Difference between revisions of "Building Tube Assemblies in SOLIDWORKS"

Revision as of 20:29, 2 June 2016

VTube-LASER can reverse engineer tube and then build that tube in SOLIDWORKS as a fully-constrained 3D parametric model. This page describes the basic steps to create an assembly from a part using VTube-LASER and SOLIDWORKS.

STEP 1: Measure One of the Parts in VTube-LASER

Measure the first pipe and create a measured tube shape.

STEP 2: Build the Part in SOLIDWORKS

Use the File tab in Measure Tube Data to send the measured part to SOLIDWORKS.

STEP 3: Save the SOLIDWORKS Part File

Save the part to a unique SOLIDWORKS part file on the disk.

STEP 4: Repeat Steps 1 through 3 for all the parts

Be careful to not move the assembly. Repeat the first three steps for each tube.

STEP 5: Start a New Assembly

Start a new assembly. These steps show how to insert four parts from the SOLIDWORKS part files.

STEP 6: Cancel the New Assembly Feature

In order to insert the tubes in the proper location, we need to establish the common origin in a plane. So press Cancel new assembly first.

STEP 7: Create a Reference Plane at the Origin

Insert a new plane, then press Finish. It is not necessary to change the location of the plane - since it is already centered around the world origin.

STEP 8: Press Insert Components in Assemblies

Press Insert Components.

STEP 9: Select Multiple SOLIDWORKS Files

Use Ctrl + or Shift + to select multiple parts to include in the assembly.

STEP 10: Select the Origin

Point to the middle of the plane and click. Do this for each part until all the parts are inserted at the origin.

Read More About Tube Elongation

• About Multi-Elongation in VTube
• How to Calculate Tube Elongation Percentage in VTube-LASER

Other Pages

• Back to the VTube-STEP page
• Back to the VTube-LASER page