AutoCAD Inventor :: Drawing Hydraulic Steel Pipes

I am drawing hydraulic steel pipes using the 3d sketch command. I enter in the points representing the change of direction  of the center  line of the pipe as if it had no bend radii.

The points are entered in using absolute X,Y,Z coordinates, choosing one end of the pipe as 0,0,0.

I then join the points using the line command. I then put the bend radii on using the bend command.

I then draw a 2d sketch of the 2 circles representing the id , od of the pipe on a normal plane at the start point 0,0,0

I then sweep the 2D sketch along the path of the 3D sketch. I then place axes at the center of each straight portion of pipe . I then place points the intersection points of consecutive axes to replicate the original setting out points (3D x,y,z coordinates) that I used in the 3D sketch.

Then I create my idw with 3 orthographic views (showing the relevant axes as a symbols in each view, an isometric view and a coordinate table showing the x,y,z coordinates of each labelled change of direction. I then pull the pipe into an assembly and put the fittings on each end.

This is another IDW showing the fittings and a parts list. I have inventor suite 2012, along with tube and pipe. However I have never tried it.I don't know how it works, maybe it would be better to use that?

Another question on the measuring of pipes. If a sample is made and then backdraughting needs to be done how do you measure it.

Method used before I arrived was measuring lengths and angles. Highly inaccurate. Never worked. Pipes never drawn. Ended up being photographed only, which was not good enough to make spare parts for service technicians in the field, they had to go out to measure on site and make up on site.

I introduced measuring the change of direction vertices of the centreline of the pipe as if there was not bend radius.

More accurate, but highly difficult to measure. Use steel rules and squares. Never right the first time. Always have to check putting the pipe on top of a full scale drawing.

Tried to improve method of measurement by printing out a A0 piece of graph paper and using that as the background to lay the pipe on. Better/easier and more accurate again, but still not spot on, have to check and adjust using the pipe on top of a full scale plot.

Short of buying some type of expensive 3D measuring machine, which in our case would not warrant the cost as we do not do this type of drawing 100 per cent of our time, not even 30 per cent, what is the best method of measuring pipes accurately.