Rollcage Design With Inventor

[k5krawler]

I was wondering with Inventor 08, how exactly do you start to draw up a roll cage or tube bumpers. I understand that you can do pipe runs with it, but I am not exactly sure on how to go about it. Google and the Pirate search didn't really come up with much. Any help would be appreciated.

[Jeepermat]

I am no pro, but I like to use the 3-d Sketch. It uses coordinates, for me that was much easier.
To do it open a new .ipt, finish the sketch, right click and select 3-d sketch, then use the line tool to begin drawing.
THis will allow you to create a wire frame that is really easy to use with a bender, using the length tool you can figure out lengths of tubing needed.
If you want to see what it will look like tubed out create a work axis on the end of the line, then draw a circle with radius of the tubing you will be using, finish the sketch and use the sweep tool.
This took me a while to figure out, but I can do it pretty quickly now. If I know the dimensions of something I can whip out a cage in about 30 minutes.
This is something I have drawn using this method.