If you are a user of Hexagon’s Tubeshaper software for measurement of bent tubing, you may find yourself looking for an updated version, or seeking Tubeshaper technical support, only to find that neither are available. This is true because in March 2023, Hexagon retired the Tubeshaper software. BendingStudio is now Hexagon’s primary software solution for gauging of formed tubes and wires.
Tubeshaper software was in a long line of Hexagon tube measurement software solutions stretching back over 50 years to Homer Eaton’s original Vector system. Software packages including Supravision, DOCS, GTube and then Tubeshaper all used variations of the original measurement methodology, with an articulated arm CMM and a fork-style tube probe. With each generation, the arm hardware, tube probe sensing and software functions advanced the tube measurement capabilities. All of these solutions measured tubes using the “intersection of straights” method, which involves collecting points at the start and end of each straight section of the tube to calculate intersection points and then insert bend radius.
BendingStudio has its origin in the TubeInspect optical gauge which was developed by AICON 3D Systems in Germany. In 2016, Hexagon acquired AICON and TubeInspect became a Hexagon product.
BendingStudio was a ground-up software redesign for TubeInspect which incorporated 20 years of tube measurement experience from the original TubeInspect software. In 2018, BendingStudio added compatibility with Absolute Arm 3D scanner as a data source for tube measurement. Eventually support for scanning with Leica lasertracker was also added for measurement of very large tubes. All three of these devices with BendingStudio use a unique and superior method for tube measurement. Tube measurement with these devices utilizes data (from images or 3D scan data) along the entire length of the tube, including straight sections and bends, to construct the 3D model of the actual tube. There are no assumptions made – it uses complete measurement of the entire tube. That model of the actual tube is inspected by comparing it to nominal data in the method specified by the inspection plan.
While BendingStudio supported the Absolute Arm and Leica tracker scanners as well as TubeInspect, it was not compatible with the traditional noncontact tube probe or touch probe used by Tubeshaper. In 2022, support for noncontact tube probe and the intersection of straights method was added to BendingStudio. This made BendingStudio able to support the full spectrum of Hexagon hardware options for tube measurement. This enabled the sunsetting of Tubeshaper software and the elevation of BendingStudio as Hexagon’s sole software solution for gauging of tube, wires and related assemblies.
If your tube shop is running the obsolete Tubeshaper software, you are strongly encouraged to explore proactively replacing it with BendingStudio. This is the best way to prevent unplanned downtime from computer failure while at the same time expanding your measurement capabilities if needed. Contact Accurex Measurement to explore your options.