connecting cylinders like in a "T" fitting

[d4d]

ok, I can join the cylinders but shouldn't subtract remove the excess piping from within the 1st cylinder? Or shouldn't shell remove the excess? to get a good looking "T" joint I have to drop in spheres and subtract them to remove the excess piping from within the joint. is there a simpler way to do this? it seems like a simple thing to accomplish but it is not. just think of the image of a "T" union to a plumbing pipe. I create 2 cylinders, spin 1 90 degrees, place them together, shell out the middles and then drop spheres into the vertical and horizontal cylinders to remove the excess piping from withing the joint. is there a simpler way to do this? please let me know as I am getting real tired of subtracting spheres for every piping joint I create.

[rkent]

Do it once and make a block of it. Creating the pipe with it hollowed out adds a lot to the file size. Unless you truly need that level of detail leave the pipe solid.

[d4d]

ya, but I am using the pipe as a learning tool. I really need to connect cylinders so that people can go from one to the other. like space station modules so learning how to do the joins with out all the extra work to make it look proper is what i am after. also for the piping, when I get to piping, I need to calc volumes that are within the lengths of piping, so I still have to have them hollowed out or shell'd for that. it just seems strange that subtract doesn't do it or shelling after the join doesn't. I have even tried to make them a union and combine both cylinders into 1 and it still leaves excess piping inside the joint.

[d4d]

sorry, I also have to do it to different sizes, so making a block of one and recalcing size would be just as long a process i believe, not sure but I believe it would be.

[rkent]

So when I am doing this I make a copy of one of the cylinders on top of itself, use that for subtracting.

 

Unless you are making a different sized T every time, make one of each standard size and block it.

 

I wasn't aware that AutoCAD could report the area surrounded by a solid. Seems easier to add the length of each pipe size and do the simple calcs from there.

[kencaz]

I would first join the pipe sections, union them, then shell... as such:

 

 

KC

[d4d]

ok, I have tried that but it doest seem to work for me. I will try it again and see if I can get the same results as the clip you have done. Thank you.

[d4d]

That did it... it works perfect! Thanks again!!