---
title: "Using the Flange Tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD"
slug: "cloudworx-using-the-flange-tool-in-cloudworx-for-autocad"
updated: 2026-09-14T12:26:57Z
published: 2026-09-14T12:26:57Z
canonical: "rcdocs.leica-geosystems.com/cloudworx-using-the-flange-tool-in-cloudworx-for-autocad"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://rcdocs.leica-geosystems.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using the Flange Tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD

This guide concludes the Plant Series and outlines several methods for creating an open or blind flange at the end of a pipe. The workflow involves extracting flange geometry and calculating a work point to facilitate alignment of the design model with existing features. In this example, the flange will be positioned at the open end of a valve and then connected to a pipe.

> [!NOTE]
> **Prerequisite**: For full workflow context and results, review the preceding guides in this series:
> 
> - [Advanced Workflow for Using Line Tools in CloudWorx for AutoCAD](/v1/docs/cloudworx-using-the-cloudworx-line-tools-for-3d-modeling-in-autocad)
> - [Advanced Steel Fitting in CloudWorx for AutoCAD](/v1/docs/cloudworx-advanced-steel-fitting-in-cloudworx-for-autocad)
> - [Advanced Pipe Fitting in CloudWorx for AutoCAD](/v1/docs/cloudworx-advanced-pipe-fitting-in-cloudworx-for-autocad)
> - [Using the Pipe Modeler to Extract Pipes](/v1/docs/cloudworx-using-the-pipe-modeler-to-extract-pipes-in-cloudworx-for-autocad)

[Video](https://hexagondownloads.blob.core.windows.net/public/Leica/RC%20DOCS%20videos/5_Flange_Tool.mp4)

## Practice Data

[Plant dataset](https://hexagondownloads.blob.core.windows.net/public/Leica/Sample%20Data/CWX_PLANT_DEMO_Italy.lgsx)

[Exercise CAD file (.dwg format)](https://hexagondownloads.blob.core.windows.net/public/Leica/Sample%20Data/5_Flanges_WKFLW_Meters.dwg)

## Clipping the Area of Interest

1. In the **Rendering** panel, set Color Mappingto **Intensity**.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 0.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%200.jpeg)
2. In the **Clipping** panel, click **Hide Outside** or type **CWHIDEOUT** in the command line.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 1.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%201.jpeg)
3. In the command line, select **Rectangle** ot type **R**, then follow the prompts to draw a rectangular fence around the area of interest. Press **Enter** to complete fence creation.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 2.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%202.jpeg)
4. Rotate the view to the left and zoom in on the clipped area.

![Recording 2026-04-24 at 10.45.04.gif](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Recording%202026-04-24%20at%2010.45.04.gif)

## Extracting Flange Geometry

As shown above, the pipe runs terminate at valves. To ensure the model aligns accurately with the point cloud, this section outlines several methods for extracting flange geometry at the valve end.

### Neighbor Method

1. Ensure point snapping is enabled.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 5.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%205.jpeg)
2. Enable the Flange fitter. Go to **Fitters** | **Flange**.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 6.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%206.jpeg)
3. From the pop-up menu, select the **Neighbor** method.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 7.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%207.jpeg)
4. Configure the fitter as follows:
  1. Select the **Centerline** check box.
  2. Select the **Flange** check box.
  3. Select the **Use Catalog** check box and then select the required catalog. In this example, it’s ANSI_LJT_150#.
5. Click **Pick Point**.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 8.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%208.jpeg)
6. First, pick a point on the neighbor pipe segment to which a flange is connected.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 9 (1).jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%209%20(1).jpeg)
7. Then click a point on the edge of the flange.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 11.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%2011.jpeg)
8. Verify the catalog fit and click **OK**.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 12.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%2012.jpeg)
9. Select the position of the flange face, which is typically the lowest point. Press **Enter**.

![Recording 2026-04-24 at 11.40.19.gif](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Recording%202026-04-24%20at%2011.40.19.gif)

The flange is now created and placed at the end of a valve.

### 3 Point Method

1. Enable the Flange fitter and select the **3point** method.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 18 (1).jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%2018%20(1).jpeg)
2. Check the selected configurations (see Step 8) and click **Pick Point**.

![Using the Flange tool in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 19.jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Using%20the%20Flange%20tool%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%2019.jpeg)
3. Select three points along the edge of the flange. Then, verify the catalog fit and click **OK**.

![Recording 2026-04-24 at 12.35.43.gif](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Recording%202026-04-24%20at%2012.35.43.gif)
4. Select the position of the flange face, which is typically the lowest point. Then, press **Enter**, and the flange will be created, and a work point will be calculated.

![image-20260424-094412.png](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/image-20260424-094412.png)
5. The flanges are now created and positioned at the valve ends. Notice that they are not directly attached to the adjacent pipes; however, they align correctly with the final pipe segments connected to the valve. For the purposes of this exercise, the valve is ignored. The goal is to obtain a work point coordinate to position the design model.

![2ebf88d8-e6fb-42d7-aba4-7d46b2884d62.jpg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/2ebf88d8-e6fb-42d7-aba4-7d46b2884d62.jpg)

## Fitting Pipes to Flanges

To complete the workflow, let’s fit the pipe to the flange.

1. Go to the **Solid** tab and click **Presspull**.

![Extracting Pipe in CloudWorx for AutoCAD - Step 41 (1).jpeg](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Extracting%20Pipe%20in%20CloudWorx%20for%20AutoCAD%20-%20Step%2041%20(1).jpeg)
2. Select each pipe end and extend it to the flange.

![Recording 2026-04-24 at 14.43.25.gif](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/Recording%202026-04-24%20at%2014.43.25.gif)
3. To review the result, change the visual style to **Conceptual** on the **Visualize** tab.

![image-20260424-114731.png](https://cdn.document360.io/820e11db-8ed5-45ae-ac86-f6b77dcb2aa7/Images/Documentation/image-20260424-114731.png)

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