Rip a pipe for flat pattern

larry_nelson

How do you rip a pipe so it will give you the flat pattern?

Thanks,
Larry N

brucebartlett

If the pipe is already created, you could first add the split to the pipe, then convert the outside face to sheet metal to get the flat pattern. 

john_mcclary

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/28050bca2b1ddeb0acbab720/w/72369ffa7faabbf84de28ab1/e/83132e95ca640c16597dc091

See example above

What you do is draw your tube with a split circle
extrude a surface using the split circle
then use the sheet-metal tool to thicken that surface

brucebartlett

If the pipe is already created, you could first add the split to the pipe, then convert the outside face to sheet metal to get the flat pattern. 

bryan_lagrange

I find putting the k factor to 1 gives you a good flat pattern to work with. 

kevin_mason558

@brucebartlett
when I tried split with my pipe (made using frame tool) it splits straight through into two parts 
is there a way of only splitting once? 

Problem would be joining the two patterns on one face, if it's split in two 
I have a pipe that is mitred then notch so there's a different shape on the two halves when it's flattened 

eric_pesty

kevin_mason558 said:

@brucebartlett
when I tried split with my pipe (made using frame tool) it splits straight through into two parts 
is there a way of only splitting once? 

Problem would be joining the two patterns on one face, if it's split in two 
I have a pipe that is mitred then notch so there's a different shape on the two halves when it's flattened 

The best way to do this is probably do a thin cut (make it less than the "minimum gap" in the sheet metal feature):



Note that I could even do a sweep instead of an extrude to split both frame members in one go in this case