Straighten Pipe

[dr_gallup]

I have a bent piece of wire that I created using a pipe feature through a datum point array. I can find the total length through info feature. However, I would like to be able to unbend some of the bends to show different assembly stages. Is there anything like sheet metal's unbend feature to straighten out pipe bends? I suppose I could add some of the datum point dimensions to a family table but that would be pretty labor intensive and very operator dependent.

 

[dr_gallup]

OK, it looks like there is no nice unbend feature for pipes. Now I have another question. Some of the datum point dimensions have negative values. I don't want negative dimensions on the drawing. Yes, I know I could create dimensions but I make it a point to never use them if at all possible. I've never had Pro/E show a negative dimension before but then I rarely use coordinate systems. When I have used pipe features through datum points before it was just to show how a wire was routed and dimensions were not needed.

Any way to force Pro/e to show the absolute value of a dimension?

 

[vandewinckel]

dr_gallup


Try changing or adding


show_dim_sign (set to No) in your options

 

[michael3130]

Dr Gallup,


I tried this using sheet metal and it's easy enough to do it that way. Would you not consider using sheet metal instead?


Michael

 

[dr_gallup]

<h1>show_dim_sign</h1>
no, yes
Shows positive or negative values for dimensions. Dimensions
for coordinate systems and datum point offsets always show negative or positive
values, even if this option is set to no.
no

 

[dr_gallup]

Dr Gallup,


I tried this using sheet metal and it's easy enough to do it that way. Would you not consider using sheet metal instead?


Michael

How can you use a round cross section in sheet metal?

 

[michael3130]

put a round on the part after you have flattened it.


If you want, pm me and I'll e-mail you the part


Michael

 

[dr_gallup]

Here is a part file, it's in WF2. This part is just for some prototypes, we won't do this for production so I don't care if anybody see the part or the solution.


2007-12-11_164335_terminal_g_inj_mach_9127-035.prt.zip

 

[Dell_Boy]

Dr Gallup,

have you read my post on unbending hollow pipes in

http://www.mcadcentral.com/proe/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31 657&PN=1


DB

 

[dr_gallup]

Thanks DB, I'll give that a try. It's not as easy as defining a pipe but the unbend makes it worth while.

 

[dr_gallup]

One thing I just learned is that you have to use a PLANER bend which I had never used before. Look it up in help. I could not figure out how you got that bend feature to bend in the sketching plane. This is something that you can not change later through the redefine menu. It also does not show up in feature/info. Very tricky PTC!

 

[Dell_Boy]

I always thought that planar bends are really fugly and replying to your post the other day got me thinking on an alternative on a demo like this

What if you were to interpose a twist between bends.


when rounded (in wireframe) you can still see the artifacts of the twist



but you can still selectively unbend sections including twists



This technique won't suit every case but it does give huge possibilities for bends that are not orthogonal in 3 dimensions.

Don't you just love pushing Pro/E where it was never intended to go.



DB


Edited by: Dell_Boy