Generate the unfolded of a bent tube (round or square or other)?

3D Design Volume Model
1

Hi all

 

Here I am looking for a way to unfold bent tubes (whatever the section) but for now I am looking.

Be careful, I'm not looking to flatten a tube as has already been requested.

My interest is to define lengths of tubes developed before bending(s).

Today, to get closer to it, I add the linear parts and the arc lengths but on high thicknesses or on a tube with multiple bends, this approximation of developed is far from the truth.

 

Thank you for your help.

 

2

Hello, what software are you on? And in which version?

 

I do not really understand the meaning of your question.

 

Want a unfolded without flattening?!

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3

Oh yes OOPS:

 

I'm on Solidworks 2013 SP4

4

Hello

I found this:

http://sbarillaro.free.fr/sm/info_logiciel.php

An Excel file that calculates the developed, on the other hand I don't know if it works with multiple bends

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@ Tomalam: thank you it's interesting this site I'll go through it a bit but I'm afraid that the calculation methods are the same as those I do by manually adding the different segments of the neutral line of the tube. But from experience, there is a difference between what I calculate and what I do in the workshop and I can't quantify it.

6

Hello

Are they 3D bends or is it always 2D? If it's 2D, you could reuse the sketch of the scan to "extrude" it into folded sheet metal and apply crease loss parameters from your experiment. This way you will easily get your unfolded.

Not sure if I'm clear! And if it's 3D bending, forget it!

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7

Hello

If your tube (or any other profile) is made using welded construction tools.

All your unfolded lengths are available in the body properties in the welded parts list.


sans_titre.png
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@Frédéric, on the other hand, the length of neutral fiber is measured. I don't see a way to take into account a "loss on bending". Is there this possibility on SW14?

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@ Benoit.LF: since I use custom folding zone tables, your idea seems to me to be interesting and certainly as good as possible for me (I hadn't thought about it). However, for an assembly with many different tubes, this represents a large workload for each tube.

However, I'm going to go before like this

 

thank you for the responsiveness (to all) 

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10

Hello, I'm not an archaeologist but I'm still going to dig up this question.

I'm putting you the links to a web search I stumbled upon , all the credit goes to Rob Edwards.

"Impossible" Modeling Challenges Part 2: Dynamic Straightening of a Bent Wire in CAD - Engineers Rule

SOLIDWORKS Tutorial: Dynamic Bending / Unbending a Wire, Tube or Bar - YouTube

I applied the idea to CATIA V5 see the video.


enroule.mp4
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11

Hello @franck.ceroux 

You don't come to see us very often anymore but when you come it's not for nothing.  ;-)  :-)

They're "triple masters monsters" guys to come up with stuff like that.

I wonder if spring manufacturers have an application that does as well.

Do you know how they do it when they start from our spring parts to program their bikes.

Kind regards

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Hello yes a lot of work I don't have programming experience but already been to see our Bihler machines in reality the wire advances and is shaped by the tooling.

Finished the week, have a good weekend