# Pipe 45 elbow **URL:** \ **Category:** SketchUp\ **Created:** [April 15, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/pipe-45-elbow/346189 "2026-04-15T20:54:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rabbithutch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/rabbithutch/32/27593_2.png) [@rabbithutch](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/rabbithutch)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/pipe-45-elbow/346189/1 "2026-04-15T20:54:41Z")
I’m trying to draw a 45-degree pipe elbow using the follow-me tool. I can’t seem to get a half-circle arc between the 2 circles. The circles are of equal size (5/16" dia.) and fall at 90-degrees to each other. Can someone please tell me how to get the distances of the circle centers correct and how to get a half-circle guide? TIA ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2026, 8:57pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/pipe-45-elbow/346189/2 "2026-04-15T20:57:47Z")
Share the model as you’ve got it so far. ---
**Author:** ![TIG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/tig/32/198_2.png) [@TIG](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/TIG)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 10:41am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/pipe-45-elbow/346189/3 "2026-04-16T10:41:47Z")
With an example I’m sure Dave will sort you out… But in the meantime - FollowMe needs the extruded face to be perpendicular to the start of the path it’ll follow. An Arc - e.g. a 1/4 circle - will start with a whole segment piece and thereby it will be slightly skewed to the face you have placed at its start. You can sidestep this by drawing a full circle at the origin [with an even number of segments so 1/4 has even segment count], then rotating it about its center using amid-point of a segment ans snapping to an axis. Then draw a temporary edge through the circle and its center on axis and another edge at 90° to that so a 1/4 circle arc remains. This arc starts and ends with a 1/2 segment which will be square on to the axes. Delete the unwanted parts of the circle and the edges to leave the correctly drawn arc. Use that to make the FollowMe properly oriented to the arc’s curve because any face you draw at the start/end will now be setting off properly aligned to the arc. If you work inside a group’s context then geometry will be constrained and not interfere unexpectedly. The aforementioned covers a 90° bend, but a similar process can be used for a 45° bend - just make sure that the arc you end up with has an even number of segments, so the resultant start/end 1/2 segments are correct - so for 45° it’d be 1/8 of the total - e.g. 48/8 = 6 etc. For other angles, like 30° do a little math… so 1/12 =\> 48/12 = 4 etc… ---
**Author:** ![jean\_lemire\_1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/jean_lemire_1/32/665_2.png) [@jean\_lemire\_1](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/jean_lemire_1)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/pipe-45-elbow/346189/4 "2026-04-16T15:39:48Z")
Is it a plumbing elbow? Is it a piping elbow? Is this a tube elbow? Is it a short radius or a long radius elbow? What are the end connections? Threaded? Socked weld? Butt weld? With 5/15" diameter I doubt it. You can search the correct dimensions on the Internet like this page: **piping 45 degrees elbow dimensions for nominal diameter of 5/16 inch** replace **piping** by **tubing** and search again. ---
**Author:** ![rabbithutch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/rabbithutch/32/27593_2.png) [@rabbithutch](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/rabbithutch)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 10:02pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/pipe-45-elbow/346189/5 "2026-04-16T22:02:44Z")
Thank you, both, for the responses. I was having problems in 2 ways: I was not getting the follow-me line at true right angles to both faces, and I was using a circle at both ends. I discovered (blind squirrel methodology) that if I eliminated the circle at the receiving end of the follow-me, the distortions I was getting went away. While far from perfect, I was able to get the elbows I wanted. BTW: The tubing was for a gas range drawing showing the piping to the burners. Again, thank you for the responses. [Gas Range 6-Burner.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/cBpTZYlu7TYDEEfjizEuNvDU29h.skp) (323.3 KB) ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/pipe-45-elbow/346189/6 "2026-04-16T22:23:19Z")
I’m confused. The title makes it sound like you want a 45° elbow but you keep talking about a 90° bend. > [@rabbithutch](#): > > I was not getting the follow-me line at true right angles to both faces, and I was using a circle at both ends. I discovered (blind squirrel methodology) that if I eliminated the circle at the receiving end of the follow-me, the distortions I was getting went away. Follow Me is designed to work with one profile at one end of the path. ![FM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/4X/e/d/a/edae9d8f092a37824c1bd8192e0bf5d4ee3aca97.gif) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/f/2/f2a121500b085ed60806607a82720b092d800bb3.png) [@system](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 8:55pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/pipe-45-elbow/346189/7 "2026-10-12T20:55:27Z")
Closed on October 12, 2026, 8:55pm UTC This topic was automatically closed after 180 days. New replies are no longer allowed.