how to create a pipe template?

[Rynz]

Okay so I designed these pipes that intersect each other in AutoCAD but that program doesnt seem to do much else other than drafting.

I want to open a pipe design so i can print it out, paste it on a real pipe and cut the end out. It's pretty much sheet metal development.

Attached is one of the many pipes. Can someone please point me in the right direction? I have Autodesk Inventor FUSION 2013. Does that have any such features or do I have to get the Professional version?

[Dadgad]

Hello Rynz, you never responded in your other thread, regarding how these pipes will be cut.
I guess it is pretty safe to assume that we aren't talking CNC here, as you are making paper templates.
I do fabrication drawings all the time of pipes and tubes with Autocad.
Yes Inventor (one or possibly both) has the capability to create the paper patterns, but my question is more along the lines of, do you need that to achieve your goal
of cutting these accurately enough to make this frame?

I am sure some Inventor users will jump in to help you, be patient, as the weekends tend to get a bit slow on the forum.

[Rynz]

My apologies for ignoring that other tread, I just thought since AutoCAD wasn't an issue I should post in a Inventor section.

As far as I know I think the pipes will be cut using gas or plasma cutters. I'm pretty clueless about that. The head machinist at the company says I just need to get him the profile to cut and leave the rest up to him. He's pretty good with 20 years of experience so I'm not worried about that. They'll trace the paper print outs on the pipes and than go ahead with cutting it from what I was told.

[SEANT]

This thread discussed some of the intersting aspects of tube copes.
http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showth...iter-correctly
Would you have to address the issue - raised in that thread - for your project?

[JD Mather]

I have Autodesk Inventor FUSION 2013. Does that have any such features or do I have to get the Professional version?

Fusion is a free program of limited functionality (it does not include sheet metal tools).
Inventor LT is a low-cost version of limited functionality (it does not include sheet metal tools).
Autodesk Inventor does include sheet metal tools.
Inventor Professional includes wiring, piping, FEA, Dynamic Simulation and Plastic Tooling functionality.

I you can download a 30-trial of Inventor.

You "pipe" should be a pipe - that is it has a wall thickness.
In Inventor you would need a Rip feature (for the seam) and then Flat Pattern.

I would use the Inventor Frame Generator functionality to create the frame and then Rip and Flatten.

If you are going to use AutoCAD (for everything but the flat pattern) you should look at this http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content...torial%208.pdf

[Rynz]

I've downloaded Autodesk Inventor Trial but it keeps freezing on me every fews minutes after I open my Autocad files in it.

I'm officially stuck and have no clue what to do. I'm even willing to pay someone to help me out with this last step since I have all the design done and all i need is to 'open' a pipe and print it's developement out. I live in Sydney. Anyone know of any organisation or individual that offers such services? Unless if someone on this forum wants to do it. I'll definitely pay!

A sample is attached.

[paulmcz]

Here is your template

[SLW210]

I renamed your thread (how to create a pipe template?) and moved to AutoCAD 3D Modelling & Rendering forum.