How Do I Create a Route in SolidWorks?

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Creating a route in SolidWorks can be an essential step in designing complex assemblies. Routes allow you to define and visualize the path of cables, pipes, or electrical wiring within your model. In this tutorial, we will explore the process of creating a route in SolidWorks and understand how it can enhance your design workflow.

Creating a New Route

Before we dive into the details, let’s first understand the basic steps involved in creating a new route in SolidWorks:

  1. Create a new assembly: To start creating a route, open a new assembly document in SolidWorks.
  2. Add components: Next, add the necessary components to your assembly that will be part of the route, such as cables or pipes.
  3. Activate Routing: Activate Routing by going to the “Add-Ins” tab and selecting “Route” from the drop-down menu. This will enable the routing tools and features.
  4. Create a Route Assembly: Click on “Create Route Assembly” from the Routing toolbar to initiate the creation of your route.
  5. Select Routing Path: Define the routing path by selecting edges or sketches on your components where you want your route to follow.
  6. Add Fittings and Connectors: Add fittings and connectors from the routing library to connect different sections of your route.

    You can access these options from the Routing toolbar or by right-clicking on your selected routing path and choosing “Insert Fittings” or “Insert Connectors. “

  7. Edit Route Properties: Customize various parameters of your route, such as diameter or length, by accessing the properties dialog box.

Working with Route Components

Now that you know the basic steps, let’s explore how you can work with route components to create a more comprehensive route:

Adding Route Segments

Route segments represent different sections of your route. To add a new segment, follow these steps:

  1. Activate Route Segment: Click on “Activate Route Segment” from the Routing toolbar.
  2. Select Start and End Points: Choose the start and end points for your segment by selecting edges or sketches on your existing route or other components.
  3. Add Fittings and Connectors: Similar to the initial creation of the route, add fittings and connectors as required to connect the segment with other sections.

Modifying Route Segments

You can easily modify and refine your route segments by using various editing tools provided by SolidWorks. Some commonly used tools include:

  • Move Segment: Use this tool to reposition a segment along its path.
  • Add Segments: Add additional segments to your existing route.
  • Delete Segments: Remove unwanted segments from your route.

Advanced Routing Techniques

SolidWorks offers several advanced routing techniques that can further enhance your design process. Let’s take a look at some of them:

Cables and Wires

If you are working with electrical designs, SolidWorks provides dedicated tools for creating cable and wire routes. These tools allow you to define specific properties such as shielding, insulation, or twist information for enhanced accuracy.

Pipes and Tubes

For designing pipe or tube routes, SolidWorks enables you to specify parameters like diameter, schedule, and material for accurate representation. You can also generate detailed reports containing BOM (Bill of Materials) information for your routes.

Conclusion

Creating routes in SolidWorks is an essential part of designing assemblies involving cables, pipes, or electrical wiring. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this tutorial, you can easily create and modify routes to optimize your design workflow.

Remember to leverage the advanced routing techniques offered by SolidWorks for more complex projects. With practice and experimentation, you will become proficient in creating efficient and visually engaging route designs using SolidWorks.