Can I flatten a tube to make a cutting template?

[Cadastrophic]

I know there are dedicated programs to "flatten" 3D tubes to make cutting patterns for steel tube constructions, but I wonder if this is possible in AutoCAD solids 3D?
Anyone have experience of this?

[hendie]

not in vanilla Acad. if you have any experience programming, you could probably create something workable but if you have a real need for the programme you would be better buying one

[scj]

Try out my unfolding program from www.black-cad.de
It will unfold any (unfoldeable !) 3d-surface area, which is bounded by an upper and a lower 3d-polyline.
Good luck
Jochen