What's new

Sheet metal pipe with tabs for a flange

Kanon

Member
Hi

Anyone know how to add tabs to a sheet metal pipe? (Please view attached pic of sheet metal part I need to design)
 

Attachments

  • Flanged spigot square plate.jpg
    Flanged spigot square plate.jpg
    46.1 KB · Views: 43

HaroldL

Alibre Super User
I recall submitting an enhancement request for something similar to this a while ago. It's likely on a list somewhere to be "looked at" but no idea if it will be adopted.

You cannot add flanges to curved edges so you need to create straight sections where ever you want a tab. That will likely change the tube from being completely round to something that is a combination of curved and straight sections. Not very good looking but it will flatten.

Another option would be to use Configurations; one with the tabs in the unflattened states and following the curvature of the tube, another config with the tabs as PART features showing them in the formed state.

Which version of Alibre are you using? And what are the dimensions of the pipe that you are working on? I might be able to work up a sample for you in v25 or v26.

Here are some screen shots from v26"

Tabs unformed:

1678818993929.png

Tabs formed:

1678819022944.png

And a Flattened part:

1678819066799.png
 
Last edited:

Kanon

Member
Hi Harold

That is fantastic!
Thank you for taking the trouble to explain this so clearly.
I have version 26.
The pipe has a ID of 320mm.
1.2mm thick.
The flanges are 30mm long.
 

HaroldL

Alibre Super User
Here's a model for you to take check out the steps I took to create it. I didn't know the length so you'll have to edit that for your needs.

Note the locks settings are for both configurations. If you change the pipe diameter or length of one config it should change in both. You could also unlock the Color Properties so both configs adopt the same color if you add one.
1678868000383.png
 

Attachments

  • SM PIPE wTABS.AD_SMP
    2.6 MB · Views: 16
Top