UNWRAP A CYLINDER IN AUTOCAD 2022

[ericpete24]

Imagine a tube 12" long with a 2" diameter.  Image another smaller 1" tube shooting through the first tube at an 80 degree angle from the center axis of the larger first tube and removing the material (making two holes) in the 12" tube.   The resulting 3d model is a 12" tube with a 1" diameter hole going through it at an angle.  Now, how could I unwrap this tube model into a flat surface and show the holes where they should be (a little oblonged of course)?  Simple right?  The model tube with holes is the easy part.  I have AutoCAD 2022 to work with.

[AVCPlugins]

In pure Autocad, this is not done in any way. Look for plugins with the word Unfold (and prepare about $500). In more advanced dwg-programs, this is a standard function (for Mechanical versions).

[Valentin_CAD]

@ericpete24 ,

See the response on a similar topic:

• https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/how-to-unfold-cylinder-solid-to-show-its-full-projectio...
• https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/sheet-metal-software

[pendean · Accepted solution]

... and AutoCAD-MECHANICAL is free to all 2022 subscribers to download/install/use too https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/included-toolsets/autocad-mechanical

[ericpete24]

What brand/version of a more advanced dwg software are you referring to? Does AutoCAD mechanical have this feature? Thanks for your help.

[AVCPlugins]

To unfold a solid dwg model, I personally use BricsCAD Mechanical and the built-in tool for converting any 3d-solid to a sheet metal product.

AutoCAD Mechanical is a purely 2D program that has no such features and (in my opinion) makes no sense at all in the 21st century.

If you are committed to Autodesk products, then you will have to convert your models to Inventor (or other heavy Autodesk parametric programs) and try to unfold them as sheet metal. But I'm not sure it will work. Most likely you will have to rebuild the model from scratch in a parametric style (much more complex and time consuming than direct modeling in AutoCAD). However, if you regularly draw complex mechanical products, then you should still pay attention to parametric CAD.