Simple Tubular Frame construction

[Anonymous]

Please help,

I'm at a complete loss for how to easily construct a simple tube frame. Context: I'm drawing up a hand truck that has a few out-of-plane bends in a section of tubing. I've added a random google image that illustrates geometry similar to what I'm aiming for.

I've tried:

- Making a 3d sketch as one would in Solidworks. This seems impossible without some sort of reference geometry to tie your lines to.

- Making a reference rectangular box and drawing on it's faces. Now I cannot seem to use sketch relations or dimensions.

- Building a stack of planes with points to later on connect.

- Using sketch fillets as an alternative to a bend radius functionality (which seems to be lacking in the pipe feature).

The main two reasons none of this works is because I need to:

- Have control over the dimensions (or angles) of my frame.

- Have control over the bend radius, preferably in one place.

Why is this so counter-intuitive? Do I really need to manually construct every piece of tubing with planes and lines? That seems cumbersome and extremely difficult to edit later on might I need to change dimensions.

[innovatenate · Accepted solution]

Here's a tube frame completed in 10 features using the edges of solid bodies to generate the frames. Using the edges of a solid body as the skeleton to drive the shape makes it easy to have a fully parametric tube frame. The best part is you don't have to worry about whether you're sketching in 2D or 3D. 

Take a look at the attached design and let me know if you have any quesitons about the approach.

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

That's radically different from what I'm used to but absolutely brilliant! 

Thanks!

[marco.cuter]

As the other users during my job I use Solidworks.

At my home I'm learning Fusion 360 because I think it is a very good and economic solution for private use.

So Nathan I understand your approch, but I still miss how to define a different section like an "L" profile or an "H" beam profile.

If it is possible surely someware there is any menu I don't find.

I know the price of Fusion 360 is not the same as Inventor od Solidworks, but if you work with non rounded or quare profiles, you will need to rotate the section and change the joints behaviour.

Hope to receive any good news,

Regards,

Marco Cuter

[amrudesh.santhanam]

That really is a cool way of constructing a space frame. We are trying this now to create frames for our motorcycle design. Thanks for that. 

[nikerochine]

Hello

Thank you for providing a sample. That looks like a two minute job, unfortunately I am new at this and it has been over an hour for me to figure out how you went from sketch 1 to Body 3. Do you have a screecast of how you did this? Some help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[davebYYPCU]

Pipe command needs a Path.  Dialogue box keeps the profile and size details.

The bodies 1 and 2, are not joined, so the edge of body 1, finishes at the mitre, and the next part is body 2's edge.

Might help...

[nikerochine]

Thank you. Will try it today.

[hanshull]

Hi, 

I have also a frame making problem. I make 3D sketches and adding pipes on the construction lines. Problems:
 - If I change the frame length from 3000mm to 2000 mm, then the pipe doesn't go shorter but just bends 90 degrees from the one end. 

- I can't add pipe command on the two long blue frame lines (between the 3000 mm pipes). Some kind of error message pop up.

Is there another way to make that frame as I have started to have control over frame measures? I need to have a part list later for every pipe in the frame for cutting, welding. Also need to change the frame measures.

My project screenshot and file is added.

Many thanks,
Hans

 

[davebYYPCU]

I can’t access your file on Desktop for a few weeks for review, and others will chime in.

The sketches without black defined articles, will give that trouble.

Why 3d sketch?  I avoid them when the frame has planes for the frame to lay on.

When you finish each sketch all of it’s articles should be purple or black.

Might help....

[jhackney1972]

I created another model to show you how I would do this frame.  I only added the top tubes and did nothing with the vertical sketches.  In my Screencast I pointed out how you can use construction lines to control your pipe lengths in the frame sketch.  Using this method you can get your joints to be accurate right from the sketch.  I pointed out that the 2D drawing can have a cut list but the lengths are not parametric and will have to be updated manually when you change the table sketch dimensions.  I chose to use the Description Property for the callout of material and length.  I did not understand your moving of every pipe section in the original file.  If you want the entire frame smaller or larger just adjust the sketch.  I know you cannot control the position of the Pipe on the sketch but do the whole frame then move it as a unit, not each piece.  I have attached the F3Z file which contains the model and the 2D drawing and also the F3D file of just the model for your convenience.

[hanshull]

HI,

Thanks for the good support. That looks like a very interesting way to solve frame making. But can you shortly explain to me how did you make the pipe appear from the sketch. Pipes are coming visible at the parameters table.

Thanks,
Hans

[hanshull]

I just got this solved. Thanks for the support! The case is SOLVED.

[hanshull]

Hello,

1.

During the frame design process, I have faced another problem. My sketch was black and all fine. Until I started to add extra construction on Y-axis up and down, then I faced with blue lines and orange lines on my sketch. How to fix this and get all black again?

2.

I guess the blue lines cause another problem. If I like to change the frame length from 2000 to 3000 to 1500 etc, it doesn't work out. I get an error: d1 has an issue.  Are there some constraints missing? Cloud it be related to the blue frame sketch thing?

I have added the project file and a screenshot.

Many thanks in advance,
Hans

[jhackney1972]

You have causes you issues due to the fact you are sketching the "vertical" skeleton sketch in the same sketch you did the horizontal.   The horizontal sketch is on a plane and if you add sketch lines on the same plane they are treated a basically points and all the vertical sketch lines cannot move in relation to the original sketch when you try and edit the length of the top skeleton.  You need a new sketch plane for every independent change of direction and position.  So you need a new sketch on the each end, the two uprights on the top, etc.

[martin.murbach]

Thanks a lot for the tip ! 
Any chance we can get 45 degree joints on the corners with this method ? 

Thanks,

[jhackney1972]

I created a Screencast of what I assume you want, a mitered square or rectangular tube frame.  My model is attached.

I would like to give you a hint about posting on the Forum.  It is usually a poor practice to "tag" onto another's OLD post.  The reason it does not get the attention for the whole Forum.  I got notified because I was one of the original responders.  Start your own Forum thread and if you would like, give a link back to an older post. 

Second hint, you elected to address the original poster of this old thread.  He is the one that ask the original question and you are obviously asking one of the users that originally replied on how to do it with miter joints.  Select the "Reply" icon, not the Quick Reply, on the poster you want to actually address.  Notice how my post is directed to you personally because I select the Reply icon on your post.

[martin.murbach]

Hi, 

Many thanks for the demo and the forum advices ! Helps a lot

Wish you a nice day