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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.

Vtube-laser v2.2 master with splitbend.png

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.)

Vtube-laser v2.2 default radius.png


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.

Vtube-laser v4 set master point count.png


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.

Vtube-laser v4 enter split bend window.png

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.

Vtube-laser v4 split bend window straight selected1.png


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.

Vtube-laser v4 lasersetup splitbends.png

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).

Vtube-laser v4 separationsetup splitbend.png.png

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.

Vtube-laser-v4 measureguide cylindricaltube.png



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.


Vtube-laser v4 copy.png

Vtube-laser v4 master.png


STEP 7: Copy Measured to Master

Copy Measured to Master Data in the Data Handling menu. This will overwrite the MASTER data ZEROS with the MEASURED tube data.

When you press this button, the MEASURED data will be copied to the MASTER data menu, and the MASTER data menu will display automatically.

Vtube-laser v4 copy measured to master1.png


STEP 8: Optional Reset Origin to Zero

Some customers prefer to translate the new MASTER data so that the first point is at 0,0,0.

Vtube-laser v4 reset origin to zero.png

STEP 9: View the New Master Tube

View the new MASTER tube by switching the display of the Master tube on, then redrawing and zooming all.

In this case, the MASTER tube is translated in space from the measured tube because the coordinates were zeroed in the previous step.

Vtube-laser v2.2-copy to master from measured redraw.png

STEP 10: Optional Alignment Test

This is a cross-check to be sure the process was performed correctly. Enter the Inspection Results menu, and press Recalculate for the alignment.

The deviations should be exactly zero since VTube is aligning a part to itself.

Vtube-laser v2.2-recalculate alignment perfect match 180.png

STEP 11: Save the VTube Project

Press the Project Save button in the Toolbar, choose the project save path and filename, and save the VTube Project file.

Vtube-laser v4-SaveProjects.png