Urgent: Unroll A Pipe or pipe to sheetmetal + unrolling

[b0yw0nder]

basically, i have a pipe, that is connected to some other pipes at a node.

for welding, we remove sections of certain pipes so that they mate well with pipes that have their surface intact.

(fish mouthing)

I need to determine the path of this fishmouth for a CNC laser cutter. What is the best method of doing this?

I figure the best method of doing this is to convert the pipe to sheet metal after the cuts have been removed, then flattening/unrolling the pipe.

Do i need to add a rip or other function to slice the pipe so that it can be unrolled?

Anything would be greatly appreciated.

JPC

 

[b0yw0nder]

it is similar to this case, but it was never completed.

thread554-35038

 

[b0yw0nder]

okay, so anyone that is following my progress

i got to the point where I can make my pipe
make a rip
and then flatten the pipe

then i can make the pipe
make the fishmouthed cuts
but now I cannot make the rip to allow me to flatten it (i get an error stating that I have to resolve the feature before it can be created)

i've even tried using insert to try to rig things to work to no avail.

if anyone has any good ideas, I'd appreciate hearing them..

the only other thing I can think of right now is to make the pipes using an extruded cross section that is like an "ALMOST" closed C..that way, the rip doesn't have to be made because there would allready be an edge there.

JPC

 

[im4cad]

JPC,
I'm trying to understand exactly your problem, but I'm still confused (maybe some other people are too). Are you looking to get a flat pattern of your pipe after you made the fish mouth cut, and bend it back, or what?
This is from your previous posting:

"i got to the point where I can make my pipe
make a rip
and then flatten the pipe

then i can make the pipe
make the fishmouthed cuts
but now I cannot make the rip to allow me to flatten it.."

im4cad
Pro Design Services, Inc.

http://www.cadproe.com/pds/home.asp

 

[mythe]

JPC I know what you are doing is possible, I have a friend that works at a bicycle manufacturer. They use Pro-e. Call the Tech line and describe to them wha tyou are trying to do.

 

[3dlogix]

Try making a flat wall section (in sheetmetal) with the cuts first, then make a ROLL BEND. This has worked for me before.

The roll bend will simulate the pipe. The only problem is that you cannot make the ends of the flat wall touch (maybe offset by 0.001 or something small).

Steve

http://www.sprdesign.com

 

[b0yw0nder]

I should have made a posting when I figured out how to do it.

Instead of using the sheet metal function, this is how I did it:

1. created a frame assembly where pipes were overlapping each other
2.in each pipe that had to be fishmouthed i did a copy feature and copied the surfaces of the pipes to be cut out
3.i then solidified these surfaces using a cut to create the fish mouthed pipe
4.added a point on the outside surface of the pipe at the very end
5.used flatten quilt referenced from that point on both surfaces of the pipe (each half)

pretty vauge description, but it works.