3d pipe bent

[Denkhar]

Hello everyone

I have a problem..

I have to draw an 3d curve(more exactly a quarter of a torus, a pipe bent) but my problem is that i dont know how to slice that torus so i obtain my desired curved tube??? can anyone give me an ideea???

Do I have to draw a suplimentar 2d surface and then intersesct with the 3d object???

PLZ help...

And there is a posibility to "unfold" the 3d curved tube to a 2d surface???

I need that for an gauge..... Thanks for your answers

[FazBear]

easiest way I find is to draw a cross through the centre of the torus, then offset the cross in z plane only, i.e. from base point 0,0,0 to second point 0,0,100. this will create two planes for you to slice through. You can now slice the torus picking on 3 points across each plane.

 

 

 

and you can't unroll a 3d object with basic AutoCAD, maybe you can with additional software.

 

Hope this helps.

[tzframpton]

you're wasting time if you're slicing a torus. all you do is REVOLVE around an axis, but instead of REVOLVEing 360, you do it 90. watch here..

 

the line is just a point of reference for the axis.

 

3D view..

 

use REVOLVE command, pick the circle, pick both endpoints of the LINE for the axis, then type 90 or -90 depending on which direction you want to go.

 

3D view, final. much easier.

[FazBear]

yeah revolve is much easier, why didnt i think of that!

[fuccaro]

If you have a pipe (cylinder) and you wish to add a curved end:

Draw an arc starting from the center of the face (circle) and extrude the circle using the arc as extrusion path (SOLIDEDIT > FACE > EXTRUDE)

[tzframpton]

If you have a pipe (cylinder) and you wish to add a curved end:

Draw an arc starting from the center of the face (circle) and extrude the circle using the arc as extrusion path (SOLIDEDIT > FACE > EXTRUDE)

 

and the 3D Master has spoken. lol, never thought of that way Fuc...

[fuccaro]

and the 3D Master has spoken. lol, never thought of that way Fuc...

hm... the...word I highlighted in your post... it stands from my name? or...what?

[tzframpton]

wow i just realized how close that resembles to the cussword. lol, i was just shortening your name. i'm not sure how you pronounce it but i wasn't intensionally doing that LOL.

 

sorry!

[fuccaro]

StykFacE

Just a joke!

[Benson]

Why not just downoad a 3D Library with the parts already drawn?

[tzframpton]

Why not just downoad a 3D Library with the parts already drawn?

 

then it's not as fun

[Michael_S]

Why not just downoad a 3D Library with the parts already drawn?

 

It'd be nice if I can find them. I found many stainless pipe fittings, which will help later on. I'm in need of 8 and 6 inch "Drainage Pattern Fittings", the type used for Roof Drains and Sanitary Plumbing.

 

In my diciplene of the BIM Process, I have to coordinate the "coordinate" the 8 and 6 inch Roof Drains first, because of their size and radical change in elevation, from one section to the next.

 

From reading this thread, I'm thinking of slicing a torus to make a 90 & 45 degree turn. However when I make these items, I have been making a soild for the full outside diameter and subracting the inside diameter to make it a true pipe or pipe fitting. Makes sense right?

 

But! When I introduce it into my model, I want to explode all the 3d solids into regions, so I can cut down on memory - since the exterior of the pipe is the only concern for coordination. If I were to continue "shelling" the pipe and fittings in this manner, I am actually doubling the regoins generated, from both inside and outside of the pipe -- instead of NOT SUBTRACTING the void of the inside pipe, leaving it alone as a solid and explode that! Am I correct?

[ReMark]

Welcome to the CADTutor forum Michael_S. Might I suggest that you post the above as a new question? You have gone and attached it to an older thread. You'll get more responses, sooner, if you start your own thread.

 

BTW, I think you are over-thinking the problem. In a comparison test I did there wasn't much of a difference in file size between a pipe fitting that was shelled (or hollow on the inside) and one that was filled. I would NOT recommend exploding solids! Not a smart thing to do.

 

Did you know you can construct a pipe elbow by extruding or sweeping a circle along an arc?

 

3D pipe fitting libraries are available for download, at a cost, from several websites. I think cadtoolsonline.com is one of them. Another company that comes to mind is Hercules.

[ReMark]

Just out of curiousity what are the specs on your computer. You seem to be overly concerned about memory. How large are some of the drawing files you are working with? What OS are you using?

[Michael_S]

Thanks for the tip on extruding a circle along an arc. It works great! It's simple and should've thought of path command being in extrude.

Yes, I should have posted my issue as new question, my error.

 

As to your question about my system and file sizes I'm working with:

Dell Dimension 4550

Win XP Pro w/ SP3

Intel Pentium 4 CPU @ 2.59 GHZ

1.5 GB RAM

 

AutoCAD 2004 & Architectural Desktop 2004

 

As far file sizes, it appears that things are working smoothly if I keep files under 1 MB. That's working on my older system at home, but my system at the office could handle drawing files up to 4.5 MB -- however, they laid off and I want to build the hospital I was working on 100% my own work, to be presented in a portfolio.

 

So what I've done is construct each dicipline in it own file -- structural iron, exterior shell, interior partions, roof drains, plumbing, HVAC Piping and so on. Eventually, I'll have to put all these drawings together in one big model. Adding together the ones I already built for one section, shown in blue, 2.1 MB. On my system, I'm also using Architectural Desktop, where I saw in the tutorial how to incoorporate each of these separate drawings into one model, but have yet to see what happens when I load all of mine. Yet, another thing I have to consider, if I were to take my work to present or a school for evaluation purposes, I cannot anticipate their capabilities or limitations. They would expect me to show them something if I said I did. It can't lag at opening or be slow on navigating or zooming.

 

Again, thanks for the tip and I know I shouldn't post to an older discussion. I hope what I've explained is clear enough. I don't know if BIM Process is in the same world as yours, but you did help me clear my "modelers-block".

Michael_S

[ReMark]

Michael: Beg, borrow or steal some more RAM now! 1.5GB is barely enough for WinXP Pro let alone running AutoCAD. Max out the RAM to meet the specs of your mobo. If you can get it up to 4GB you can edit the boot.ini file and add the 3/GB switch. This will help you when working with large drawing file sizes.

[Michael_S]

Yes, yes I know. That issue has been glaring at me for a while. Embarrassedly enough, this system is already maxed out for memory.

I want a new system with all the newer software, like for instance Revit. A really well paying job will with that - hence the fictitious project I'm working on for a portfolio.

I think I noticed you're using ABS 2007. Are you going to stick with that or move to Revit? What do you think of Vista? Is it worth it or stay on with XP for a while?

Thanks for the tips and taking the time.

[ReMark]

I'm using plain AC 2009 on a computer running XP Pro. No plans what so ever to move to Vista. I'll skip it altogether and wait for the next release.

[Michael_S]

I'm using plain AC 2009 on a computer running XP Pro. No plans what so ever to move to Vista. I'll skip it altogether and wait for the next release.

Cool. I agree on Vista there! I still want Revit.