Ducting for RC Fan Jet

[fisherman195]

Hi All,

I'm trying to create the duct work that goes from the fuselage intakes to the fan. My plan was to create a solid body of the duct and then use this to cut the channels from the main body.

The two intakes need to merge into one tube that will interface with the front of the fan. In other words a Y duct.

The intakes should follow the outer edge of the body so that the wall thickness remains constant up to a point where it'll need to curve inwards to join with the other side before reaching the fan.

Is a loft with a guide rail(s) the right way to achieve this? As the fan and intakes are at different heights, I'm a bit confused about what plane(s) I would need to sketch on for the guide rail.

Or perhaps there is a better way?

Any tips on how to tackle this would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[davebYYPCU]

You should not need guide rails, unless you have to avoid something straightish tunnels will interfere with.

You will need to use bodies not sketches for best results.  

Make dummy bodies for the profile, use Tangent condition and you will get nice curved duct result.

Yep, do one side, mirror > join the right side to make one cutter body, then combine cut from the main body.

Use a full circle for the fan, the overlap will take care of itself during the mirror.

Might help….

[fisherman195]

Thanks for your swift reply!
Ideally I'd like the duct to follow the outer profile of the body (with an 8mm wall thickness) up until it needs to curve inwards because I will need to leave as much of the center column free for battery and control gear.

Would you mind elaborating what you mean by "Make dummy bodies for the profile, use Tangent condition" please?

[davebYYPCU]

Quicker to make one. Step up the timeline, 

Use the faces of the dummy bodies for the profile selections.

Then change the connected to Tangent.  Then there is a handle arrow to adjust the curve shape from each end.

Press Ok.

Might help...