The best way I've found to add o-lets to a piping route involves mating the axis of the o-let to the sketch line of the route. However, when I set sketch entites to visible from the top toolbar, it only shows me parts of the route sketch. If I start a fresh new route assembly, my method works just fine, but for some reason with this assembly, it is not working properly. Anyone know what might be going on?
See attached for illustration of problem.
By the way, for quick reference, this is what it should look like. Note that in both cases, I am at the route sub-assembly level.
I have been out of routing for a few months but can't remember seeing what you have in the first post. Can you still select the sketch line? Maybe it is just a graphical glitch.
If you are interested I always added my olets within the route itself. I posted my olet and how I did it at the bottom of this discussion:
https://forum.solidworks.com/message/242761#242761
I was repling to an earlier post on dimensioning an olet. If you do try it let me know how it goes.
It doesn't seem to be just a graphical issue as I am unable to select the line at all. However, if I go into the route sketch itself, the lines do appear. I've come to the conclusion that it must just be one of those strange fluke bugs you sometimes run into (this assembly has been through a ton of revisions. So it wouldn't suprise me).
Anyway, thanks for posting that link. I'll have to check it out later - I'm always looking for good routing tips! The best way I've found so far to work with o-lets (after a lot of trial and error) is to edit route>create construction geometry for locating/orientating o-let>exit sketch>insert o-let (anywhere in graphics area)>exit feature tree> then mate the olet as such: o-let axis/3D route sketch & o-let alignment axis/construction geometry. From there I just right click on the face of the o-let and select "add to route".
My explaination of how to do it is a little complicated on that post. They were looking to put the olet in on an angle other than a 90.
The part is set up with a couple of connection points that both are designed to be perpendictular to the pipe and 90° apart from each other (one being a construction line). That way the insertion doesn't break the line it is on into two pipes and the olet is in the route itself.
I had one more thought. You didn't happen to accidentally hide your route sketch did you? I was able to re-create what you showed by hiding my route 3DSketch1 but have the ElbowArc sketch showing on the elbow part level.
Yes! That was it. I must have somehow accidently hid the 3D sketch at some point. I never even would have thought to check that in a million years lol. I guess the radii for the elbows still show because they are sketch entities within the elbows and not part of the route sketch.
As far as the o-lets, I think the reason I started doing them the way I described is because I was having trouble orientating them properly. I'll have to play around with it some more next time it comes up and give your method a try.
Anyway, thanks again.
Your welcome.
If you can spare 5-10 minutes give that olet of mine a try. All you need to do is set the lines 90deg apart (remember not to break the main sketch line). See the screen shots.
Pay no attention to the small pipe. It will resize.
You can see the sockolet is in the pipe route assembly.
I had one more thought. You didn't happen to accidentally hide your route sketch did you? I was able to re-create what you showed by hiding my route 3DSketch1 but have the ElbowArc sketch showing on the elbow part level.