Flexible Ducting Hose

[Anonymous]

Hello People.. I'm wondering where to start here really... i want to create a flexible ducting hose that's about 30cm in diameter. Can anyone suggest how i should go about this? thanks!

[TheCADWhisperer]

Do you expect for it to move with assembly motion?

I would do a simple Sweep or Pipe with cosmetic texture Appearance.

More information is needed about your design intent.

And if possible - attach what you have attempted so far.

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

[Anonymous]

Ok - this is the bare bones of it...  Just a wire coil right now, but i'd like to attach an outer cover to make a duct.

It doesn't have to move - i'm just looking for a visual rendering.

[PhilProcarioJr · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous

Is this what your after?

[Noah_Katz]

Coincidentally I'm doing a design w/flexible duct as well.

The tricky part is how do you handle bending it around a curve, where the coil spacing is different at the inside and outside of the turn.

I'd be happy to cheat and just have the coils be individual spaced rings.

[Anonymous]

that makes me grin - it's possible then with a loft through a smaller profile, and copied on the underside.. good. Thanks!

[PhilProcarioJr]

@Anonymous

There might be an easier way...I have a few thoughts I will try this weekend and post if I come up with anything else, but this should at least get you going.

When I do work like this that is only used for visuals and rendering I use DM environment so it doesn't clutter the timeline. The best thing is to model stuff like this outside your main scene without history and then just drag it in and break the link. It will also give you a huge performance boost.

@Noah_Katz

I have some ideas but I will need to do some testing first. I will get back to you on that.

[jasonhomrighaus]

If you create the spiral, then create a profile at the end of it you should be able to sweep your profile along the length of the spiral creating your cover.  I will try a video if you want.

[Noah_Katz]

That would be great, thanks, Phil.

It's relatively straightforward in that it's two semicircular bends with straight as seen at the very top.

Actually I might even be able to do it myself by a circular pattern of lofts made with different-sized hoops.

But I've got cabin fever after weeks of using/learning F360, I'm going to R&R with some projects, and see what you come up with 🙂