8 Replies Latest reply on Feb 9, 2018 9:36 AM by Elmar Klammer

FLATTEN TUBE WELDMENT IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

Steve Crompton Feb 9, 2018 5:15 AM

I know this has come up before,but does anyone know if its even being worked on at Solidworks?

To send files suitable for a tube laser when tubes are already modeled that are bent with holes and possibley mitres is quite a chore because you have to re model a file just for the tube laser ie a flattened version.

I've voted on the enhancement request but I'm really hoping to see the functionality soon in solidworks.

Thanks

Steve

Re: FLATTEN TUBE WELDMENT IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

Wayne Schafer Feb 9, 2018 7:21 AM (in response to Steve Crompton)

You can get an addin now. It is called Tube Works. It works good and the support is great. We do a lot of tube bending here and have used Tube Works for several years.

3DCompound
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- Re: FLATTEN TUBE WELDMENT IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?
  
  Steve Crompton Feb 9, 2018 7:30 AM (in response to Wayne Schafer)
  
  Looks like a good piece of software.
  
  Is it expensive?
  
  Thanks
  Steve
  
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  - Re: FLATTEN TUBE WELDMENT IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?
    
    Wayne Schafer Feb 9, 2018 7:46 AM (in response to Steve Crompton)
    
    The cost is around $2500. My thought is Solidworks will charge at least that if they start to offer it as a package. Plus the support will not be as good. These people at Tube Works have great support. Very fast support.
    
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    - Re: FLATTEN TUBE WELDMENT IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?
      
      Steve Crompton Feb 9, 2018 9:09 AM (in response to Wayne Schafer)
      
      Agreed, but wouldnt it be nice to have the funcionality in the base version. There must be so many users who could benefit.
      
      Thanks for the info.
      Steve
      
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      - Re: FLATTEN TUBE WELDMENT IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?
        
        Wayne Schafer Feb 9, 2018 9:28 AM (in response to Steve Crompton)
        
        They would not get it in the base version unless they paid for it like any other addin and the support would not be as good in my opinion.
        
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Re: FLATTEN TUBE WELDMENT IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

Elmar Klammer Feb 9, 2018 7:48 AM (in response to Steve Crompton)

Hi Steve,

Check out SOLIDWORKS TUTORIAL-TIPS AND TRICKS FOR TUBE LASER by TabandSlot.com | Training
Great tutorial. It gives you a way to flatten tube manually but also gives an idea what it takes to calculate flat length.
Lots of detail goes into the tooling and machine specific data per tube size and shape. Not simple at all.

Elmar
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- Re: FLATTEN TUBE WELDMENT IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?
  
  Steve Crompton Feb 9, 2018 9:08 AM (in response to Elmar Klammer)
  
  Thanks for the link. Some good info on there.
  
  Steve
  
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  - Re: FLATTEN TUBE WELDMENT IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?
    
    Elmar Klammer Feb 9, 2018 9:36 AM (in response to Steve Crompton)
    
    Hi Steve,
    
    Some good basic information. Now extend that to open & closed sections, machine tooling etc. and one will understand why this is even more difficult then sheet metal bending with a fraction of possible users.
    
    Elmar
    
    Basic tube bending Guide Mandrel H&H Toolig.pdf 806.1 KB
    
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