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[Creative25]

That is quite a rough start.
Fillet has to be smaller then had the size of the smallest surface say on a 100mm cube if you try to make a 50mm fillet I get an error.
If I put 49 it is fine.
If I am selecting an edge the fillet can go to 99mm
If I go to 100 I get an error.

What operating system are you using?

[Creative25]

As I say freecad can give trouble at times.
One of the problems I have is that it freezes when I do a large array. So yesterday I typed 200 instead of 20 and the program became unresponsive.

[Creative25]

This exact video gave me the idea of how to create those curves. This one doesn’t use a script. But there are much more steps involved. You have to create a cylinder or pipe with a gap. Then a shape binder. Then a mesh then you have to unwrap the mesh. The resulting shape is not aligned to any axis so you have to use the alignment tool to align it to the xy plane. Unfortunately if you do some changes they update as far as to the shape binder. You have to to the creation of a mesh, unwrap, and align every time.

With the python script once you have selected the surface it is a one step operation.

[adbuch]

I just watched the entire video and yes - many steps involved. The process in Fusion 360 is similar with less steps. Fusion 360 has a shell tool to create the tube from the solid round bar, and once the cut is made into the branch tube - all that remains is to convert it to sheet metal (one mouse click) and then unfold it (again one button to click on). Then save as dxf. No need to deal with creating surfaces, meshes, or extruding the final flat pattern as shown in the video above.

But once the initial intersecting tubes/pipes are created in Fusion 360 - it's very quick to simply change the values for pipe size and intersection angle and then create the new flat pattern (one click) and save as dxf.

Thanks for your input.

David

[Creative25]

So basically we have two ways to create curves for notching pipes. Fusion the most simple and free ax for those who already know it.

So are there any other free software to achieve this?

If not then perhaps it would be appropriate to move those posts to a new thread?

[acourtjester]

May I interrupt your discussion with a though about Fusion 360 online version. I am one that does not like online versions but they may have a useful reason for doing that. This may be the same reason for “beta versions”, the user becomes a test bed/troubleshooter for the company. By them having access to all user's actions while using their software. They can track how the software functions and see where things can improve, or add new functions. IMHO Now back to your normal posting and sharing of great info.

[Creative25]

Google Sketch used to be a free download.
But you were limited to 3 d drawings.
It was a great software.
Suddenly you could only use it online.
So I was in search for something else.
In the old days you could by software and you could use it as long as you want. If you did not want to spend money on software you simply stayed with the old version.
Now you need to subscribe to software monthly or yearly.
Looks like those companies have become greedy.

Bookkeeping software has become the worst.
There I found only one free one Gnucash.

I just wonder if Fusion will suddenly pull the plug on the free version. But if you know it well and have good internet stay with it as long as you can.

[adbuch]

So basically we have two ways to create curves for notching pipes. Fusion the most simple and free ax for those who already know it.

So are there any other free software to achieve this?

If not then perhaps it would be appropriate to move those posts to a new thread?

Solid Edge is free and I expect can accomplish this as well. It does rely on internet access, so maybe not for you with your poor internet connection.
David

[adbuch]

That is quite a rough start.
Fillet has to be smaller then had the size of the smallest surface say on a 100mm cube if you try to make a 50mm fillet I get an error.
If I put 49 it is fine.
If I am selecting an edge the fillet can go to 99mm
If I go to 100 I get an error.

What operating system are you using?

Windows 10.
I was working in inches. My fillet size was smaller, but perhaps it got confused since it seems like it likes to work with cm or mm. I did read a warning that it showed when I downloaded it telling me to save my file often because - I can only assume because it has lots of bugs and crashes often. Perhaps I will try it again once I receive your file and spreadsheet.

David

[adbuch]

May I interrupt your discussion with a though about Fusion 360 online version. I am one that does not like online versions but they may have a useful reason for doing that. This may be the same reason for “beta versions”, the user becomes a test bed/troubleshooter for the company. By them having access to all user's actions while using their software. They can track how the software functions and see where things can improve, or add new functions. IMHO Now back to your normal posting and sharing of great info.

Tom - food for thought!
David

[adbuch]

I meant you can download my drawing with the spreadsheet.
Only other thing you need to do is download the python script from the freecad forum. And create a shortcut.
It can all be found on the link I provided.
I am thankful to the person who created this script. It makes it so much easier.

If I am understanding you correctly - if I downloaded and installed FreeCad and had your spreadsheet and drawing file, all I would have to do would be to open FreeCad, load in your file and spreadsheet, download the python script, and easily create flat patterns for pipe wraps without needing to know very much about using FreeCad. If that is true, then I could see this being very useful to many members and others.

If you would like to email your spread sheet and drawing file for FreeCad, I will take a look to see if they will work for me. I will send you a PM with my email address.

David

[Creative25]

That is quite a rough start.
Fillet has to be smaller then had the size of the smallest surface say on a 100mm cube if you try to make a 50mm fillet I get an error.
If I put 49 it is fine.
If I am selecting an edge the fillet can go to 99mm
If I go to 100 I get an error.

What operating system are you using?

Windows 10.
I was working in inches. My fillet size was smaller, but perhaps it got confused since it seems like it likes to work with cm or mm. I did read a warning that it showed when I downloaded it telling me to save my file often because - I can only assume because it has lots of bugs and crashes often. Perhaps I will try it again once I receive your file and spreadsheet.

David

Free as version 10 just came out about two weeks ago.
I can say version 023 or something worked better.
There is definitely something not right if the program crashes with such basic operations.

I tried to do what you tried yesterday but it did nod get well. You Created an additive cube in part design.


It is supposed to be added to a different pad or else it can not be rotated.

In the parts workshop you apparently can create cilinders and all kinds of shapes that can be rotated.

In part design I always create a sketch and pad it.
That is just my habit. If I want to change the size of a cylinder I just change the sketch and it updates.

I see the python script works only if you do it this way.
Learning freecad can be frustrating. But I must say there is a good support community. And also lots of YouTube videos.

[adbuch]

What do you mean "pad it"? Do you mean extrude to a solid body?

[Creative25]

Yes in freecad you use the pad button I have sent you the Freecad file.

The python script can be downloaded here.
https://forum.freecad.org/download/file.php?id=109930

[adbuch]

which one do I download.jpg

[adbuch]

Can you recommend a video to show the basics of creating a sketch and extruding (padding) with FreeCad for a beginner?

[Creative25]

Second one first one is a freecad file to test the python script. Not really needed.

You are supposed to copy it to some folder. I don’t know wich one in windows.

I did just create a new macro opened the downloaded file in a text editor and did copy and paste it.

[Creative25]

Can you recommend a video to show the basics of creating a sketch and extruding (padding) with FreeCad for a beginner?

[Creative25]

I also love to use the property editor.

https://wiki.freecad.org/Property_editor

Did not find a short video.

[adbuch]

I have downloaded the macro, installed it into the FreeCad macro folder, and opened your file. After a little bit of fiddling around, I figured it out.
Thanks,
David

[adbuch]

I was not able to find a single button to click on to activate the macro. Instead, I had to click on Macro, then Macro, then select the macro name and click on the Execute button.

execute macro.jpg

[adbuch]

edit - I figured it out. This is the length of the tube.
Thanks,
David

tube diameter.jpg

[adbuch]

I found the spreadsheet.jpg

[adbuch]

pretty close.jpg

[adbuch]

FreeCad tube notch flat pattern macro example results.jpg