Flatten bent tubes in SolidWorks and find bend positions in drawing

Drawing a bent tube in SolidWorks is not difficult in 3D-Sketch environments, but making a bent tube for fabricators is a nightmare. It is not the same as sheet metal in which you can easily make a flat pattern in drawing. In this video, you learn how you can flatten a bent tube in SolidWorks and find bend positions to make a clear drawing of the part.

[@solidworkssolutions]

Share your ideas in comments 🌸

[@JC-un4bg]

But you would still need to take into account the k factor of the tube . As the tubes centre line will stretch or Shrink depending on the type of tube and the tooling . So the more bends the more it will run out . You need to do a test bend to find the percentage in each degree of turn .

[@solidworkssolutions]

That's true, if you have many bends, it could be an issue, but in simple parts like this the accuracy is enough

[@Bravetruckparts]

To be more precise I generally use 42% of de diameter (only on round tubes) from the inner radius, or offset 8% from the center line to the inner side of the bend.

[@The.Talent]

I use weldments, which I then use to make a weldment cut-list table with cut lengths and angles. To achieve this same effect, I make a non-derived configuration with basically the same principal as you've demonstrated for the length calculation. I then tell the cultist table to calculate based on the flat configuration. If you use derived configurations this doesn't work. The only thing is, this doesn't exactly work for giving the cut angles of the flattened piece stock, so you have to do that manually.

[@solidworkssolutions]

Hi Talent! I appreciate you sharing your method. I understand where you're coming from; I've experimented with various approaches, but I couldn't find a straightforward solution either. However, our fabricators are thrilled with this method, and they believe it can consistently deliver precise bending results. So, I've been using this method for all applications for over two years now, and it hasn't let me down.

[@TVLaa]

some observations: The bracket in equations are not needed.. the L1,L2 equations are not needed you can make the equation to the flat dimensions just by double clicking the bend model and select a dimension from the model. And add a k-factor to the bend length and you get more precise flat view of the model (take the angle of the bend in the equation of the subtraction formula).

[@tautegu]

An easier method might be to create an empty 3D sketch and convert the line entities and make path. You can then dimension the path using "Path length dimension" and reference this instead.

[@huenguyentrong394]

It is a wondwonderful lesson, thank you very much 💙

[@solidworkssolutions]

Thanks for your attention

[@JF_Fabrications]

Thanks for the Video, Great work flow

[@solidworkssolutions]

Thanks for your attention.

[@davideguerini9326]

Best tube video ever!!! It Is perfect but a lot of work...!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@solidworkssolutions]

Thanks Davide, it was always painful for us in the fabrication shop to make these kind of parts and there are some add-ins about but in this method you can make it yourself.

[@Designophilia]

@@solidworkssolutions Hey bro could i ask u call some pop add ins for this work in solidworks

[@sandeepsokhal1175]

Sir Make more videos for Solidworks 🙏

[@solidworkssolutions]

Sure I will

[@luigipascolini9536]

Can you ise the same process Even if you have different radius? Can you work with a stp file with your process?

[@solidworkssolutions]

Yes, it doesn't depend on radius, they could be anything. If you have step file, you have to create 3d Sketch and follow that profile to find dimensions, then you can draw flat version of that step file.

[@Eduardo-hg9tp]

Muchas Gracias

[@MohammadrezaMasoudi]

سلام بسیارعالی(very good)❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Designophilia]

SO NICE

[@artinedge]

Perfect 👍

[@solidworkssolutions]

Tnx 🙏

[@shashwatkasturey3520]

This is as good as adding dimensions manually if you're dealing with a lot of cable sweeps or routed tubes. Pretty useless.

[@solidworkssolutions]

Yes, it doesn't work when you are working with many cable sweeps, but in our fab shop we have maybe 50 or less bend tubes, and instead of buying another add-in for solidworks we could easily convert them to meaningful drawings for fabricators guys!

[@alializadeh8195]

مرسی

[@solidworkssolutions]

No worries,