Hole Patterned Tube Generator
 

Using Openscad and the Thingiverse customizer feature, I was able to create this resource to easily create 3d models of hole patterned tubes. Essentially, Thingiverse allows users to make calculators that generate 3d models based on user input of specific variables, rather than make the entire model over and over again. This feature can be very useful because it allows many similar files to be made at once, rather than individually modeling a bunch of parts that have minuscule differences.

The 3d model generator that I created can be found here:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1649104

Once you open that link, hit customize and you can make your own hole patterned tubes quite easily (even without knowledge of 3d modeling).

Has anyone else made 3d model generators like this one? Does anyone have any ideas for other generators I/someone else should make in the future?

Keep in mind when testing that this is just my first version, and I plan on adding more functionality/fixing bugs in the future. If you have any questions, comments, notice any bugs, or have any recommendations for more features please let me know.

Re: Hole Patterned Tube Generator
 

Solidworks has a pattern tool, and I assume other CAD software are similar. How is this method better/different than just modeling it from scratch?

Re: Hole Patterned Tube Generator
 

Or making a template of sorts within CAD by copying the part file and changing the parameters

Edit: At least in Inventor, there is a thing called iParts that I believe has exactly what you made built in and with more versatility.

Re: Hole Patterned Tube Generator
 

Speed. I use an IPart Generator in Autodesk Inventor to make about 80-90% of the tubing I use. Its about 10-15x faster to enter a few numbers and select from a few drop down menus than draw the tube and and add a hole pattern. Part generators also have the benefit of reducing errors in dimensions, material selection and hole sizes.

Inventor also has a design accelerator called frame generator that allows you to create a custom profile and apply it to a 3d sketched outline of whatever you are designing. Essentially rather than designing a chassis as 10-25 pieces it can be designed as 1 sketch and then pick different pieces of tubing at the assembly level to fill it in instead of making each individual piece and having to constrain them into the final frame.

I also use iPart generators to procedurally generate any thunderhex shafts in my CADs with drop down menus for snap ring groves, 1/4-20 threaded ends, bearing rounds, and .25 diameter end holes for encoders.

iParts do exactly that. But they do have the downside of not allowing you to put the cut length in the part name at the time you create the file.

Re: Hole Patterned Tube Generator
 

SolidWorks will do this without math or equations as of 2015. Any linear pattern of any length can be updated dynamically. Even before 2015 it could be done with a short equation but now it is automatic when you use a reference selection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFET92LqgyM

Re: Hole Patterned Tube Generator
 

Thanks guys for all of your input. I didnt actually know that there were so many other ways of doing this in Solidworks (besides just making a tube and hole patterning). I am going to look into those and play around with them so I can make templates/generators withing Solidworks. Either way, this tool could prove useful for people who do not really know how to CAD on such a high level (for example me).