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Can I use the routing add-in without the design library?

Question asked by Matt Smith on Nov 12, 2014
Latest reply on Jan 4, 2019 by Chase Nichole

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Hi,

I am new to the routing add-in, but I am designing an assembly with a lot of electrical harnesses so I'd like to take advantage of this tool. My employer does not use the design library at all, which seems to make routing very difficult. I have a top level assembly with connectors which are already mated. Ideally, I would like to be able to add connection points within the connector part files, then make a harness subassembly which contains only the cable (no connectors). At a minimum, I would like to be able to mate the connectors without dragging and dropping them, even if they have to be in the harness subassembly.

At the moment, I cannot rout between connectors if they are not both in the harness subassembly. If I try to have both connectors in the subassembly, it will not let me mate them since I think they are intended to be mated automatically with the drag and drop from the library.

Does anyone have any tips on how I can make this work?

Thanks!

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Peter De Vlieger Nov 13, 2014 3:05 AM
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Matt,

Let me see if I get this right : your employer doesn't use the tool as is meant to be and you have no background in using the tool ?

To use the immortal words of B. Simpson :'Aye Caramba'

Matt, I would strongly suggest to either get the training by your VAR or if that is not an option that you do some self study. The latter is possible even by looking up the subject matter on youtube, which contains lots of nice and detailed help especially for those new to it all. There is ofcourse also the help files, e.g.:

Route Subassembly
To manually place connectors in the route subassembly, make sure Automatically route on drop of flanges/connectors is selected in Routing Options.

If a connector is crimped or sealed to the harness during the manufacture of the harness, you should place the connector in the route subassembly rather than the top-level assembly.
The connector appears on the harness drawing and bill of materials.
If you import a from-to list and the connectors are not in the top-level assembly, the software automatically places the connectors in the route subassembly.

I myself don't use routing for electrical means but for piping so there for I can't help you myself, not being familiar with the harness side of things.
However your questions and the info you provide does make it sound to me as if you are trying to use a screwdriver as a hammer and while you might get the nail into the wood, it won't be pretty nor efficient.

Have a nice one and hang in there.
Peter
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- Matt Smith @ Peter De Vlieger on Nov 13, 2014 10:40 AM
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  Thanks for the response. I agree with you, it seems like I'm fighting the software to make it do something it wasn't really intended for. However, even if the solution isn't pretty or efficient, the alternative is to manually sweep all the wires with in-context 3D splines, which is about as ugly as it gets (hammering a screw??).
  
  I am able to remate a connector within the harness subassembly by floating the subassembly and setting it to flexible. My problem now is that the 3D sketch for the route draws in the small wire stubs for the connection points when the connnector is initially inserted. When I re-mate the connector to a new position, the sketch gets messed up. Is there a way to recalculate this sketch?
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Mark Coville Nov 13, 2014 12:57 PM
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Try this

1. drop in connector, pick size, then esc (do not start a route)
2. position connector
3. right-click connector and select start route

Hopefully I am understanding you correctly!
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George Zp Apr 5, 2015 5:57 PM
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Hi Matt,

This question was my bane for the last three days. I had gone through all the custom electrical parts creation procedures but then after selecting the route start point, all the rest of the routing points in the already placed connectors weren't accessible.
Here's a go-around I found.

After you place your initial point and enter the routing sub-assembly, exit the sketch mode to cancel routing the spline. Now, in the electrical tab, there is an option to "Add Point" for your routing. Add points for all the connectors you want to use.

Now, start a new route by pushing the "Auto route" button. The points you had placed should be visible as route end-points.
I still want to use the original CPoints that are defined in the connector parts .sldprt but for now this will do.

Tell us if you found another solution in the meantime.
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- George Zp @ George Zp on Apr 5, 2015 6:24 PM
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  This link also hinted to something useful: Sub-Assemblies as SolidWorks Routing Components | Tech Center
  
  Essentially, what it says is to select your parts' CPoints in the assembly level and click the "add CPoint" button. Then, go in the route-sub assembly level, right-click those ACPoints and select "Add to route". Now, these will be visible to the router.
  
  The software says that the ACPoits inherit attributes from the part CPoints, but I haven't verified this yet.
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Chase Nichole Jan 4, 2019 9:57 AM
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I do this all the time, and it is not that difficult. The main utility of the electrical routing environment for me has been to simply give a general idea of how cables are routed in a top level assembly, so I don’t bother with all the setup and details because I only need the cables. All you have to do is add connection points within the routing subassembly using the Add Point feature. Once all the connection points and initial extensions are showing in your assembly, right click the trailing sketch point of one end of the cable and auto route to the end connection point of your cable.

Alternatively, if all you have is connection points with no cable extension started, you can right click the cp and select Start Route. Then you right click the end cp and Add To Route. Then tie the two cable extensions together with auto route by right clicking one end point of your cable extension and then the other end point.

The result of either method will give you cable bodies that show the routing, but nothing more. Note that you do not need to go through the process of adding cps to each component in the assembly beforehand, so that will save some time.
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Can I use the routing add-in without the design library?

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Route Subassembly

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