Advanced Tubular Technologies

          TubeCAD Tech Document #3:
          Find the angular relationship between two tubes that intersect in an assembly.

          Document For: Advanced Users
          (Knowledge of TubeCAD assemblies and AuxView projection is required.)
          Software Version: 5.8 Revision L and newer

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          One of the most compelling reasons to consider using the Assembly feature within TubeCAD is because the entire assembly of secondary tubes projects to new AuxViews by following the master tube.

          This capability enables operators to find the angular relationship between any two tubes that intersect in an assembly.

          Follow these steps:

            Step 1 Enter both tubes into separate TubeCAD layouts and save them to TubeCAD data files.

            Step 2 Determine which tube is the master and load it into TubeCAD.

            Step 3 Use the Assembly command in the second bar menu to add the other tube to this layout. (Note, when entering the filename of the secondary tube, don't use the TCD filename extension.)

            Step 4 Turn the Assembly feature ON and use the reload command in the Assembly menu to cause the assembly to take effect.

            Step 5 Enter the AuxView command mode and project the views so that the straight section of tubing at which the secondary tube intersects the master tube is normal (or perpendicular) to the screen surface.

            Step 6 Exit the AuxView command mode and use the Build CAD File command to autoload DraftChoice Plus with the current layout. Zoom in on the view to be measured so that the correct view is displayed clearly on the screen:

        A DraftChoice screen after TubeCAD autoloaded its current tube assembly: DraftChoice Angles

            Step 7 Use the Measure command in DraftChoice Plus to measure the angle of the secondary tube to the plane of either the preceding or trailing bend legs in the master tube. (Click here to see the Tech Document that explains measuring angles in DraftChoice.)

            (You can use almost any general CAD package for Step 7: Build a DXF file in TubeCAD and load it into the CAD program. Use the dimensioning commands to find the angular difference.)

        Written by Michael Cone
        Advanced Tubular Technologies

        Go back to the TubeCAD Tech Documents index.

        Copyright © 1996 Advanced Tubular Technologies, Inc.