How to Reverse Engineer with Split Bend

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How to Reverse Engineer Using Split Bend

The Split Bend feature allows you to accurately measure bends that equal or exceed 180 degrees.

Split Bend setup is controlled in the Bend Setup tab of the Master Tube menu in VTube-LASER, and in the Bend Setup tab in VTube-STEP. Both modes of VTube allow you to configure Split Bends.

To turn a Split Bend ON for a straight section, you enter the Split Bend window and select the straights that should be treated as Split Bends.

STEP 1: Enter PART SETUP Data

Enter the Part Setup data for the new part. Especially enter the DEFAULT RADIUS. (You can measure the radius if necessary in Measure Process.)

STEP 2: Populate the MASTER TUBE DATA Grid

Since the Split Bend feature creates a grid based on the number of straights in the MASTER data, it is important to set the number of points that you will be measuring in the reversed tube.

Enter the MASTER TUBE menu, set the point count (which is two more than bend count), and press the SET button. The XYZ values will be filled with zeros like this:

The radius values were automatically filled with the DEFAULT RADIUS value from the PART SETUP menu.

STEP 3: Configure the Split Bend Window

The Split Bend window is on the Bend Setup tab in the MASTER TUBE menu. Click into that window.
In the Split Bend window, set any straight that will be treated as a Split Bend. Close the window. VTube will now understand which straight to treat as a Split Bend during measuring.

Move the Tube During Measure

It is also possible to move the tube if you attach the targets securely to the tube, then use the leapfrog feature. For example, you can use a standard metal spring clamp to attach to the tube, then place the magnetic target on the clamp handle.

The Steps for Tube Move

Place at least 3 targets on the tube. The three targets should not form a single line.

Press the LEAP button in the guide window on the left.

Measure the targets with the ball probe. Press the green button to measure each target.

Press the red button to finish the initial measure.

Move the tube and the targets to the new position relative to the arm.

Measure the targets with the ball probe. Press the green button to measure each target.

Press the red button to finish the measure.

The move is complete. Continue measuring where you left off before.