How to Reverse Engineer a Part Using Split Bend

The Split Bend feature allows you to measure bends that equal or exceed 180 degrees. Split Bend setup is controlled in the Bend Setup tab menu of the Master Tube menu in VTube-LASER, and in the Bend Setup tab in VTube-STEP.

To turn a Split Bend ON for a straight section, enter the Split Bend window and select the straights that should be treated as Split Bends.

STEP 1: Enter PART SETUP Data

Enter the Part Setup data for the new part, especially the PART NUMBER and DEFAULT RADIUS. (You can measure the radius if necessary in the Measure Process.)

STEP 2: Populate the MASTER TUBE DATA Grid

Since the Split Bend feature creates a grid based on the number of straights in the MASTER data, it is essential to set the number of points you will measure in the reversed tube.

Enter the MASTER TUBE menu, set the point count (two more than the bend count), and press the SET button. The XYZ values will be filled with zeros like this:

The radius values were automatically filled with the DEFAULT RADIUS value from the PART SETUP menu.

STEP 3: Configure the Split Bend Window

The Split Bend window is on the Bend Setup tab in the MASTER TUBE menu. Click into that window.

In the Split Bend window, set any straight that will be treated as a Split Bend.

Close the window. VTube will now understand which straight to treat as a Split Bend during measuring.

STEP 4: Configure the Measure Setup

Configure Measure Setup like this:

1. Press the Measure Setup button in the Navigation pane.
   
   
2. Press the Laser tab if it is not active.
   
   
3. Activate the LASER scanner for Split Bends.
   
   
4. Set the number of allowed STRIPES to 50 for Split Bends.
   
   

Continue with the Measure Setup in the Separation Filter menu.

1. Press the Separation Filter tab.
   
   
2. Set the SPLIT BEND Scan Type to DISTANCE.
   
   
3. Set the SPLIT BEND Scan Distance to 0.015" (or .38 mm).
   
   

STEP 5: Measure The Part

This step is identical to regular reverse-engineering measuring.

When you arrive at the split bend to scan, VTube-LASER will make a unique sound and tell you to scan the OUTSIDE of the bend. Scan as much data as you want - up to 250 stripes. The goal is to be sure that at least one point in one of the stripes touches the highest point outside the bend. So you can take as many stripes of data as you want - VTube will take them all in without a problem.

During scanning, release the green button and look at the screen. You should see a large area of surfaces that pass the point of the outside of the bend. Press the RED button if you are finished scanning the outside and have not come to 250 stripes.

Now, scan the center of the inside. Be sure that at least one point in one stripe passes the center inside the bend. If you are unsure, release the green button and look at the screen to see if you have points and surfaces that appear in the right place. If you know you've scanned the center, press the RED button to move on to the next straight.

If you want to see a Split Bend measurement, then see the video on this page: https://advancedtubular.helpsite.com/articles/114088-how-to-measure-a-180-degree-part-using-vtube-laser-split-bend

Press FINISH and Build Measured Tube when the measurement is completed.

STEP 6: Choose "Build Measured Tube Data Only"

Press FINISH and Build Measured Tube, then press OK if you want VTube to copy the Measured tube data to the Master tube data.

STEP 7: Copy Measured to Master

STEP 8: Optional Reset Origin to Zero

STEP 9: View the New Master Tube

STEP 10: Optional Alignment Test

STEP 11: Save the VTube Project