A rigid tubing or piping route is typically a mixed set of auto route regions and sketched route segments . Sketched route segments are manually created using geometric constraints, dimensions, custom bends, point snap, rotation snap, direction axes of 3D Orthogonal Route tool, and so on.
Sketched route segments can take advantage of reference geometry in the assembly. It is best to plan for route constraints before starting the design. As needed, create construction lines or include needed geometry to place constraints.
During route creation, you can determine to continue with normal sketched dimension forward routing using the Auto-Dimension option on the context menu. Use the Driven Dimension command to switch the specified route dimension between sketched dimension and driven dimension.
Sketched route segment does not have a region as an auto route region. It is represented by the segment between two manually created route points. The default naming schema of sketched route points is Route Point <n>, where <n> is an automatically incremented number starting from 1 and continues sequentially within the active pipe route. It is reset to 1 within each unique pipe route in a new pipe run. Both auto route regions and route points can be renamed in the Model browser using the slow-edit functionality of the Microsoft operation systems.
Sketched route points are in the same level as auto route regions in the Model browser. Terminal route points are typically shared route points . They follow the naming schema of auto route points and are contained in both auto route region and route sketch.
Sketched routes typically have two types of constraints, geometric constraints and dimension constraints.
In the tube and pipe assembly, if existing geometry such as vertex, linear geometry, planar face, and work features including work point, work axis, and work plane can help navigate through the route system, include them as reference geometry and apply appropriate geometric constraints and dimension constraints to define the design.
A route typically starts and terminates on certain valid geometry. Consequently, reference geometry is automatically created and grouped into the Work Features folder, for instance, a work point is typically derived from selecting a circular edge and remain coincident with its center point. When route geometry including route points and segments are deleted, the underlying reference geometry remains.
Some other route commands such as Parallel With Edge and Perpendicular commands for forward creation also automatically include appropriate reference geometry.
Segments in an auto route region can always dynamically update when changes are made to associated geometry. The system automatically calculates the new auto route region solution so segments can be added or removed.
Sketched route segments must be manually edited or deleted. The system dynamically adjusts segment length and orientation unless they are fully constrained, but no segments are added or removed.