Manifold Header: flat pattern

A round run with a row of equal branches at an even pitch: the run unrolled with every hole marked, and the branches with their saddles. A round run with a row of equal branches set square onto it at an even pitch, on one side or on alternate sides: the run unrolled with every hole marked, and the branches with their saddles.

Open the manifold header in SheetMorph

Configurations

A worked example

The branches on one side configuration with the sizes SheetMorph opens with, in mm. 4 plates: the run with 3 holes, and 3 branches that are all alike: 4 parts, 11 seams.

The flat pattern of this example: outlines to cut, with the lines to mark and any holes. Open it in SheetMorph for the dimensioned drawing and the files to cut it.
For the shop
Blank of P11257.8 mm × 1500.0 mm
Blank of P2630.4 mm × 276.5 mm
Blank of P3630.4 mm × 276.5 mm
Blank of P4630.4 mm × 276.5 mm
Length of cut, every outline and hole10828.6 mm
Sizes on the mid-thickness surface (used for the pattern)
Diameter of the run401.00 mm
Diameter of a branch201.00 mm
Run
Length1500.00 mm
Girth of the plate1259.78 mm
Branches
Number of branches3
End A to the axis of the first300.00 mm
Pitch, axis to axis450.00 mm
End A to the axis of the last1200.00 mm
Length, from the axis of the run450.00 mm
Girth of the plate631.46 mm
Shortest line, along the run249.50 mm
Longest line, on the sides276.51 mm
Holes in the run
Length along the run201.00 mm
Width round the run210.54 mm
Seam to the centres of the holes629.89 mm
Plate blanks
P1 Run, long1257.76 mm
P1 Run, wide1500.00 mm
P2 Branch 1, long630.45 mm
P2 Branch 1, wide276.51 mm
Pattern
Plates4
Triangular facets256
Pattern extent X4274.09 mm
Pattern extent Y1500.00 mm
Area of the blanks2,383,601 mm²
Area cut out98,069 mm²
Net area2,285,532 mm²
Total cut length12753.71 mm
Longitudinal seam length2248.50 mm

How it is developed

Parallel-line development (unrolled cylinders). This is a triangulated approximation: the curved surface is divided into small flat triangles, each laid out at its true size. The finer the division, the closer the pattern is to the surface; SheetMorph states the deviation it found.

Checked before it can be exported

Every pattern SheetMorph draws is checked against the 3D part it comes from. For this example:

Assumptions

Limits of this module

Conventions

Coordinate system. The part stands on the Z axis with End A at Z = 0. Angles round the axis are measured from +X toward +Y, counter-clockwise seen from +Z.

Divisions and thickness. A circle is divided into 4N equal chords. Sizes are inside, mid-thickness or outside sizes; the pattern is developed on the mid-thickness surface and the views show the sizes as entered.

Run. The run stands on the Z axis from End A at Z = 0 to End B. With the branches on one side it is cut along the line at the back, opposite them, so the holes are down the middle of the plate; with the branches on alternate sides it is cut along the line midway between the two rows, on the -Y side.

Branches. The branches are square to the run and their axes cross its axis. Branch 1 is the nearest to End A and points toward +X; on alternate sides the even branches point toward -X. The first is measured from End A to its axis, and the pitch from one axis to the next along the run. A branch is measured from the axis of the run to its end, and is cut along the line toward End A. The ends of the branches are End C, End D and so on.

Change the sizes to your own in SheetMorph, check the drawing, add seam and flange allowances, and export DXF, PDF, SVG, CSV or G-code. Check every pattern against your own standards before cutting.

Open the manifold header

Other intersections