Display the cutting result on a part from a tube laser in the IRONCAD

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A question that has appeared more frequently on the support is "How can I show the cutting result on a part from a tube laser in IRONCAD?". In this post we will describe how you can easily do this.

The movie (without sound) shows two different methods, how to create a 3D curve from an existing part and project it onto the surface and how to project a 2D profile onto the surface. By combining some different tools in IRONCAD you can then create a section in the part perpendicular to the center of the pipe.

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Create the cut via a separate part

Start by clicking down to the surface level of the part that will act as a screen template. Now right-click on the surface and select Extract 3D Curve.

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Then go to the 3D-Curve tab (if the Wrap Cur ve command is not immediately visible here, you need to press Common) followed by Wrap Curve.

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Make sure that Curve Type of Wrap is set to Feature, then click in the Feature the box and then click on the 3D curve which then becomes blue instead of orange.

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Make sure the Location Type is set to Projection , then tap the surface of the mantle and the result should look like this:

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Then press Apply

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The 3D curve has now been projected onto the surface of the mantle. Now go to the Feature tab followed by Split Faces:

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(1) Set Type of Split to Curve on Face. (2) Tap on the face . (3) Set Curve Type to Feature. ( 4) Then tap the 3D curve. (5) Apply by tapping the green check mark.

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Now we have divided the surface of the shell via our 3D curve. Now press down to surface level on the shape, right click and select Create Thicken Shape.

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Under Thickness , it is important that you select a thickness that can pass through both the inner and outer surface (in this case 30 mm) and then select Symmetric followed by Apply:

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Then we have a result that looks like this:

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Now go to the Feature tab and select Boolean (make sure the parts are under the same assembly, otherwise you will get an error message. Drag and drop the part to the same assembly as the pipe):

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(1) Now select Subtraction. (2) For Main body, click on the tube. (3) For Bodies for subtraction, click on the "template". (4) Then press Apply:

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The result:

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Create the cut via a 2D profile

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Go to the 3D-Curve tab (if the Wrap Cur ve command is not immediately visible here, you have to press Common) followed by Wrap Curve.

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(1) Make sure the Curve Type of Wrap is on Feature. ( 2) Now click on the 2D profile. (3) Then click on the wrap surface. (4) Make sure that Location Type is set to Projection. (5) Then click on Apply:

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The 2D profile has now been projected onto the surface of the jacket. Now go to the Feature tab followed by Split Faces:

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(1) Set Type of Split to Curve on Face. (2) Tap on the face . (3) Set Curve Type to Feature. ( 4) Then tap the 3D curve. (5) Apply by tapping the green check mark.

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Now we have divided the surface of the shell via our 3D curve. Now press down to surface level on the shape, right click and select Create Thicken Shape.

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Under Thickness , it is important that you select a thickness that can pass through both the inner and outer surface (in this case 30 mm) and then select Symmetric followed by Apply:

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Then we have a result that looks like this:

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Now go to the Feature tab and select Boolean (make sure the parts are under the same assembly, otherwise you will get an error message. Drag and drop the part to the same assembly as the pipe):

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(1) Now select Subtraction. (2) For Main body, click on the tube. (3) For Bodies for subtraction, click on the "template". (4) Then press Apply:

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The result:

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Individual functions

If you are interested in learning more about each of the features we have used here, you can watch these videos that describe each feature in detail:

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Wrap Curve:

https://ironcad.academy/tutorial/wrap-curve#surface

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Split Faces:

https://ironcad.academy/tutorial/split-faces#feature

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Thicken Shape:

https://ironcad.academy/tutorial/thicken#feature

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Boolean:

https://ironcad.academy/tutorial/boolean#feature

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