kernelcad-tubes

kernelCAD: bent tubes

Route a rigid tube between two ports as straight legs joined by constant-radius bends. You give the corner points; the kernel builds one hollow solid, checks it against the bending and clearance rules, and reports a bend table, cut length and nearest neighbour for every tube.

// A hydraulic line from a pump outlet (top face, +Z) to a valve inlet (-X face).
const asm = assembly('line');
const pump = asm.part('pump', box(60, 60, 60), { at: [0, 0, 0] })
  .connector('out', { type: 'axis', origin: { kind: 'vec3', value: [30, 30, 60] }, axis: [0, 0, 1], port: { system: 'hydraulic', od: 9.525 } });
const valve = asm.part('valve', box(40, 40, 40), { at: [200, 150, 100] })
  .connector('in', { type: 'axis', origin: { kind: 'vec3', value: [0, 20, 20] }, axis: [-1, 0, 0], port: { system: 'hydraulic', od: 9.525 } });

tubeSpec({ clearance: { default: 6 } });

const line = tube('hyd-1', {
  from: pump.port('out'),   // at [30, 30, 60], axis +Z
  to: valve.port('in'),     // at [200, 170, 120], axis -X
  via: [
    [30, 30, 120],          // on the pump port axis: straight up from the outlet
    [30, 170, 120],         // on the valve port axis: in line with the inlet
  ],
  wall: 0.89,
  bendRadius: 28.6,         // centreline radius, 3 x OD
});
asm.part('hyd-1', line);    // no `at`: the tube is already in assembly space
return asm.model();

When to use

• A rigid line between two fittings: hydraulic, fuel, oil, coolant, pneumatic.
• You need the tube checked against a bender's rules and against the parts around it.
• You need a bend table (XYZ corners and length / rotation / angle rows) or a cut length.

Do not use tube for a structural tube frame (use profiles and union, recipe welded-tube-frame-tray), or for a hose or any line that is not straight legs and circular bends. Two tubes from one port overlap and fail tube.clearance.overlap: route one tube from the port and make the second a branch of it (see "Branches").

Ports