Find the center-to-center travel distance and finished cut length for a pipe offset at a standard fitting angle.
How Pipe Offsets Work
Travel distance is the offset divided by the sine of the fitting angle, the direct hypotenuse between the two fittings. The final cut length subtracts each fitting's takeout dimension from that travel distance, since the fitting itself takes up some of that length.om the raw calculated travel total.
Worked Example
A 6 inch offset using a 45 degree fitting gives a travel distance of 8.49 inches. After subtracting a 0.75 inch takeout from each fitting, the actual cut length comes out to 6.99 inches.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to subtract fitting takeout on both ends, not just one, which shortens the actual cut length needed.
- Using the wrong angle for the fitting actually being installed; a 45 and 22.5 degree elbow produce very different travel distances for the same offset.
- Mixing up offset (the perpendicular distance being cleared) with travel (the diagonal pipe length itself).
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is pipe travel distance?
- The actual diagonal length of pipe between the centers of two fittings in an offset, longer than the straight-line offset itself.
- What is fitting takeout?
- The amount of a fitting's body that occupies part of the travel length. Subtract it from both ends to get your actual cut length.
- Does this work for both 45 and 90 degree offsets?
- Yes, select your fitting angle and the calculator adjusts the travel distance formula accordingly.