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Wes Mosler The Piping and Tubing Design Guide For SolidWorks Routing 2011 2011 PDF
Wes Mosler The Piping and Tubing Design Guide For SolidWorks Routing 2011 2011 PDF
Design Guide
for
SolidWorks Routing 2011
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2011 Piping & Tubing Design Guide v1.0
This manual is meant for instructional use only, and is in no way intended to
replace the SolidWorks Routing help files or the SolidWorks Manual.
In case of conflict, always refer to the documentation
supplied with your SolidWorks license.
SolidWorks Corporation
300 Baker Avenue
Concord, Massachusetts 01742 USA
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2011 Piping & Tubing Design Guide v1.0
Copyright © 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 - Wes Mosier
All Rights Reserved
This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any
method, for any purpose. This includes, but is not limited to transmittal by any
means, electronic or mechanical for any purpose without the express written
permission of Wes Mosier.
The documents and files furnished by Wes Mosier for the use of the “Piping &
Tubing Design Guide for SolidWorks Routing” is furnished under a license and
may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of this license.
Wes Mosier makes no warranty, either express or implied, including but not
limited to any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose regarding these materials, and makes such materials
available solely on an “as-is” basis.
Wes Mosier reserves the right to revise and improve his product as he sees fit.
This includes the addition or removal of information from the publication. This
publication describes the state of this product at the time of its publication, and
may not reflect the product at all times in the future.
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Table of Contents
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Wes Mosier has been involved in the mechanical design, architecture, structural
and process piping industries for over nineteen years as a Cad Engineering Design
Drafter.
He has written procedural manuals and technical documentation for large and
small companies over the past 12 years, and has taught both lecture and hands on
courses at private firms and technical conventions, including break-out classes at
SolidWorks World.
Wes Mosier has been using the SolidWorks Piping/Routing add-on for over 10
years while employed by engineering, fabrication and design firms in California.
Special thanks to my wife Kelly, for putting up with my late nights and for all the
encouragement.
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To see which type of SolidWorks you currently have installed, open SolidWorks, and click
“Help” on the top menu bar, then “About” towards the bottom of the drop-down.
Your type of
SolidWorks will
be shown here
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If you do not see “SolidWorks Routing” in the list, then you either do not have
“SolidWorks Premium” edition, or for some reason, the Routing Add-In was not installed
when you originally installed SolidWorks. Contact your reseller for more information on
either of these two cases.
By checking the box to the left of the “SolidWorks Routing” name, you will activate the
add-in for this current session of SolidWorks only. If you check the box to the right of the
name, Routing will activate every time you start SolidWorks.
It is recommended that you disable the add-in when not in use to conserve memory and
other computer resources.
Click the “OK” button and SolidWorks will load Routed Systems into memory. This will
include adding approximately (5) five floating toolbars and a “Routing” drop-down to the
top menu bar. You will not need all of these toolbars to route piping and tubing. Some
of the toolbars contain electrical routing tools, and some of the toolbars are simply
smaller versions of the larger ones.
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When you create a route in SolidWorks, you are really just creating an in-context subassembly
and creating a 3D Sketch to tell SolidWorks where your route goes. You can add components to
your route by dragging and dropping them onto sketch points.
You have probably already used most of the tools that SolidWorks Routing utilizes to create parts
and assemblies. Some of these are Design Tables, 3D sketches, working In-Context, Parts and
Subassemblies. Some other tools may be new to you like Cpoints and Rpoints.
Cpoints tell SolidWorks where to start a piece of pipe or tube from. (such as the end of
an elbow where a piece of pipe would be buttwelded) They also contain routing
properties that tell SolidWorks what size of pipe/tubing to route, and what direction it goes
(away from the fitting, or towards it). There are three types of Cpoints: Fabricated Pipe,
Tubing and Electrical. The type you use depends on what you want to route. Some parts
contain both Tube Cpoints and Fabricated Pipe Cpoints, such as a pipe to tube adapter.
The image below shows a typical buttwelded TEE pipe fitting. Notice that the Rpoint is on
the intersecting points of the part, and the Cpoints are on the ends. When sketching your
route, the Rpoint would be placed onto the point at the intersection of the segments.
Cpoint
Cpoint
Cpoint
Rpoint
Rpoints are used to locate the component on a point in the 3D Sketch, hence the name
Route Point or Rpoint. When placing a component into a piping route, the Rpoints of
components can be placed at the end point of a line, or on a “Split Point” in the 3D
sketch.
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There are also variations of the Cpoints and Rpoints that are used in subassembly
components. These are called ACpoints & ARpoints. These are used when inserting a
subassembly into a route. I'll show you how to do that in Chapter 9, "Inserting
Subassemblies Into Your Route".
See also:
Chapter 2 – Cpoints & Rpoints
Chapter 9 – ACpoints & ARpoints
Design Tables
Think of a design table as nothing more than a spread-sheet style representation of all
the variables in configurations. Design Tables have commonly been used in SolidWorks
parts and assemblies to show different variations of a part or assembly. (See the
SolidWorks help files for more information on creating and editing Design Tables for
standard parts and assemblies, and Chapter 10, Creating Design Tables)
If I were to create a design table for this part, it might look like this:
Dimension Names
Configuration Names
Dimension Values
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The design table for the standard library pipe file looks something like this:
Most of these columns are linked directly to sketches used in the part, while others are
linked to feature dimensions or properties. Any column that has a “$prp@” in front of it is
linked to a custom property in your part or assembly.
SolidWorks uses this information to display the pipe on the screen in the 3D sketch,
creates a routing file when you exit the 3D sketch after routing a pipe, and to display this
information in the drawing’s bill of materials.
Other columns can be added to the Design Table including Material, Chamfer
information, Specifications, Manufacturing Notes, Purchasing Information, special notes
on each type of pipe, and even color.
Elbow files, Tees, and many other piping/tubing components all use design tables to
allow the user to quickly organize, display, add to, and alter the raw data that SolidWorks
uses to create your route. A custom valve without any configurations would not need a
design table to be used in a route.
See also:
Chapter 10 – Design Tables, Adding Custom Properties
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The 3D Sketch
In SolidWorks, you need a way to draw the path of your pipe or tubing. You do this using
a 3D sketch. This allows you to run a layout in any direction, using any dimensions or
constraints that you would normally use in a 3D sketch.
3D Sketches are commonly used in parts to draw a path that can be used as a sweep
extrusion path. When you draw a route in the 3D sketch, SolidWorks basically extrudes
the pipe or tube along that same path.
When you start a new route, SolidWorks automatically opens a new 3D sketch for you to
draw with inside of a new subassembly.
As you draw your routing lines, SolidWorks displays a piece of pipe at the nominal size
that is taken from the pipe or tube design table. You can tell the routing package to add
bends automatically, and if you so choose, elbows can be placed automatically on the
bends when you exit the 3D sketch.
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See also:
Chapter 1 – Routing Options & Settings
Chapter 3 – Starting a Route
Chapter 4 – Routing Pipe
Chapter 5 – Routing Tubing
Parts are components such as elbows, valves, flanges, etc… that are brought
into a routing subassembly to form a “route”.
Routing files are part files that SW will create from the Pipe and Tube “Base part
files” when you exit a 3D sketch. I'll explain the “Base part files” more a bit later in this
chapter. These files can either be saved externally like a normal part or virtually inside
the routing subassembly.
Let's just say that I create a new assembly and start a route (the route
automatically turns into a subassembly) and bring parts into my route like flanges and
tees. I now have the main (top level) assembly that I started with and a routing
subassembly inside it that contains all the routing components (parts) and routing files
(more parts that are the individual pipe segments).
This might sound a little confusing at first, but maybe it will help if I give you a
real world example:
Let’s say I open a new assembly and save it, (I cannot start a route in a new
assembly that has never been saved) and then insert a 4” flange from the Design Library,
and start a new route.
The new route will be the routing subassembly inside my main (top level)
assembly. I can have multiple routing subassemblies in my main assembly to form
complete piping and tubing systems.
In my route, I use 4” schedule 40 pipe, and drew some sketch lines up, then
over, then down. When I exit the 3D sketch, SolidWorks will automatically create a
“virtual subassembly” inside this top level assembly that contains a “virtual” pipe part that
is a modified version of the Pipe Identifier Property of the pipe file I selected when I
started the route. That “virtual” pipe part will contain configurations for all the different
lengths of pipe I just created. (The Pipe Identifier is taken from the design table of the
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base pipe part file that I selected when I started the route, and is slightly modified to
remove any commas or special characters.)
When I save my top level assembly, SolidWorks will tell me that my assembly
contains some “virtual components” and ask if I want to save them out to a separate file,
or keep them virtual inside the assembly.
The above example is based on routing fabricated pipe with elbows, and will vary
slightly if you are routing bent pipe, or tubing. You may also have set your Routing
Options differently to automatically save out the parts instead of creating virtual
components.
Main
Assembly Name
Parts in Assembly
Route
Sub Assembly
Components
In Route
Route 3D Sketch
In the above condition, the Route Part Files are saved as Virtual Components inside the
TransferLine subassembly. You can tell this by the [ ] enclosed around the “06-STD-
A106B^TransferLine” part name. The “06-STD-A106B” portion of the name is
automatically assigned based on a derivative of the pipe identifier property (see page 1-
3) used in the Base Pipe Part file that was selected when you started the route. The “^”
also tells you it is a Virtual Part inside of the TransferLine subassembly.
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Next to every Route Part, the instance count is shown between the <>, and the
configuration name is shown in parenthesis. In the above condition, the Route Parts are
stored as Virtual Components inside the TransferLine.sldasm subassembly.
A typical “routing file” would look like this in the Feature Tree:
Routing Templates
Templates are used throughout SolidWorks as a base file for creating new parts,
assemblies and routes. For example, if you were to open SolidWorks and start a new
part, SolidWorks will open the Part.prtdot template file, and use it for your new part. The
template file contains all of the information pertinent to starting a new file, such as units,
colors, settings, grid size, options, document properties, etc…
Routing templates are no different. You can customize how your Routing
Subassemblies begin by editing the routing template. For example, you can add extra
planes in the template to specify elevations, set up project specific units, or you can
create a base-sketch of the floorplan of a building and use it as a reference to route your
piping that includes grid lines, coordinates, etc.
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Every time you start a new route, you can specify the routing template for that project,
and have all of your routing subassemblies use the same template.
Here is the order of operations and how they all work together…
• When you open a new assembly, save it, then insert a component into the
assembly that has a Cpoint. SolidWorks will prompt you to start a new route by
showing the "Route Properties" dialog in the Feature Manager if you have
“Automatically Route on Drop of Flanges/Connectors” selected in your Routing
options.
See also, Chapter 3 – Starting a New Route
• It is here that you can specify a route assembly file name, the template you wish
you use, the Base Pipe Part file you will use for the route, the schedule of pipe,
coverings on the pipe, weld gaps, the Elbow Part file you will use, and several
other items.
• SolidWorks will then insert a new subassembly into the current assembly that is
based on the Routing Template you selected, and automatically switch to you
editing an in-context 3D Sketch inside that new assembly. The component you
dropped into the assembly that started your route is automatically moved into the
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See also:
Chapter 4 – Routing Pipe
Chapter 5 – Routing Tubing
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The Routing Options Page is located on the Tools-Options dialog, under System Options.
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If this box is unchecked, you can drop routing parts into an assembly, and
SolidWorks treats them like any other part without starting a route.
If you were to drop a flange onto a vessel nozzle without starting the
route so you can add mates to lock the flange into position. Then go
back and start a new route from the Cpoint on that flange, the new
routing subassembly would not contain the flange. The route will start
from the pipe protruding from the Cpoint on the flange, but will not have
the flange in the routing subassembly.
In the image below, I started a new assembly and then inserted a Tubing-Male
Pipe Weld Connector from the Design Library. I then right-clicked on the tubing
Cpoint and started a “Flexible” tubing route.
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With the Option Box UNCHECKED, I then dropped a PClip into the route while I was
editing it. As you can see by the image below, my route hasn’t changed, except that now
I have a clip inserted into the assembly.
If I go back into the Routing Options by selecting “Tools-Options” from the top menu and
check the box next to “Automatically Route on Drop of Clips”, and then insert the same
clip, the route will attempt to run the tubing through the clip. See the image below.
This technique also works with orthogonal piping routes and it can also be turned
on or off mid-route as shown above without exiting the route.
See Chapter 8, Creating Custom Clips for information on how to make your own
hold-downs, u-bolts, clips, etc for use in piping and tubing routes.
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or
Pressing the above combination of keys will rotate your component before you
drop it when you drag it onto a point in your route.
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The image below left shows the result of the slider set at 1, the image below right
shows value set to 10.
Piping / Tubing
If your company standards do not permit the use of custom elbows, then this box
should be left unchecked. I recommend leaving this option unchecked, as
sometimes you could end up with an 89.9 degree elbow by accident in your
BOM.
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The image below left shows the effects of having the option box checked, and
creating a route where pipe has been created on an open line segment.
The image below right shows what happens if the option box is unchecked and a
route is created on an open line segment.
Route created with box checked Route created with box unchecked
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The image above is taken from a route where the option box was left
“unchecked”.
You cannot switch the option between checked and unchecked as you draw a
route.
If you start a route with the option checked, and decide later that you would
rather leave it unchecked, you cannot make the switch in the middle of the
route.
You must switch the setting, then start a new route for the option to take
Electrical Cabling
Slack Percentage:
This option box only applies to routing electrical cable. See the SolidWorks help
files for more information on routing electrical cables.
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(Also see Chapter 3 – The Design Library & Chapter 13 – Using the Routing
Library Manager)
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Cpoints are Connection Points that tell SolidWorks where to start a piece of pipe or tube
from. They also contain routing properties that tell SolidWorks what size of pipe/tubing
to route. The Cpoint can be designated as a Fabricated Pipe, Tube or an Electrical
Connection Point. Electrical Connection Points are not covered in this Piping & Tubing
manual; please refer to the SolidWorks documentation for more information on routing
electrical components.
Rpoints are Routing Points that are used to locate the component on a point in the 3D
Sketch. These points can be the end point of a line, or a “Split Point” in the sketch.
Cpoints and Rpoints are added at the “Part” level and are created on top of
existing sketch points, sketch line endpoints, or the origin.
Reducer Located
Using Rpoint
Let’s walk through adding a Connection Point to a buttwelded valve. Open the file
CH02-4inBW-Valve.sldprt and follow the steps below.
1. To place a Cpoint, select the point that you want it placed on top of, and
then control-select a face on the part that is facing perpendicular to the
direction you want the pipe to run.
Sketch Point
Face
7. Repeat steps 1-6 to create Cpoint2 on the other side of the valve.
8. To add the Rpoint, select the “Origin” and then select “Route Point” from
the Routing toolbar.
Origin
10. The valve should now contain 2 Cpoints and 1 Rpoint. You can now
insert the valve onto the endpoint of a routing line, or onto the sketch
entity of a routing line such as a Split Point.
SolidWorks uses a Base Pipe part file that contains all of the required information to
route piping. You specify the pipe file and the configuration you wish to use when you
first start your route. SolidWorks then uses the information in that configuration to
display the route and create the routing files when you exit the 3D sketch.
You should keep everything exactly like I have it shown in these steps.
Make sure that when you name features, sketches, and dimension
names, that you type in EXACTLY what I have shown here.
The design table, and Routing software will look for specifics. This
isn’t a game of horse-shoe people, close doesn’t cut the mustard.
PipeSketch
The part file must contain a sketch named PipeSketch, consisting of two
concentric circles with dimensions named OuterDiameter and InnerDiameter.
The sketch plane for “PipeSketch” must be placed the “Front” plane and the
center of the circle must be constrained to the origin.
Extrusion
An extruded feature of the sketch named “PipeSketch” with an extrusion
dimension named “Length”. Don’t forget to rename the Extrusion feature to
“Extrusion”
FilterSketch
A sketch named “FilterSketch” that consists of a circle with a dimension named
“NominalDiameter@FilterSketch”.
The Sketch Plane for “FilterSketch” needs to be the “Front Plane”. You can Hide
the sketch after you make it doesn’t display in your routing assemblies.
Design Table
Design tables are easy to create and set up. Especially since you can create
and edit them using Microsoft Excel.
The above Design Table is taken from the “Pipe-Astm-A53.sldprt” file that I
provided in the “RM Files” file that is available as a download with this manual.
For this file, I added the column $PRP@DESCRIPTION so my drawing’s bill of
materials has something to populate from. I also linked the $PRP@PipeIdentifier
column to the $PRP@DESCRIPTION column. SolidWorks uses the
PipeIdentifier property to create the Routing Part File names when you create a
route.
See Chapter 10 – Design Tables for more information on setting up the design
table, properties, etc…
SolidWorks uses a Base Tube part file that contains all of the required information to
route tubing. You specify the tube part file and configuration that you wish to use when
you first start your route. SolidWorks then uses the information in that configuration to
display your route and create the routing files when you exit the 3D sketch.
PipeSketch
The part file must contain a sketch named PipeSketch, consisting of two
concentric circles with dimensions named OuterDiameter and InnerDiameter.
The sketch plane for “PipeSketch” must be placed the “Front” plane.
3D Sketch
A 3D sketch is needed that has one straight line starting from the center of the
“PipeSketch” circles, and extending out some amount. The length of the line,
and the name of the 3D sketch are inconsequential. Be sure the line is NOT a
construction line.
3D Sketch
ThinSweep Feature
FilterSketch
A sketch named “FilterSketch” that consists of a circle with a dimension named
“NominalDiameter”.
Tube assembly showing the two main types of tubing routes. (Flexible & rigid)
Design Table
I mentioned earlier that some values would be determined by the design table.
So now it’s time to pay the piper. Design tables are easy to create and set up.
Especially since you can create and edit them using Microsoft Excel.
See Chapter 10 – Design Tables for more information on setting up the design
table, properties, etc…
Elbows
There are two types of elbows that you can use in a routing subassembly.
1. Rigid Elbows
2. Base Elbows
Rigid elbows are drag-and-drop items. They cannot be inserted onto the sketch fillets
automatically, and are created for use with a specific bend angle. They are parts like
any other component such as a valve or filter, and require the same features. (2 Cpoints
& 1 Rpoint)
Base elbows are created so they can be automatically inserted by the Routing package
onto the fillets of your route when you exit the 3D sketch. They can be customized
automatically by SolidWorks to be used with almost any bend angle.
Route Sketch
A sketch named “Route” on the “Top” plane that consists of a circle that is
aligned horizontaly from the Origin, and contains two dimensions named
“Diameter” and “BendRadius”. The BendRadius dimension is equal to to the
“BendRadius” dimension in the sketch named “ElbowArc”.
The “Diameter” dimension will be driven by the Design Table, and is the actual
outside diameter of the elbow.
ElbowArc Sketch
A sketch named “ElbowArc” on the “Front” plane, consisting of an arc with
dimensions named “BendAngle” and “BendRadius”. The value for “BendAngle”
will be driven by the design table, while the dimension “BendRadius@ElbowArc”
is equal to “BendRadius@Route”.
The arc must start in the CENTER of the circle in “Route” sketch, and continue
up and in the direction above the origin.
Sweep Feature
A sweep feature named “Elbow” using the sketches “Route” and “ElbowArc”.
Shell Feature
A shell feature with the thickness dimensioned named “Wall Thickness”.
Connection Points
There must also be connection points on both ends of the elbow where you want
the pipe to begin and end when it meets the elbow.
Elbow Chamfer
The chamfers shown in the library’s standard elbow part file are not required. In
the real world, most elbows do contain a chamfer to hold weld material if they are
to be buttwelded into a routing system. Some piping routes are welded
differently and do not require a chamfer.
Buttwelded Ends
Equations
The two equations that are shown in the library’s standard elbow part are
optional. They specify the dimensions of a Chamfer on the ends of the elbow.
Design Table
There must be a design table with a configuration for each size of elbow that you
will use in your routes.
See Chapter 10 – Design Tables for more information on setting up the design
table, adding custom properties, etc…
Tees
A tee part contains three connection points, and one route point. When inserted into the
routing 3D sketch, the route point is inserted at the intersecting endpoints of three
separate sketch line segments.
The Cpoints on the tee are at each connection port, and the Rpoint is placed at the
intersection of the branches.
Line Segment
Line Segment
Line Segment
See also:
Chapter 4 – Adding a Tee to the Route
Chapter 8 – Creating Custom Components (Tees)
Flanges
A flange must contain at least one Cpoint and one Rpoint. The Rpoint positions the
flange in the routing subassembly, and the Cpoint controls location and properties of the
pipe that will be routed off of it.
See also:
Chapter 8 – Creating Custom Components (Flanges)
Reducers
You can add a reducer to your route when you want to change the size of pipe or tubing.
The connection points on the ends of the reducer have different size properties, allowing
you to route one size of pipe or tube into the fitting, and another size exiting it.
Concentric Reducers
Concentric reducers have two
Cpoints, and one Rpoint.
Eccentric Reducers
Eccentric reducers have two
Cpoints, and do not contain
a Routing point.
See also:
Chapter 6 – Adding a Reducer to Your Piping Route
Chapter 8 – Creating Custom Components (Reducers)
All of these things are important to know before starting your route. Some things
can be changed later in your route, others cannot. Some changes will call for the
need to start the route over from scratch while others can be done with a few
simple mouse clicks.
Refer to the SolidWorks Help Files for information on adding parts and assemblies into
the Design Library.
The Design Library is part of the Task Pane and is normally shown as just a few “tabs”
on the right side of your screen.
If you do not see tabs like the ones shown above, then you may need to first display the
Task Pane by selecting View, Task Pane from the top menu.
An odd-looking toolbar will appear (usually on the right side of the screen) with
some arrows and tabs on it. The top tab opens task pane to display the
SolidWorks Resources. The second tab opens the Design Library, and the third
tab opens the file explorer. Click on the second tab down from the top to open
the Design Library.
The Design Library contains folders that store various types of Features that you
can drag into your parts or assemblies. It also contains the Piping and Tubing
library parts that you will use to start your route.
You can add paths, folders, and your own parts to the Design Library for quick
reference to your company’s custom parts.
Design Library
You can drag a piping Notice I said that you can drag a
or tubing fitting from “fitting” into your assembly, not a
the Design Library pipe or tube part file. You should
into your assembly. always insert a starting component
You can then select for the route, such as a flange, or
The configuration that valve.
You wish to use for this part.
Continue to Chapter 4 if you are creating a piping route, or Chapter 5 if you are creating
a tubing route.
Routing Properties/Settings
It is assumed that at this point, you have inserted a Routing Component into an
assembly, and have either right-clicked on a Cpoint and selected “Start Route” or the
option to “Automatically Route on Drop of Flanges/Connectors” is checked and the
Route Properties dialog opened after inserting the component.
In this section, we will discuss how to create a Fabricated Piping route, so all of the
Fabricated Piping options are displayed. For routing tubing, see chapter 5.
Let’s take a moment to explain what we’re looking at in the Feature Manager.
Once you are satisfied with your settings, Press to start editing your route.
You can click on the point at the end of the line, and drag it out to a desired length.
If you don’t see a point on the end of the line like the one
shown above, then you need to display sketch points.
Let’s learn more about this the old fashion way…. hands on, because the best way to
truly grasp how to do something, is to try it for yourself.
1. Start a new assembly and save it with a name you can remember, and put it
someplace where you won’t forget about it.
2. Open the Design Library (if it’s not already open) and drag a weld neck flange
from it, onto the origin of the assembly.
The configuration to use is: “WNeck Flange 150-NPS4”
3. Select “OK” and the “Route Options” dialog displays in the feature tree, give the
route subassembly a good name, and place it someplace memorable.
4. Make sure that “Automatically create fillets” is checked under “Options”.
5. Use the standard SolidWorks Library Folder Path, and the standard pipe and
elbow base files. Use the default configurations for each, because in this
instance, SolidWorks knows best.
6. Be sure that “Always use elbow” is checked, and then select to begin your
route.
7. The 3D sketch will open, and a line will now be protruding from the Cpoint that
started your route. Be sure that “Display Sketch Endpoints” is activated under
the system options.
8. Add a 36” dimension to the route line.
9. Drag a line from the endpoint, at a 90 degree angle, out approximately 36”.
Because “Automatically create sketch fillets” was turned on, at the turn, a fillet was
added that has a radius that was taken from the configuration of the elbow file.
At this point, you can also remove the fillet that was just
created by selecting “undo” once. Don’t do it now
though, I only mentioned it to let you know you CAN
do it if you want to add a “rigid” elbow to your route.
This will remove the fillet and create a “corner” that you
can drag and drop an elbow onto.
10. Exit the 3D sketch. Since you chose to use elbows in your piping route, they will
automatically be placed onto the fillets that are at the turns of your route.
• Notice that when you exited the 3D sketch, you are now editing the “Routing
Subassembly” in context of the top level assembly.
Select to stop editing the routing subassembly, and return to the main assembly.
If you don’t see a point on the end of the line like the one
shown above, then you need to display sketch points.
Let’s learn more about this the old fashion way…. hands on, because the best way to
truly grasp how to do something, is to do it yourself.
1. Start a new assembly and save it with a name you can remember, then put it
someplace you won’t forget about.
2. Open the Design Library (if it’s not already open) and drag a weld neck flange
from it, onto the origin of the assembly.
The configuration to use is: “WNeck Flange 150-NPS4”
3. Select “OK” and the “Start Route” dialog box pops up, save the route
subassembly someplace where you can memorable, and give it a name you
won’t forget.
4. Make sure that “Automatically create fillets” is checked under “Options”.
5. Use the standard SolidWorks Library Folder Path, and the standard pipe and
elbow base files. Use the default configurations for each, because in this
instance, SolidWorks knows best.
6. Be sure that “Always form bends” is checked, and then select to begin your
route.
7. The 3D sketch will open, and a line will now be protruding from the Cpoint that
started your route. Be sure that “Display Sketch Endpoints” is activated under
the system options.
9. Drag a line from the endpoint, at a 90 degree angle, out approximately 36”.
Because “Automatically create sketch fillets” was turned on, at the corner, a fillet was
added that has the bend radius that you specified in the “Route Properties”.
10. Exit the 3D sketch. Since you chose to use bends in your piping route, no
elbows are added to the piping route.
11. SolidWorks will now ask you to save a “Routing File” with a name similar to
“4in Schedule40-<route assembly name>.sldprt”
This part file is unique to this route, and contains different configurations for each
different length of pipe in the route.
• Notice that when you exited the 3D sketch, you are now editing the “Routing
Subassembly”, not the top level assembly.
Select to stop editing the routing subassembly, and return to the main assembly.
Any component containing at least one Cpoint can be used as an end of route item. You
can end your route with a valve for instance, and just not continue the pipe on the other
end.
It should be noted that if you have “Create Pipes On Open Line Segments” unchecked in
the Routing Options, you must add an end of route component to the line or the pipe will
not be created. See Chapter 1 – Routing Options and Settings for more detail.
This section is only valid if you have “Create Custom Fittings” checked in the
Routing Options.
Custom 50
Degree Elbow
Standard 90
Degree Elbow
The route shown above contains a 50 degree elbow and a 90 degree elbow.
SolidWorks will use the standard base elbow file to create the 90 degree elbow, but
doesn’t know how to create a 50 degree elbow.
Let’s say that I just drew the route shown above. When I exit the 3D sketch, SolidWorks
will automatically place the 90 degree elbow in my route, and ask me what to do about
the 50 degree elbow.
SolidWorks zooms in on the elbow, highlights it red, then displays this dialog box:
Pipe Size
Angle of bend
Parameters
This area shows the elbow’s information. The Diameter and Angle are taken
from the base elbow file that was specified when you started the route.
Options
Here you have three choices:
1. Use Default/Alternate Elbow: Select this if you already have an
elbow file that has a diameter of 5”, a radius of 7.5”, and an angle
of 50 degrees specified in its design table.
2. Make Custom Elbow: Select this if you want to create an elbow
file from an existing elbow file. The elbow file you use must
contain a configuration that has a 5” diameter, and a bend radius
of 7.5”. The angle does not matter because SolidWorks will
modify the file to have an angle of 50 degrees.
3. Create Form Bends: Select this if you want to “Bend” the pipe to
this angle instead of adding an elbow.
Configuration to Use:
This area displays the valid configurations of the file specified under “Create
Elbow Using:” The configurations displayed all contain parameters for 5” pipe
with a 7.5” bend radius.
When you are finished, select “Ok” to add the elbow or bend to the route.
See also:
Chapter 2 – Required Features of Components - Elbows
Chapter 8 – Creating Custom Routing Components - Elbows
If you routed straight pipe with elbows, then that part file will contain a configuration of
each straight piece of pipe that you routed. For example, if you started your route with a
weld neck flange, and on the buttwelded end of the flange, you ran a 12” piece of pipe,
then added an elbow, then a 6” straight piece of pipe and added another flange onto the
end of that, when you exit the sketch, SolidWorks will prompt for you to create a routing
file that contains 2 configurations. One configuration for the 12” length of pipe, and
another for the 6” length.
3in Schedule40.sldprt
In the image above, the file 3in Schedule40.sldprt will contain 6 different configurations,
one for each different lengths of 3inch schedule 40 pipe used in the route.
If you routed pipe with bends, then the part file will contain configurations for “some” of
the straight lengths of pipe, and prompt for you to create a new routing part file for
sections of pipe with bends.
3in Schedule40-2.sldprt
3in Schedule40-1.sldprt
3in Schedule40-3.sldprt
In the image above, the file 3in Schedule40-1.sldprt will contain 4 different
configurations, one for each 3inch schedule 40 length of pipe used in the route, and the
other two routing files will each contain one configuration for the bent piping segment.
The default file name that is assigned to the routing files when you exit the
sketch, is taken from the parameter named “Pipe Identifier” in the design table of
base pipe part file that you specified when you started the route. SolidWorks will
remove any “,” (commas) that are in the parameter, and use it for the default file
name. Then SolidWorks adds on the routing subassembly name you are routing,
and then the top level assembly name the routing subassembly is located in. For
example, the pipe identifier for a 3 inch schedule 40 pipe is “3in, Schedule40”.
The comma will be dropped, and the default routing file name will be “3in
Schedule40-<route assembly name>.sldprt.“
Route Properties/Settings
After specifying the route subassembly name and location, and selecting “OK”, the
“Route Properties” data is displayed in the Feature Manager.
(For the example shown here, I inserted “Connector-37Flare-MS” from the sample part
files available where you downloaded this manual.)
In this section, it is assumed that you started a Tubing route, so all of the Tubing options
are displayed. For fabricated piping, see chapter 4.
MS
straight
thread
Flared
end
tubing
end
Let’s take a moment to explain what we’re looking at in the Feature Manager.
Let’s take a moment to explain what we’re looking at in the Feature Manager.
After setting your route properties and selecting “Okay”, a 3D sketch is opened, and a
sketch line now protrudes from the Cpoint that you started the route with.
You can click on the point at the end of the line, and drag it out to a desired length.
If you don’t see a point on the end of the line like the one shown
at the end of the line above, then you need to display sketch
points.
You can use the “Line” tool to draw routing lines in the 3D sketch. Every time you
add a new line, you make a turn. If “Automatically Create Sketch Fillets” is
turned “on” (checked) in the Routing Options, SolidWorks will automatically add
bends in the tubing that have the bend radius you specified under “Route
Properties” when you started the tubing route.
When you are done routing tube, exit the 3d sketch, and SolidWorks will finish
creating your route.
See Chapter 4 – Tubing Routing Files for more information
You can use the “Spline” tool to draw flexible routing lines in the 3D sketch.
If you make a bend with the spline, that has a radius less than the “Bend Radius”
that you specified in the Route Properties when you started the route,
SolidWorks will highlight that area in red. Simply adjust the spline points in that
area to give the bend a larger radius. See image below.
You can also use the “Line” tool to draw routing lines. Every time you add a new
line, you make a turn. If “Automatically Create Sketch Fillets” is turned “on”
(checked) in the Routing Options, SolidWorks will automatically add bends in the
tubing that have the bend radius you specified under “Route Properties” when
you started the tubing route.
Straight Lines
If you started a route with rigid tubing (leaving the “Use Flexible”
option unchecked when you started the route) and you decide later that
you want to add a flexible piece to your route, simply use the spline
tool to add a new segment to the end of your rigid line.
SolidWorks will then ask you if you want to start routing flexible
tubing from that point on.
You can also right-click on the route, select “route properties” and
check the “Use Flexible” option to change the existing rigid route to
flexible.
When you are done routing tube, exit the 3d sketch, and SolidWorks will create
your flexible tube route.
Any component containing at least one Cpoint can be used as an end of route item. You
can end your route with a tube valve, for instance, and just not continue the tubing on
the other end.
It should be noted that if you have “Create Pipes On Open Line Segments” unchecked in
the Routing Options, it will not have any effect on your tubing route. That option only
applies to fabricated piping.
When you exit the 3D sketch (to stop editing the route) SolidWorks will prompt for you to
save the “tubing routing files”. See below for a description of what these are.
If you routed rigid tubing, then SolidWorks will prompt for you to save a separate file for
every tubing segment you routed. See image below for an example.
Tube-500x.010-1.sldprt
Tube-500x.010-2.sldprt
Tube-500x.010-3.sldprt
Tube-500x.010-4.sldprt
Tube-500x.010-5.sldprt
In the image above, there will need to be 5 separate routing files, one for each
segment of tubing that is routed. This does not work the same as fabricated piping,
where there would only need to be a couple of routing files, each containing multiple
configurations for like lengths of pipe. This is because pipe is created using extrusions
and tubing is created using sweeps.
The default file name that is assigned to the routing files when you exit the
sketch, is taken from the parameter named “Pipe Identifier” in the design table of base
tube part file that you specified when you started the route. SolidWorks will remove any
“,” (commas) that are in the parameter, and use it for the default file name. Then
SolidWorks add the routing subassembly name and the top level assembly name onto
the end. For example, the pipe identifier for a 1/2 inch OD, piece of tube with a wall
thickness of .010 is “Tube-500x.010”. The comma will be dropped, and the default
routing file name will be “Tube-500x.010-<route assembly name>.
If you do choose to check the “Multibody Part” option when you first start your route,
then SolidWorks will create one Routing File that contains multiple bodies for each
segment. This is my preferred way of routing tubing so that I am not left with 20 or 30
different files to archive at the end of my project. This is something you need to try for
yourself, and see which method you prefer.
Adding a Tee
The procedures for adding tees to fabricated piping and tubing routes are basically the
same. The example shown below illustrates how to add a tee to a piping route, and can
be easily adapted for tubing.
2. Before you add the Tee to the route, you must first define the branches of it in the
route. See example below.
Line Segment
Line Segment
Line Segment
Line Segment Line Segment
There are two ways to get three separate line segments for use with a tee.
Right-Click on the line that you wish to use as the run of the tee, and
select
Pick a point on the line that you will define as the center of the tee.
SolidWorks will split the line into two segments, creating a Split Entity.
The point between the two lines is often called the split entity Point.
Now draw a line perpendicular to the route, starting from the split entity
point that you just created. This line will be the branch of the Tee.
3. Now that you have three separate segments, you can insert the Tee. As with
most things in the Routing Package, there is more than one way to do this too.
The three most popular methods are shown below.
4. For this exercise, lets drag the Tee onto the intersecting point of the 3 segments,
from the Design Library and select the Schedule 40 configuration.
Try all of the ways to create the 3 line segments, and also try all
3 ways to insert the tee onto the route.
There are many different types of components that you can add to your route, and many
different ways they can be made. Here, we will assume that you will be inserting a valve
that is to be welded onto your line. The valve we will use follows all of the rules in
Chapter 2 – Required Features of Components. It contains two connection points, (one
for each inlet/outlet), one Rpoint for positioning, and a Vertical Axis to orientate the valve
in the route.
We will add
the valve here
2. Edit the route. You can do this by expanding the subassembly in the feature
tree, right clicking on “Route”, and selecting “Edit Route”.
3. You should notice that the route is composed of 4” Schedule 40 pipe, so the
valve that we will be inserting must also have connection points that are rated at
4” as well.
Vertical Valve:
a. Drag and drop the file “CH06-4inBW-Valve” onto the end of the route line.
Vertical Axis
Valve’s
Feature
Tree
Clocked Valve:
a. Draw a “Construction Line” on the end of the route line, and constrain it
“Vertically”.
Construction Line
b. Now draw another “Construction Line” starting from the same point as the
first, but be sure this one does not constrain to anything, and is
“Perpindicular” to the route.
Correct: Wrong!:
Line is Line is
“Unconstrained” and “Unconstrained” but is
is “Perpindicular” to NOT “Perpindicular” to
the route. the route.
c. Drag and drop the valve file “CH06-4inBW-Valve.sldprt” onto the end of
the route line.
d. The Valve will automatically align with the last construction line drawn.
e. Select the end of the last construction line you drew, and rotate it around
the piping route. The Vertical axis on the valve stays aligned with the
construction line.
f. Add a dimension between the two construction lines to lock your valve to
a desired angle.
1. Now that you have placed the valve at the angle that you want, it is time to
continue the route out the other end.
2. Edit the route, right-click on the “Cpoint” on the outlet of the valve, and select
“Add to Route”.
Right-Click
on the Cpoint
Then Select
Continued Route
We will add
the valve here
4. Pick a point on the middle of the line. The routing line will be broken into two
segments.
A “Split Entity Point” is just a fancy word to describe the point that
is created when you break a line into two segments. The “Point” is
nothing more than the “merged” end-point of the two lines.
5. Now drag and drop the valve file “CH06-4inBW-Valve.sldprt” onto the “Split Entity
Point”. The “Rpoint” of the valve is placed on the point, and the pipe enters and
exits from the “Cpoints”.
Of course, you can also add the construction lines on top of the Split Entity Point
before you add the valve so you can clock it if you want. This technique is shown
earlier in the chapter.
When creating a route, you cannot draw a line in the 3D sketch, add an elbow, then drop
a flange onto the end of the elbow. Instead, you must add the elbow, draw a length of
pipe then drop a flange onto the end of the pipe. In order to get a fitting-to-fitting
connection of the flange and elbow, you can “Remove” the pipe (or tube) that is between
the two fittings.
1. Edit a route, right-click on the line segment that you wish to remove, then select
“Remove Pipe” from the menu.
2. You should notice two things just happened. The pipe between the flange and
the elbow was removed, and the pipe between the flange and the elbow wasn’t
really removed.
Notice the odd looking thing that was created when you removed the pipe.
Any pipe with a length less than 0.0001 will not be displayed in the Bill of
Materials. But… since the pipe DOES exist, SolidWorks will try to create a
Routing File of the pipe when you exit the 3D Sketch. See Chapter 4-Piping
Routing Files for more information on routing files.
Okay, you just removed the pipe, and you saw that it wasn’t really
removed, and you saw that it is now constrained to a dimension that you didn’t
add. Why didn’t it remove the pipe completely, and why did SolidWorks add the
dimension??? See the next section “Adding Back Removed Pipe or Tube” to
find out why.
Double-click on the dimension associated with Cpoints on either side of the face-to-face
fittings, and change it to say… 12”. When you hit “Okay”, you’ll notice that the pipe (or
tube) that was previously removed, now has a length of 12”. See how easy that was to
add back the removed pipe??
You can add and remove the pipe from the route as many times as you wish.
But once the pipe has a dimension (from you adding it yourself, or from removing it
previously, then adding it back) the dimension must be deleted, or when you remove the
pipe, SolidWorks will try to add a new dimension a really, really short length, and the
route will become over-defined.
Sometimes, it will be difficult to find the dimension associated with that piece of
removed pipe. If you look at the associations of the Cpoints on either side of the
removed pipe, the dimension you’re looking for will be highlighted on the screen.
Below is one such example of a route that contains multiple sizes, and multiple reducers.
When adding reducers to your route, it is helpful if the route is not yet finished, or
things could get complicated. For example, if you have a route that starts off with a 4”
flange, has 10 feet of pipe, then has an elbow, a 5 foot straight section of pipe, then
another 4” flange, and you’re boss comes in one day and tells you to add a reducer
“before” the elbow, that reduces from 4” to 2”, you’ll have to clean up a few items.
After inserting a reducer, the elbow will need to be fixed, because SolidWorks will
update part of the elbow, but not all of it. You will also need to manually change the
flange at the end of the line from a 4” to a 2” so the Cpoints on it match the 2” pipe that
attaches to it.
But let’s worry about all of that later, and start with the basics. There are two
types of reducers you can add from the Design Library. They are concentric and
eccentric reducers. A concentric reducer has “concentric” inlets and outlets. An
eccentric reducer maintains the flow of fluid in a straight line, and is commonly used in
gravity-flow systems such as drainage or sewage.
To add a concentric reducer to your route, simply create a split-entity point (see
Chapter 6-Using Split Points to Add Components to Your Route) and drop the
reducer onto it from the Feature Library.
When you drag the reducer onto the split point, it will show a preview of the part
as it will be placed in the route until you release the mouse button to drop it. If it
appears to be facing the wrong direction, simply press the “Tab” button on your
keyboard while holding the part over the split point, and it will flip over and
change direction.
Release the mouse button to drop the reducer onto the split point.
You can also add the reducer onto the end point of a route line, right-click on the
Cpoint of the reducer, and select “Add to Route” to continue the pipe out of the
other side of the reducer.
Concentric Reducer
added to endpoint of line
Right-Click on Cpoint
to continue from
+
Select “Add to Route”
In the above route, I want to add a 5”x3” concentric reducer between the
flange on the right, and the elbow. I know that the elbow size and bend radius
will be affected by a line size change, and the flange on the left will need to
change from a 5” to a 3” flange as well.
The first step is to realize that there may be some errors in the route as I
make my changes. But don’t worry, this is common, and we will fix them after we
add the reducer.
I start off by adding a “split point” where I want the center of the reducer
to be located.
Split Point
Next I drag the concentric reducer from the Design Library and hold it
over the split point. If it is facing the correct way, then you can drop it onto the
point, if not, you need to press “Tab” on the keyboard to flip it the other direction.
After dropping it into place, the elbow and pipe after the reducer may
disappear. This is because that end of the route is still looking at the flange on
the left, which has a Cpoint property of 5” still, while the line properties after the
reducer were changed to 2” by SolidWorks. Due to the conflict, the route is not
shown on the screen.
You need to change the configuration that the route assembly is using
from one that is 5”, to one that is 3”. In order to do this, you have to exit the
route, ignoring any errors that appear.
Right-click on the Route Assembly in the Feature Tree, and open it.
Right-Click
SolidWorks will now open the Route Subassembly file for editing. Right-
click on the flange and select “Properties” under the “Component” section.
Select “Properties”
A box with all of the flange’s properties will pop up. Under “Referenced
Configuration” the configuration of the flange that is used in the Route
Subassembly will be highlighted. (Shown below outlined in BLUE.)
The route will change to show the 3” pipe that it was missing before, and
SolidWorks will ask you to save the new 3” Route File. Give it the appropriate
name, save it, and close this routing assembly to return to the main assembly
that we opened this one from.
The elbow was updated automatically, and the flange on the left is now 3”
to match the line size.
If you want to add an eccentric reducer to an existing line, you will need to
delete everything after where the reducer will go, and add the reducer onto the
end of a line. (eccentric reducers cannot be placed on a split entity point because
they offset, and do not flow in a straight line) You can then redraw the route after
adding the eccentric reducer.
After doing all of this, the elbow’s bend radius may not update to show the
right dimension.
If this happens, when you exit the 3D sketch, SolidWorks will ask you to
create a custom elbow that is 3” nominal OD, but still has the bend radius of
the 5” elbow.
Select “Cancel”, edit the route again, and change the dimension of the bend
radius to the correct size for a 3” elbow.
Ansi standards dictate that the bend radius of a 3” Long Radius elbow is
4.5”. (1.5 x Nominal OD) The bend radius of a 3” Short Radius elbow is 3”.
(1.0 x Nominal OD)
Once a route has been created, there are still several properties that can be changed.
While editing an existing route, right-click on a route line, and select “Route Properties”.
The Feature Tree will change to display the Route Properties dialog.
The schedule, wall thickness, material, etc… are all configuration items that can
be changed in the Route Properties dialog.
The line size however is something that can only be changed by opening the
Routing Subassembly and changing the items in it one by one.
Right-click on the Route Assembly in the Feature Tree, and open it.
Right-Click
SolidWorks will now open the Route Subassembly file for editing. Right-
click on the flange and select “Properties” under the “Component” section.
Select “Properties”
A box with all of the flange’s properties will pop up. Under “Referenced
Configuration” the configuration of the flange that is used in the Route
Subassembly will be highlighted. (Shown below outlined in BLUE.)
The route will change to show the 3” pipe that it was missing before, and
SolidWorks will ask you to save the new 3” Route File. Give it the appropriate
name, save it, and close this routing assembly to return to the main assembly
that we opened this one from.
It should be noted that the new component should be the same size, and contain the
same mating faces to make the transition from the old part to the new one easier.
When replacing components within a route, the routing line must also continue at the
same point as the original part. For example, you cannot replace a concentric reducer
with an eccentric reducer because the route path offsets, and the route line after the
reducer will need to be moved to accommodate the new location. Any mates or
dimensions will cause the sketch to become over constrained.
Pipe Penetrations
In some cases, adding tees are not always feasible or cost effective. One alternative to
adding a tee to a route would be to create a pipe penetration.
The pipe branch can be any size that is equal to or less than the main
(run) pipe. One end of the branch pipe is cut into a saddle shape that matches the OD
of the run pipe, and a hole is cut into the run pipe that matches the ID of the branching
pipe. The branch pipe is then welded onto the run pipe.
Line Segment
Line Segment
Line Segment
Line Segment Line Segment
The main run must be a single line segment in the 3D sketch. The endpoint of
the branch line must have a coincident relationship with the main run segment. You
cannot create a penetration at the intersection of 3 segments.
Note: If you right-click on the point, and “Penetrate” is not shown in the menu, the most
likely cause would be because the branching line has not yet been defined. If you add a
fitting to the end, of the line (above I added a flange) to define the branch size, then
SolidWorks will be able to identify the size of the penetration.
When adding supports and brackets to an assembly after the route has been
created, great care should be taken to apply the appropriate mates to the support, and
the route so that if the route were to change, the assembly doesn’t get mating errors.
For example, if I were to create a route, then come back and add pipe supports
like the ones shown above, I would need to keep the pipe supports floating, and apply a
mate from the center of the support, to the centerline (temporary axes) of the route line.
When I edit my route, and the pipe moves left or right, I would want the pipe support to
move with it. If I fully-define the support with mates, then it cannot move, and I will get
mating errors in the assembly if I change my route.
When adding supports and brackets to the assembly before routing pipe or
tubing, you should fully define them so the route is locked in place by them. You can
also add points, and axes to the supports for use with flexible tubing to make routing
quick and easy.
Adapter “A”
Tube Clips
Adapter “B”
2. Drag out the starting routing line so it extends past the adapter about an inch.
3. Right-Click on Cpoint2 of Adapter “B” and select “Add to Route”. Drag the
starting line out a couple of inches past the adapter.
4. Now select the “Spline” tool and draw a spline from the end of the route line
on Adapter “A” to the first sketch point on the top clip.
1st point
2nd point
3rd point
4th point
5th point
6. And that’s it. Exit the route, save the routing file and return to the top
assembly. The flexible tubing will now run through the clips.
Forming Subassemblies
In some cases, it is easier to build all of the mechanical and structural components of a
facility at once, then break them up into smaller subassemblies according to area or
system before adding the piping or tubing.
1. Select the components in the Feature Manager that you want to group into a sub
assembly.
2. Right click on one of the selected components and pick “Form New Subassembly
Here” from the menu.
3. Save the new subassembly file to the appropriate location and all of the
components you selected will be added to the new subassembly file. The
subassembly is then automatically inserted into the Feature Tree at the level
where the selected components were selected.
Dissolving Subassemblies
You can dissolve a subassembly into individual components creating one main top level
assembly containing only parts.
1. Right click on the subassembly you want to dissolve in the feature manager tree,
and select “Dissolve Subassembly”. The components are then brought out of
the subassembly and placed in the current assembly document as individual
parts. The subassembly file you selected is then removed from the feature
manager tree and is no longer associated with this current document.
It should be noted that the Base Pipe part file and the Base Tube part files that
are used in the route will not be found using Find References. Therefore, if you are
using this command to relocate and archive all files associated with a particular routing
assembly, the Base Pipe part file and the Base Tube part files will need to be relocated
manually.
After spending quite some time creating, modifying, editing, adding to, and
removing from a routing subassembly, it is recommended that you use the Find
References command to gather, and relocate the routing files. This will basically “purge”
all of the unused routing files, components, and temporary files that are no longer
associated with the route.
Bolted Connections
ANSI Flanges are usually bolted together with STUDS. You cannot just drag and drop a
STUD from the SolidWorks Toolbox because a stud is a long threaded rod with no head
on it to create a positioning mate from.
So, you’ll have to create a stud part file and drop it into all of the holes on all of your
flanges, and then come back and add nuts for each end of the stud manually.
Or…
You could create an assembly that contains the stud, the nut, and all of the
configurations for every size/rating of flange, and simply drop it into your routing
subassembly.
You could create configurations in the one file that has studs, nuts, a gasket,
and two connecting flanges, studs, nuts, and one flange, studs, nuts, and no
flanges, and one with just the flange.
This way, you can have configurations in your routing subassemblies that
have all of the components (to show in dwgs) and a memory-light version that
has only the flanges (working environment).
You can create Weld-O-Lets, Thread-O-Lets & Socket-O-Lets the same way you
would a boss fitting. They are even added the same way too!!
1. First off, closely observe the picture of the weld-o-let below. You’ll notice a
“Vertical” & “Horizontal” axes. These will define its location later. Also, notice
how the weld-o-let was made. (Open the file CH07-Weldolet01.sldprt) How this
weld-o-let is created is very important. For this example, we’re going to add a
2”x 6” Weld-o-let onto an existing 6” pipe run.
2. While “Editing” your route in sketch mode, insert a “construction line” where
you want your weld-o-let to be. You should dimension the line so it doesn’t move,
& you should also constrain it on an x,y,z axes. The idea here is to make your
construction line perpendicular to your pipe route.
3. Exit your route, and edit the assembly. Now, insert the weld-o-let anywhere on
your screen. It is important that you insert the weld-o-let at the “TOP
ASSEMBLY” level and not in the Route Assembly. Select the correct size
(configuration) of weld-o-let to insert. In this case, it is a 2”x 6”. When the
“Fabricated Piping” box pops up, Pick “Cancel” and insert the component into the
assembly. (See the “feature tree” below to see what I mean.
Weld-O-Let in top
assembly level.
(NOT in route)
5. Make the weld-o-let “Horizontal” axes coincident with the pipe route segment by
adding a “Coincident Mate” to constrain the “Horizontal Axes” to the pipe route.
6. To orient the weld-o-let in the desired direction, you need to make the weld-o-let
“Vertical” axes coincident with the construction line added in step 2.
7. Your weld-o-let is now in place. It is relatively simple to do when you build parts
that do the work for you.
8. You now have two options…. If you want the branch to CONTINUE on your
previous route, simply edit that route, right click on the “C-Point” on the weld-o-
let, and “Add to Route”. Alternately, you can right click on the “C-Point” at the
assembly level, and start a NEW route by selecting “Start Route” at the assembly
level.
Adding the weld-o-let does not automatically cut the hole in the
pipe. You can add a bored hole thru the run-line by selecting the
pipe, editing the part in context, and using the “Cut_Sketch” that
is located within the weld-o-let file to cut-extrude a circle. This is
only recommended for detailed drawings requiring a section cut
of the pipe.
Once you’ve inserted your Boss fitting or O-let, you can edit the pipe and cut a hole
in it for detail views. (Just like the real thing!)
These parts are typically modeled from vendor cut sheets or other sources. Once you
have the dimensions, and the part is modeled there are some routing features you will
need to add in order to bring it into a SolidWorks Routing subassembly.
Let’s start with a part model of a typical buttwelded valve. I created the part to the exact
dimensions provided by the manufacturer. The valve will not have multiple
configurations or sizes, so there is no need for a design table.
At the moment, the valve is nothing more than a typical SolidWorks part that you would
bring into an assembly. Since we will be inserting the valve into a routing assembly, it
needs a little more information.
Cpoints
All components inserted into a routing assembly require at least one Cpoint.
Cpoints tell SolidWorks Routing what size of pipe to attach to the end of the valve
and where to break the pipe to insert the body of the valve.
Cpoints are created from existing “points” of any feature sketch. The
points can be endpoints of lines, vertices, or just plain sketch points.
For this valve, since it is buttwelded, sketch points are added at the
center of the face that will be welded up against another component or pipe.
Sketch Points
mated to the “midpoint”.
The Feature tree will now display the properties for the new
Cpoint. In the Connection Point properties area, set whether
you want this Cpoint to be a Piping or Tubing Cpoint.
Set the Nominal Size of pipe that you wish this Cpoint to
represent.
Enter the Nominal
Pipe Size Here
The other fields are optional, and will be discussed later for
more advanced components.
You may be wondering why you had to select a face when you created the
Cpoint.
The face tells SolidWorks which way the pipe or tubing will enter or exit the
cpoint when you place the part into a routing assembly.
Take note of the little arrow (shown in red) in the above image. The arrow
will be “collinear” with the pipe or tube in the route.
If you were to select a face that is vertical, then the arrow would be pointing
upwards, and the pipe or tube would not enter the valve correctly.
Rpoints
Most components used in a routing assembly require an Rpoint. Rpoints tell
SolidWorks where to place the part in the assembly. For example, if you were to
drag a tee onto the intersecting point of three lines, the Rpoint would be placed at
that point.
The Rpoint for our valve needs to be placed at some point between the
Cpoints, and should be in line with them.
Rpoints are added similar to Cpoints. They are placed on top of existing
sketch points, vertices, line endpoints, or even the origin but do not require a face
be selected because they have no particular direction they flow. For this valve,
we will need to create a sketch point between the Cpoints.
To keep the part clean and tidy, I’m going to add the sketch point to the
same sketch that I used to create the Cpoints from. I draw a construction line
from one Cpoint to the other, then place a new sketch point in the middle of that
line.
The valve is now finished, and can be inserted onto a “Split Entity Point” or the
endpoint of a routing line in the route’s 3D sketch.
Vertical Axis
The vertical axis is an optional feature that can be added to components so when
they are added to a route, they are rotated a certain direction.
For example, if I add a vertical axis to the valve shown below, it will always be
inserted into a route sitting straight up, and not upside down, or rotated to one
side.
The Vertical Axis feature must be named “Vertical” with a capital “V”,
lowercase “ertical” and be the last feature in the part’s feature tree.
See also:
Chapter 2-required features of routing components (Cpoints & Rpoints)
Chapter 6-Adding components into your route
Flanges
Flanges contain an Rpoint for positioning at the end of existing routes, and a
Cpoint to specify the routing information.
They can be brought into an assembly, and a route can be started off of
the Cpoint, or they can be placed at the end of a line to end the route.
Since the Flange only contains one Cpoint, pipe can only enter it from one
side. This means the flange can only be placed at the beginning or at the
end of a route. What happens if you want one route with multiple bolted
sections? Here’s a pro’s trick….
Replace the Rpoint with another Cpoint, and add an Rpoint between the two
Cpoints.
Now pipe will enter one side of the flange, and exit the other. This allows
you to draw one long line, add “split entity points”, add components and
flanges, then remove the pipe from between the fittings for one long piping
route with flanges that does not end at every flange.
Flanges that have multiple configurations for multiple sizes should contain a
design table to sort all of the information.
Start Parts
Start Parts are used by pros to create routes without beginning or ending
connections. They are nothing more than an end of route item that isn’t a
component, it just “starts” a route. They contain one Cpoint, and do not require
an Rpoint since they are only used to “start” a route, and are not added to the
end of one. (Rpoints are only used to place a component into an existing route.)
For example: Let’s say your boss comes in and asks you to make a pipe spool
that will be welded into place.
Well, by using a “Start Part” you can drop it into your assembly and route your
pipe/tubing off of it.
Once your route is complete, simply hide or suppress the start part and it will not
appear in your model, the drawing, or the bill of materials.
The start part is nothing more than a component with one Cpoint, and
multiple configurations to drive the different sizes. Think of it as a flange, without
all of the extra stuff like material, weight, part numbers, descriptions, etc…
The design table for a start part can look as simple as this:
The design table contains the different configurations used in the part (column
A), the PIPE_OD@Sketch1 column is linked to the dimension defining the size of
the extruded circle in Sketch1, and the Diameter@CPoint1 column controls the
Cpoint sizes for the different configurations. Think of it as something similar to a
pipe end cap.
In my start part, I like to make the face that the Cpoint direction protrudes
from green, and the opposite face red. This way, when I insert my start part into
an assembly and the “Display Route Points” setting is off, I can easily position my
part in the direction I want it to face.
To keep the start part from showing up in the drawing’s bill of materials,
follow this procedure: After inserting the component into an assembly, right click
on the part in the Feature Tree, and select “Properties”. Then simply check the
box called “Exclude from bill of materials”. The part will not be included in any
BOMS associated with this assembly.
The part will still be displayed in any views where it is seen on a drawing.
Although you can either “hide” this part here in the assembly, or right-click on the
part in the drawing view, and select “Display, Hide Part”.
For example: I want to create an assembly to bring into my route that contains a flanged
valve, a flange on either side, and all of the nuts and bolts.
1. The first step is to start a new assembly file and save it. For this example, I will
call it “ValveAssem01.sldasm”.
2. The first step is to bring in the 4” flanged valve that I want to use and mate it into
my assembly so it is defined in space.
3. Next I will drag and drop two 4”, 150# Weld Neck Flanges straight from the
Feature Library, then mate them to the valve so they are fully constrained.
4. Now bring in some parts of threaded studs and nuts. Mate these to the weld
neck flanges, and the valve’s flanges. You do not need to bring in sixteen studs,
and 32 nuts. Just add enough for one bolted connection on each set of flanges.
5. To make it easier, simply use “Component Pattern” to add the rest of the nuts
and studs to the assembly.
6. All that is left is to tell SolidWorks that this is a routing component.… I mean…
assembly. If this was a part file, you would add Cpoints and Rpoints to tell
SolidWorks where the pipe will enter/exit the part. Since this is an assembly, we
need to add ACpoints and ARpoints. (get it… ACpoints… [A is for Assembly..C
is for Connection])
1. You can only add ACpoints and ARpoints onto EXISTING Cpoints and Rpoints
INSIDE of the parts you brought into your assembly. Look closely at the valve
and the flanges below. The flanges contain Cpoints (so you can insert the flange
part into a route) and the valve contains an Rpoint that I added so I can create
the ARpoint. (The Cpoints and Rpoints are located in the parts themselves, not
in this assembly.)
4. Repeat the above steps to create the ACpoint on the other flange.
7. You should now have an assembly that contains a valve, 2 flanges, all of the
necessary nuts and studs, two ACpoints, and one ARpoint. The assembly is now
ready to be inserted into a routing subassembly.
1. Simply start a new route or open an existing one. For this example, I’ll just
create a new route by starting a new assembly, saving it, then drag in a 4”,
150# Weld Neck Flanges straight from the Design Library onto the origin.
2. Next, I’ll drag the pipe out a bit, then add a “Split Entity Point” onto the middle
of the line.
3. I then select the “Split Entity Point”, and from the top pull-down menu I select
“Insert→Component→Existing Part/Assembly” and select the file
ValveAssem01.sldasm that I just finished making.
4. When I hit OK, the assembly is inserted into my route, onto the split entity
point.
I do not have to insert the assembly onto a split entity point, I can
also insert it onto the endpoint of a sketch line, and then continue the
route from the other end if I so choose.
I can also go back into the valve assembly and add gaskets, or
multiple configurations for high-resolution (more memory, better looking)
or lower resolution (less memory, nuts, studs, gaskets not shown) for use
in the working environment while I model the rest of the systems.
This section will briefly cover some of the properties that design tables control
that affect how your route will react and what values you can use in the bill of materials.
1. It controls all of the properties for that part in the route such as Cpoint information
and feature dimensions.
2. It holds information that can be put into the drawing annotations and tables.
For example, the following design table is for a typical tee part.
Column “A” contains all of the names for the various configurations.
Column “B” contains the part number used in the bill of materials.
Column “C” is the pipe identifier that SolidWorks uses for routing data.
Column “D” is used in the sketches to build the part feature.
Column “E” is the actual outside diameter of the part used to build the feature.
Column “F” is the wall thickness used to build the feature.
Column “G” is the inner diameter which is used to build the part feature.
For example, if I wanted to add properties for description, supplier and lead time,
to the design table for the custom “base” elbow that I made in chapter 8, I would only
need to add the columns for each of those properties and name those columns
$PRP@Description, $PRP@Supplier, and $PRP@LeadTime.
By editing the design table, and adding the columns with names that have the
“$PRP@” prefix, when I exit the design table, SolidWorks will add these properties to the
“Configuration Specific File Properties” of the part. I can now add a bill of materials to
my drawing and place these properties into it.
Pulling the Data Out of the Design Table & Into My Drawing
Extracting the data from the design table for use in the bill of materials is a very simple
process in SolidWorks 2004. The image below shows a drawing I made using the
custom elbow file I made in Chapter 8. I have pulled the custom property “Description”
that I added to the elbow’s design table, and put it into the bill of materials.
In this section, I will show you how to extract the data from the design table and
include it in the bill of materials.
On the drawing, hover over the top of the farthest-right column in the bill of
materials. Right-mouse-click when the pointer symbol changes to this:
When you right-click, select “Insert → Column Right” from the menu. (See image
below for detail)
A new blank column will be added to the right of the “Description” column.
A box will appear over the new column asking what properties you want
to display.
Now repeat the above steps, adding another new column to the right of
“LeadTime” and make this new column link to the property “Supplier”.
I now have all three of the custom properties that I added to my custom
elbow file in the bill of materials.
Experiment with the design table, and custom properties to see how the
bill of materials reacts. Just remember to add the “$PRP@” prefix before every
property name in the design table, or SolidWorks won’t know what to do with it.
Okay, this process is very simple. All that is required is that when you draw the
cropping boundary, that you add a “spline” over the pipe. Then add another curve after
you create the crop. Here’s an example:
4) Now sketch an arc from the pointed end to the midpoint, and you’re done.
Dimensioning to faces with SolidWorks is quite easy, since you can see and
select the faces. Adding dimensions to centerlines is also pretty simple, because you
can just view the Temporary Axes, and dimension to those.
But you don’t always want to show ALL of the axes on a drawing when you print,
so you turn off the temporary axes, and suddenly your dimensions appear to be in the
center of the component, but since there aren’t centerlines, the drafting standard is no
longer used.
One way around this, is to display the temporary axes, dimension to them, then
draw construction lines over the top of the axes for display purposes. Now when you
turn off the temporary axes, the dimensions appear to be to the centerlines. In reality,
they are actually to the temporary axes of the part. Now if the part changes, so does the
dimension.
Piping/Tubing Template
One of the strongest features of the routing package, is the ability to add
cut lengths of pipe/tube to the bill of materials. When you add a bill of materials
to a routing drawing, you have to ability to choose the old “Excel Based Bill of
Materials” or the new, updated, easier to use, wonderful new table style.
SolidWorks provides a piping template for use with the old Excel based
bom, but not with the new table style. In order to add cut-lengths to the table
style bill of materials, you will need to add a column to the table, and select
“SWPipeLength” as the Custom Property that drives the column. This is easy to
do, and only takes a moment to add.
Tubing works the same. When you route a long tubing system with lots of
breaks in the tube for valves, connectors, etc… SolidWorks will give you one
separate part for each individual section of tube. In reality, you only want to
know the approximate length of all the tubing required for the assembly. The
way to do this is to add up all of the lengths of tubing, then hide all of the tubing
parts in the bill of materials except one, double-click on the cell with the cut-
length, and manually change the value to the total length of all the tube.