make flexible command

[Werner.D]

I'm wondering if some one could help me as the ProE help menu and tutorials are soooo comprehensive. Not.


What I'm trying to do is to get an extruded tube to follow a curved path. The path need only be confined to one plane.


I was thinking that the "make flexible" command should do the trick from what I have read, but the specifics are missing with no practical examples at all.


Am I on the right track? If so how would I get the tube to follow the path?


View attachment 2640

 

[robertib]

The make flexible command allows the change of dimensions when a part is called in an assembly.


What you seem to be trying to do is to:


a) create a tube following a curved path, or
b) forcing an existing tube to warp into the shape of the curved path.


If a is the case, then you can create the curved path and use the Insert -> Sweep -> Thin Protrusion and use the curved path as the trajectory, create a sketch (circle centred on the start point) for the protrusion, select your thickness & there you go.


If b is the case, then I don't know how to do it, but the command you need is Insert -> Warp.

 

[Werner.D]

Thanks Robertib,


You have given me food for thought. If I were to try to animate the tube (actually a catheter) following the curve (actually a guide wire) would I also need to use the Warp command?


I am trying to animate the catheter following the guide wire and have had litte (practically none) experience with this type of function.

 

[raw2448]

Hi Werner.D<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />

I am in agreement with you (robertib) using the Insert-> Sweep-> thin protrusion looks to be a good start, however I see your problem as being a little more complex. I assume that the catheter is possibly fitted into a larger assembly or body, that the catheter has a minimum bend radii, and has a constant length, and is possibly limited to a maximum number of bends in its length.View attachment 2653 <?:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /></v:image></v:shape>
In which case you will also need ensure that the tangency of the start point is maintained relative to other components ie the body holding the catheter, and that relations are added to control the bend radii and length of the catheter and the number of bends (possibly 1) as without such constraints the following scenario could occur.
View attachment 2654

Catheter not aligned to body correctly, bend radii to sharp, length has increased, number of bends increased.

This may mean that both (robertib) and I are barking up the wrong tree!!!!!!!(old English phrase for wrong!)

I do not have the answer to all of the problems that I have listed, but I have a good idea how to cure some of the problems highlighted. I would need more information about the problem i.e
Catheter length, diameter, min bend radii, max number of bends, if two or more bends are the bends separated by straight sections or do all of the curved sections join tangentially to for a flowing bend?

Regards

Richard

 

[JohnLovell]

If you have Pro/Cabling, you can create a cable to represent the tube, using the outer diameter of the tube. The cable could have a constraint at each end, preferably a csys, which would point it straight out of the fitting on that end. You could then constrain the length of the cable to be whatever length you want, the curve it forms would then depend on which direction each csys points, how far away from each other they are, and what minimum bend radius you tell the cable to be.

 

[Werner.D]

Thanks raw2448 and JohnLovell,


I will endeavour to give these options a go as I have time. On the face of it, the cabling option sounds interesting.


Thanks again.