About Dimensions and Constraints on Route Sketch in Tube and Pipe

What's New: 2024.2

In a rigid route, auto route regions always dynamically update to assembly changes. They do not involve dimensions until the Convert to Sketch command is applied.

For sketched route segments, there are three typical types of dimensions pertaining to route sketch:

• Linear dimension, such as route segment length
• Radial dimension, such as bend radius for custom bends in piping routes and normal bends in tubing routes
• Angular dimension, such as angles between directional turns

Similar to Autodesk Inventor, dimensions on the route sketch can be categorized into two types: normal sketched dimension (driving dimension) and driven dimension. Normal sketched dimensions are used to drive the route geometry. For instance, sketched route segments are manually created using a specified dimension. Driven dimensions are enclosed in parentheses as displayed in the graphics window and allow route geometry to dynamically respond to associated changes.

Note: If the Driven Dimension option is combined with the General Dimension command, you can directly place a driven dimension. You can also copy a driven dimension, then paste it as a sketch or driving dimension.

How can I manually set route dimensions?

In the route environment, normal sketched dimensions can be manually set using the General Dimension or Parameters command. Optionally, use the Include Geometry command to introduce reference geometry to place angular dimensions when editing a sketched route segment.

Note: If you want to place dimensions based on geometry outside the active route, you must first include it in the route sketch using the Include Geometry command.

How does Auto-Dimension work with sketched route dimensions?

The Auto-Dimension option only applies to forward creation when you manually define the next route point. By default, it is checked so Autodesk Inventor creates driving dimensions on the route sketch accordingly. View the Format panel of the Sketch tab to ensure the Driven Dimension command is depressed.

If the active rigid piping style includes 45-degree elbows and the included angle between two sketched route segments is 135 degrees, an angular dimension is always created regardless of whether Auto-Dimension option is checked.

How do Auto-Constraints work with a route sketch?

The Auto-Constraints option automatically creates non-conflicting geometrical constraints while defining the route. The following auto-constraints are supported in the Route property panel:

Parallel	Perpendicular	Collinear
Parallel with X Axis	Parallel with Y Axis	Parallel with Z Axis
Parallel with XY Plane	Parallel with YZ Plane	Parallel with XZ Plane

Keep in mind the constraints have a different priority to prevent the route sketch from being over-constrained. For example, when the parallel with X axis constraint is created, the parallel with XY plane isn't created.