Pipe : Options and Results

Access: Open this function from the following location:

Select Solid > Creation > Pipe from the menu bar.

Drive a circle along a curve to add or remove material.

Create a new solid object, add to an existing solid object or remove material from a solid object by creating a solid or shelled pipe.

The following main options are available:

New	Create a new solid object by creating a solid or shelled pipe. New extrusions are considered independent objects.
Add	Add to an existing solid object by creating a solid or shelled pipe. Added extrusions are added to the active object.
Remove	Remove material from a solid object by creating a solid or shelled pipe. Material is removed only from the active object.

Important: Objects created by New will be considered independent objects. Those created by Add will be added to the active object. For Remove operations, material will be removed only from the current active object.

Note: If only one object exists in the file it is automatically active, unless manually deactivated or if the active object is deleted. See Activate / Deactivate and Activating Objects.

Required Step 1 :

Pick one or more contours and/or curves or edges and then <exit><exit>(middle mouse button).

Single selection for New:	Multi selection for New:		Single selection for Add/Remove:

Note: Geometry with an intersection point cannot be used. If such a geometry is selected, a message is displayed and the intersection point is highlighted.
Example:Example:

Required Step 2 :

Set the pipe parameters. The pipe shape is immediately previewed according to the displayed parameters.

Pipe > New - single input parameters, preview, result:		Pipe > Add - single input parameters, preview, result:
	Preview: Result:		Preview: Result:
Pipe > New - multi input parameters, preview, result:		Pipe > Remove - single input parameters and preview:
	Preview: Result:		Preview: Result:

The following parameters are displayed:

New

This is a dropdown list of the following options:

New	Create a new solid object by creating a solid or shelled pipe. New extrusions are considered independent objects.
Add	Add to an existing solid object by creating a solid or shelled pipe. Added extrusions are added to the active object.
Remove	Remove material from a solid object by creating a solid or shelled pipe. Material is removed only from the active object.

The default displayed option is determined as follows:

New, if there is no object.

Add, if there is an object and the last used option was New or Add.

Remove, if there is an object and the last used option was Remove.

Constant

This is a toggle option Constant / Variable enabling you to define either a constant or variable diameter for the pipe.
Examples:Examples:

Constant

Set a constant diameter for the pipe. If this option is selected, enter the required value in the Pipe Diameter parameter.

Variable

Set variable diameters for the pipe. The following additional parameters are displayed:

2 Diameters

Enter two diameter values, one at each end of the pipe.

1 Diameter and Draft

Enter one diameter value and then define a draft angle.

The following additional parameters are displayed:

Draft Angle

Enter the required draft angle value. Note that if the angle is too large, the result may become geometrically invalid!

Inside

This is a toggle option Inside / Outside which enables you to define the direction of the draft angle.
Examples:

Inside

The extrusion is widest at the selected entity.
Example:Example:

Outside

The extrusion is narrowest at the selected entity.
Example:Example:

Flip

Flip the draft angle side.
Examples:Examples:

If multiple loops are selected, Constant is the only option available and appears grayed out.

Sharp Corners

This is a toggle option Sharp Corners / Round Corners enabling you to define either sharp or round corners for the pipe.
Examples:Examples:

Sharp Corners

Define sharp corners for the pipe.

Round Corners

Define round corners for the pipe. The Corner Radius parameter is displayed.

Set the corner radius as required.

Solid

This is a toggle option Solid / Shelled enabling you to define either a solid or shelled body for the pipe.
Examples:Examples:

Solid

Define the pipe as a solid body.

Shelled

Define the pipe as a shelled body. The Thickness parameter is displayed.

Set the shell thickness as required.

Notes:

For a Constant pipe diameter, the shell thickness must be smaller than the pipe radius.
For a Variable pipe diameter, the shell thickness must be smaller than the minimum pipe radius.

Flat End

This is a toggle option Flat End / Revolved End enabling you to select the type of ending for the pipe.
Examples:Examples:

Flat End

Define flat ends for the pipe.

In the example of the Flat End option below, the selected curve is highlighted in red, for clarity.

Flat End

Revolved End

Define revolved ends for the pipe.

If this option is selected, an addition toggle option Edge on Tip / Center on Tip is displayed.

Edge on Tip	The edge of the revolved body is positioned on the end of the selected curve. This is the default option. See the examples below.
Center on Tip	The center of the revolved body is positioned on the end of the selected curve. See the examples below.

In the examples of the Edge on Tip / Center on Tip options below, the selected curve is highlighted in red, for clarity.

Edge on Tip	Center on Tip

If only multiple closed loops are selected in Step 1, Flat End is the only option available and appears grayed out.

Single Object

This is a toggle option Single Object / Multi Objects enabling you to create single or multiple objects from the multiple entities selected in Step 1.
Examples:Examples:

Multiple Selection:	Single Object:	Multiple Objects:

This option is displayed in the New option and only if multiple loops were selected in Step 1.

Invert Active Object

Use the Invert Active Object option as required. This parameter is available only for open objects and deals with issues of object direction. The parameter is only available for Add and Remove operations.

Optional Step 1

Change the active object. This option is only available in the following cases:

for Add and Remove operations when creating a feature. The option is not available when editing a created feature.
if there is more than 1 object in the active part.

A toggle parameter is displayed; Keep Original Active Object / Activate Selected Object.

Keep Original Active Object	Keep the active object originally used in the function. This is the default option.
Activate Selected Object	Change the active object to the selected object. Pick an object as required.

When you have completed the steps, click OK or Apply in the Feature Guide to complete the function.

When completed, the Pipe feature will appear in the Feature Tree as follows:

Pipe > New:	Pipe > Add:	Pipe > Remove:

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.