Measurement Tips

Selecting Arc Radii

Selecting arc radii on a piece of tubing can be difficult since the arcs may not be visible in a default view.

To make the arcs visible, select Smooth with Edges from the render mode drop-down menu on the 3D Document toolbar.

Render Mode Menu

Selecting an Incorrect Arc

If you select an arc by mistake, you must stop then restart your current measurement or the results may not be correct.

An effective workaround is to measure shorter lengths and then export these length values to a .cvs file using the Tube Length Bill of Materials command. Use Excel to add up the data. Shorter measurement errors are more tolerable to redo (i.e., reselecting four or five arcs is more manageable than reselecting 50 arcs).

Known Limitations

180-Degree Bends

Because the Tube Length function depends on arc radii selections for its calculations, an arc radius must be selected within the bend itself; otherwise, measurement results will be inaccurate.

Angled-Cut Tubes

The length of tubes consisting of a vertical cut on one end and an angled cut on the other cannot be measured accurately.