Center curve of 3D tube.

[Lars1978]

Hi All,

I've a tube with a diameter of 50mm. This tube is extracted from a .stp file so no center line is available for me.

I'd like to make a center line (spline curve) in this tube to use for measuring.

I'd like to do this in the modelling environment.

Can someone please help ?

Kind regards,

Lars


Lars
Solid Edge
Inventor
NX10.0.3.5 native

 

[cowski]

There are a few ways to get at it. FrankSwinks created a journal specifically for this task, it is probably the easiest way to get the centerline. You can find links to his journal in this thread:
thread561-361819

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[phillpd]

Is "Extract Virtual Curve" an option?

NX 9.0.3.4
NX 10.0.3.5 (Testing)
Windows 7 64 (Windows 8.1 Tablet)

 

[Lockdain]

Unfortunately "Extract Virtual Curve" is not an option, unless the tube centerline is not a straight line.

http://www.CADabout.ru

 

[Xwheelguy]

Going the Extract Virtual Curve route in the straight sections, the bends can be manually inserted with arcs if the bend faces are toroidal - use Info -> Object and filter for face. The information in the listing window will give you the info you need for the bend radius (diameter, possibly). If you run into faces which are not toroidal, then the abouve Journal is going to be your best bet.

Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 9.0.3.4 Win7 Enterprise x64 SP1
Intel Core i7 2.5GHz 16GB RAM
4GB NVIDIA Quadro K3100M

 

[JohnRBaker]

Check this thread as it has a couple of Journals that might help with what you're looking for:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=366408

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without