How to straighten a tube??
How to straighten a tube??
(OP)
Hey guys,
This may be basic, but I have a bent tube that I would like to know what length it would be when straight. Is there a accurate way in CATIA V5 to find this? My tube is drawing in "part design"
Thanks
This may be basic, but I have a bent tube that I would like to know what length it would be when straight. Is there a accurate way in CATIA V5 to find this? My tube is drawing in "part design"
Thanks





RE: How to straighten a tube??
RE: How to straighten a tube??
Dean
RE: How to straighten a tube??
RE: How to straighten a tube??
- create a point at the center of each straight section limiting circles
- unite the points with lines at each straight section level
- create corners between the lines at each bend level (you have to know the radius from a preexisting drawing or you can determine it yourself creating a positioned sketch through three points and then intersect the sketch plane with the tube external or internal surface... and so on)
- the last corner you created along the tube should give you the center line length and thus the tube length.
You can apply the same procedure to bent wire or rods, to find out the unfolded length.
RE: How to straighten a tube??
RE: How to straighten a tube??
GSD extract surface /w tangent continuity
Create two isoparameter lines
Create line sweeps off the isoparameter lines
Intersect the sweeps - gives you a very close approximation of the CL which you can measure the length of.
RE: How to straighten a tube??
(actually PetterGuy's suggestion is simpler and should output the same result...)
1. GSD extract surface /w tangent continuity
2. Create 1 isoparameter on it
3. Measure the tube radius
4. Create a linear swept surface with the following parameters:
- Subtype: With reference surface
- Guide Curve: the isoparameter created @ pt.2
- Reference surface: the surface extracted @ pt.1
- Angle: 90°
- Lenghts 1&2: the radius measured @ pt.3
The output should be a linear swept surface perpendicular to the tube surface. Extract the boundary that is inside the tube and measure it. That should give you the desired tube length.
Best regards,
Stely