting with? thanks everyone!

[shift1313]

welcome aboard dustbull. What are you making the header for?

For something like this I would work with 3d sketches with a twist. Would you be using standard bends to make something like this? When working with SW in 3d sketches you can sketch on plane. The cursor will tell you which plane you are sketching in and the TAB key will let you change planes. I would recommend creating 2d sketches and projecting the geometry either sketch on sketch or sketch on face. If you decide to work in 3d only make sure you use straight sections then apply a bend between them equal to your tubing radius.

I have written(but not edited) a few tutorials on basic sketching, some 3d stuff and surfaces. There are 6 in this zip file. #5 talks about 3d tubing(but this was all straight line stuff). it also talks about using surfaces to trim the intersection of tubes.
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/maperez/SolidWorks%20Tutorials/SW%20Tutorial%20(2).zip

pay close attention to the use of multiple parts rather than making it one solid.