Pipe design between various angled fittings in an assembly

[Bertho_Boman]

A similar request was previously done but the help video is not available.

I understand 2-D pipes, sweeps, and poly lines.

I have looked at many pipe tutorials.  Unfortunately they are done in a "vacuum".  In realistic conditions, the fittings  are already predefined in an assembly and a pipe needs to connect them and also often avoid obstacles. 

I made an extremely simple assembly for testing.  What is the procedure to connect between the two ends?

I also included the CAD file.

[jhackney1972]

First thing I did was "Break Link" between all external components so I could send your model back in one file.  You do not want to replace your original with this one.  The rest is explained in the Screencast.  Model is attached as an F3D file.

[Leo_Dyn]

Are you asking to (per your screenshot) have the red and green parts remain exactly stationary, and then create the yellow part in a way that results in a smooth transition into the ends of the red and green part?

[Bertho_Boman]

The red and green "connectors" were just dragged in place to intentionally get unusual directional angles and an assembly.

They were locked in place by the "as Built" command.  It is just a test object for demonstrating the problem.  In this example, the pipe would slip over the end-projections.

I have  to create many pipes in a refrigeration system and I am trying to learn how to do 3-D pipes between unrelated angular faces.

Bertho

[Bertho_Boman]

I am sorry for not better explain my test object. Please see my next comment.

[Leo_Dyn]

Got ya, so this is an example in which you are looking for the procedure to connect those two as they sit, but this exact situation isn't your end goal. More of an easy to see example of what you need to accomplish in the long run?

Guess I'd start with creating a spline, probably as a 3d sketch if possible. That is where all the work will lie. Once that is done either the "pipe" or a "sweep" should finish the job. You'll likely want to start at both ends by putting a straight line normal to the ends of the fittings and then connect the two via splines from there.

[wersy · Accepted solution]

If your pipes can be bent, maybe you could do it with the cable method.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x08j2GguhI

[TrippyLighting]

Based on your description you are looking for a method to connect arbitrarily oriented ends like this:

If this is what you are looking for I can outline one possible workflow in a screencast, if the attached model isnt explanatory enough.

[Bertho_Boman]

Yes,
It is just a simple device for testing pipes. That is basically what I was trying but I kept getting errors that the pipe or sweep could not be finished.

[Bertho_Boman]

Thank you Peter,

It looks good but I have a few questions & comments

The goal for my test object is to connect a tube from the small ends of the connectors.  The yellow section was added to make it an assembly and lock the connectors together.  Basically what you did is similar to what I want to do.

After the rigid group there is a "Hose1" step.  What is that?

I see the spline and I understand it and the following pipe command.

What is the sketch at the end? Left over by mistake?

I have too many times tried to connect the two outside connectors with a spline but I was getting error messages, something lime "anti-collinear" or something like that.  Sorry, I do not have the exact error message now.

I believe my problem is with the start/stop of the 3D spline,  2D works fine for me.

Bertho

[Bertho_Boman]

Thank you Wersy,

The wire construction looks very promising and I have lots of applications for creating wires in Fusion 360.

It is clever to create the parallel joined wires.

That procedure ought to also work with pipes or sweeps.

I will try it later tonight.

Bertho

[TrippyLighting]

I've created a screen recording, but it'll take awhile before YouTube has processed it.

The method shown in the video posted by @wersy still works, but was created before we had 3D sketches.

[Bertho_Boman]

Thanks Peter,
This is exactly what I was looking for.
It looks easy when you do it and I finally learned it. Finding the little details with 3D Sketching has been difficult. There are older videos creating planes and other methods that have been confusing. On top of that, Fusion 360 user interface has been changing so some of the videos cannot be followed today.