After you enable the Routing application, open an assembly file and start the route.
A common method for starting a route is by dragging and dropping a fitting or connector from the Design Library into the graphics area of an assembly. Click the Start by Drag/Drop command from the Routing toolbar (Pipe, Flexible Tubing, Electrical, or User Defined). Then drag an end fitting or connector from the Design Library, and position the fitting or connector on the assembly at the point where the route should start. SOLIDWORKS allows you to begin sketching the route, and includes the fitting or connector as a component of the route.
When you create a route by dragging and dropping a route component, the software automatically performs the following:
- Creates the route subassembly under the active assembly.
- Moves the dropped component from the active assembly into the route subassembly.
- Creates the route feature in the route subassembly.
- Creates a route sketch.
- Adds the first line to the sketch from the connection point of the dropped part.
- Sets up the route properties for the route.
The route properties are derived from the attributes of the connection points in the start component. For example, the connection point on the component defines the diameter and route type (pipe, tube, electrical, user defined rectangular or circular). You can change the default settings for the route in the Route Properties PropertyManager, such as a pipe or elbow part in the case of a pipe route.
Once the route is created, edit the route subassembly as needed by adding and adjusting more fittings and components onto the sketch points or sketch lines.
Alternately, you can start a route by creating a connection point on a component that is already part of the assembly, or at another desired start point (for example, a hole in a panel). Click the Start at Point command from the Routing toolbar (Pipe, Flexible Tubing, Electrical, or User Defined). In this case the component where the route starts, remains part of the main assembly, and is not included as part of the route subassembly.