Tube Feature
Used to extrude a section profile along a defined path (trace curve).
Before using this tool, you must first create:
It is not necessary to correctly orient the section profile nor to locate it at the beginning of the trace curve. The section profile is rotated to the proper orientation and attached to the trace curve at the point by which it (the section profile) was selected. You can reverse the orientation of the profile by selecting the trace curve at (or near) the opposite end.
Both the trace curve and the section profile may be created using dimension-driven design (DDD) elements. In these instances, use the Modify Profile tool to change the trace curve or section profile, after creating the solid. Changes to either (DDD) element will generate reshaping of the solid created from them.
Both the section profile and trace curves are converted to Construction Class elements during creation of the solid. After creating the solid, they will be visible in a view only if Constructions are turned on in the View Attributes dialog.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Thickness | Sets the wall thickness of the extruded feature. Positive values produce a tubular extrusion with the wall offset outwards from the profile. Negative values produce a tubular extrusion with the wall offset inwards from the profile. A value of zero creates a solid (non-tubular) extrusion. |
| Equation icon | Opens a dialog that lets you define the Thickness setting with a variable. For more information, see Variable Driven Modeling and Constraints. |
| Cell | If on, the active cell is projected. A new active cell may be entered in the text field. |
| Browse Cell(s) icon | (Cell on only) Opens the Select Profile dialog, which lets you select a profile from the attached cell library, or from any shared cells present in the model. Where a dimension driven cell is chosen, you can edit its parameters. |
| Keep Profile | (Cell off only) If on, the original profile is retained in the model. |
