Lessons

Lesson 1: Fundamentals of Routing

Lesson 2: Piping Routes
Lesson 3: Piping Fittings
Lesson 4: Tubing Routes
Lesson 5: Piping & Tubing Changes
Lesson 6: Creating Routing Components
Lesson 7: Using P&ID Files
Lesson 8: Electrical Ducting, Cable Tray, and HVAC Routes
Lesson 9: Piping Skids
Lesson 10: Using SOLIDWORKS Content

Disclaimer: This document is a comprehensive summary of critical key takeaways from lessons within SOLIDWORKS
Routing: Piping & Tubing offered by GoEngineer. This document should not be considered a substitute for an official
SOLIDWORKS training course.
Lesson 1: Fundamentals of Routing
Types of Routes

Piping
Tubing
Cable and wires (Electrical class)
Conduit (Electrical class)
Electrical ducting
Cable trays
HVAC

SOLIDWORKS Routing uses a 3D route sketch to create a path of pipes, tubes, or electrical cables between
starting components like flanges or connectors. The subassembly uses folders to collect common routing parts
as well as route-specific pipes and tubes.

Routes

The Route assemblies folders contain the following components:

• Route parts – individual parts for lengths of pipe, cables, or other assembly specific parts
• Route sketch – a 3D sketch that defines the centerline of the path
• Route components – library of components like flanges, elbows, connectors, valves, and tees

External components are parts that the routes connect to from the assembly. The 3D sketch is created in
context of the main assembly for easy updates.

External vs. Internal

We have options to make the route sub-assembly and route-specific components external or internal to the
assembly.
Personal preference for this setting could be based on the number of individual pipe files that might be
created for a route, but it also has data management implications as well. Renaming virtual components
may be easier than external files, but you can always save externally later or convert to a virtual component
(internal) when needed.

Component Library

Many say that the power of SOLIDWORKS Routing comes from the files in your component library.
SOLIDWORKS comes with a small library of components, but it does not contain all of the files that will be
required. They will be great examples of how to set up additional components.

The default library contains several different categories of components:

• Connectors
• Clips
• Electrical Conduit
• Flanges
 • Tubes/ Pipes/ Cables
• Electrical Ducting/ Cable Trays/ HVAC
• Elbows
• Fittings (crosses, tees, reducers, valves, etc)
• Assembly Fittings (same as regular fittings but made up of assemblies instead of parts)
• Equipment (tanks, pumps, nozzles) – examples of external components for the assembly

Routing Setup

There are many different options for SOLIDWORKS

Routing but before getting started we must turn it on
first. Routing is included with SOLIDWORKS Premium as
an add-in. To turn the add-in on, go to Tools > Add-ins.

Checking the box on the left will turn Routing on in the

current SOLIDWORKS session; the one on the right will
add it for every session.

Routing Library Manager

Additional Routing settings can be found in the Routing Library Manager. The Routing Library Manager can
be found as a separate application in the Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS > SOLIDWORKS Tools folder
or in the Tools > Routing > Routing Tools menu inside SOLIDWORKS.
Additional options can be found back where we saw the options for internal versus external options.

Options like “Automatically route on drop of fittings/connectors” and “Automatically create sketch fillets” are
some of my favorite default options. The Routing File Locations area has a link to start the Routing Library
Manager mentioned above.
Lesson 2: Piping Routes
Typical Piping Route

Components Route Parts

Route Sketch
Pipes and Piping Components

Routing components use Connection Points (CPoints) and Routing Points (RPoints) to tell SOLIDWORKS how
to treat these components (see Lesson 6 for more info). Mate References are also very handy for snapping
the components into place as we drag and drop them into the route.

Pipes

Placed on the lines in the route and cut to length by the other
components. It is created with a simple extrude feature.

Flanges

Placed on the lines in the route and cut to length by the other components. It is
created with a simple extrude feature.

Elbows

An inline component that is placed over sketch fillets. Is most commonly 90

degrees, but can also be 45 degrees or even custom angles. Elbows contain 2
CPoints and 1 RPoint. The elbow cuts the pipe at the CPoint locations.

Tees

Placed where three lines share a common endpoint, a tee can have the same
diameter or can be a reducing tee. Tees contain 3 CPoints and 1 RPoint. The
tee cuts the pipe at the CPoint location.
Crosses

Crosses are very similar to a tee, but with 4 outlets. Crosses contain 4 CPoints
and 1 RPoint and could also include reducing outlet(s).

Reducers

Placed on the lines in the route and cut to length by the other
components. It is created with a simple extrude feature.

We don’t have to have to memorize how many CPoints and Rpoints each component needs because the
Routing Component Wizard (see Lesson 6) will walk us through all of the different Routing features that
each category of component needs.

Routing Assembly
Templates

They are very similar to regular part

and assembly templates
(unfortunately not exactly
interchangeable) and contain options
for drafting standard, font, and units.
They can be defined in the Routing
file Locations and Settings tab in the
Routing Library Manager.
Creating a Piping Route

When we have the option turned on to automatically start a route on drop of fittings/connectors, several
things will happen:

• Choose a configuration of the flange to use.

• Select the different Route Properties that you need.

• A 3D sketch will be created and a stub length of pipe will be added.

• Continue adding a flange(s) to the other end of the route.

 • Manually complete the 3D sketch or use the Auto Route tool to find suggested solutions for the
connecting pipes.

Using Route Specification

Templates

In the Route Properties options at the

beginning of the route, we can specify
which pipes and elbows we need to use to
match our particular requirements. This
could include options like what pipe
schedule we want to use or which elbow option options we might want to use.
Isolate Options

In regular assemblies, we can pick which component or components that we want to temporarily
concentrate on in the assembly by hiding (or changing the display style of) the rest of the components. If we
right-click on the components that we want to Isolate in a Routing assembly, we have a few more options:

Route only

Route and Direct References

Route and Secondary References (the same as above in this case)

Route Bounding Box

 Route Segments Bounding Box

Route Along Existing Geometry

The is an option in the Auto Route tool where you can select on a face in the assembly and have the route
use an offset (possibly for the bend radius to clear) to extrude up to. Additional faces may be selected to
extrude up to (offset) to continue the route.
Lesson 3: Piping Fittings
Piping Fittings

While editing a route, we have the ability to drag and drop a fitting into the middle of a route. The route can
be split manually, but dropping the fitting (e.g., tees, crosses, reducers, and valves) onto the 3D sketch line
will automatically split the route in the position where the fitting is dropped. The fitting will be dropped in
the default orientation, but in cases like a tee, you can hit the Tab key to flip the fitting 90 degrees.

You can use the Shift+Arrow keys to rotate the component along the Axis of Rotation.

You can use the Triad to rotate or move the component to a desired location and orientation.
Split Route

If we want to split the 3D sketch line before we drag and

drop the fitting (or maybe for more control), then we can
right-click on the sketch line and use the Split Route
option.

Other Options for Defining 3D Sketch and

Components

• Dimensioning 3D sketch by dimensioning to flat

face or plane for a perpendicular distance.
• Use Move Fitting with Triad to change the
orientation of a fitting after it is placed.
• Remove Tube/Pipe can be used to remove the
pipe or tube so that elbows or other fittings can
contact each other directly (where appropriate).
• Use Shift+Arrow Keys to rotate a component with
a specific angle (defined in Tools > Options >
System Options > Routing settings area).

Creating Custom Fitting

We will go over the steps to use the Routing Component Wizard in Lesson 6, but if we have an existing
component that is already set up in our library, we could Save As a copy and modify the existing component
instead of starting from scratch.

Replacing Piping Fitting

If we need to swap out an existing fitting, we can use the Replace

Fitting tool to browse and replace the component.
Coverings

If we need a covering over a route (for example, insulation), we can use the
options in the Route Properties to pick which covering we want to use.
Lesson 4: Tubing Routes
Tubing Routes

Tubing routes are very similar to pipe routes, except we have a few more options/differences. Tube routes
have the option to be either rigid or flexible:

Because of this option, the default tube part does not use an extrude feature like a piping route, but it will
use 3D splines and a sweep to create the tubes.

Bend and Spline Errors

Fully defining 3D sketches of regular piping routes can be difficult at times, but for a tubing route….throw in
the added difficulty of dealing with splines and minimum bend radius options. Areas, where the
bend radius is too small, will be identified with red highlighting. The bend radius should be larger
than the diameter of the tube.
Export Pipe/Tube Data

Some automated tube and pipe benders have the ability to import detailed information from a tube route
that we can use for fabrication. If you right-click on the route subassembly, you have the option to Export
Pipe/Tube Data to a text, PCF, or HTML file.
Start Route and Add to Route

So far, we have started a route by dragging and dropping a starting component into the assembly. We have
options to use existing components (as long as they have the required CPoints) to Start Route.

The Add to Route tool can also be used to continue an existing route.

Routing Tubes Through Clips

The use of clips can help control 3D sketch splines. Clips contain a Mate Reference to assist in adding the
clips to the assembly, but they also should have a Clip Axis which is a straight section where the tube will be
routed.

Clips can be added to the assembly before starting the route or during the creation of the route. Some
consideration should be given to where you want the clips to be added to the BOM since the clips added
during the creation of the tubing route will actually get added to the subassembly itself.

Tubing Drawings

There are automated tools to create a tube drawing that will allow you to select the drawing template, sheet
format, BOM template and control adding of auto balloons, and showing the route sketch. The tube length
can be added to the BOM as well.
Lesson 5: Piping & Tubing changes
Change Route Diameter

Design changes happen all of the time. When it comes to routes, changing the diameter of a route is fairly
common. The problem, however, is the amount of ramifications through the rest of the route.

This tool will try to guide us

step by step through the route
with color-coded tips.

Just keep hitting the Next arrow

to proceed through the route.

Pipe Penetration

To connect two pieces of pipe without a tee, we can use the Penetrate command. If you draw in a new line
and add the appropriate flange to the end of the new pipe (Routing needs the flange added so it will know
the size of pipe to add), you can right-click on the endpoint of the new line to cope the new pipe and add the
hole to the existing pipe.
Flange to Flange Connections

Direct flange to flange connections can be created by dragging and dropping a flange onto another flange.
Pipe Spools

If we create multiple flange to flange connections inside the same route, then we can use the Define Spools
tool to create and name these sections of the pipe route so that we can create drawing views of the
different spools (uses Display States).

Adding Slope

A Gravity Plane can be defined in situations when we need a piece of pipe to drain naturally.
Piping Drawings

Just like in Lesson 3, we have tools to create Pipe Drawings. The automated tool will create drawing views,
show centerlines and centermarks, and add dimensions to component locations.
Lesson 6: Creating routing components
Routing Functionality Points

Connection Points – CPoints

• Determine where the route ends
• Determine the direction the route enters the fitting or connector
• Specify the nominal diameter of the route
• Specify the type of route

Routing Points – Rpoints

• Used to place the fitting on the endpoint of a 3D sketch
• Define the path of the flexible path through clips
Lesson 7: Using P&ID Files
Piping and Instrumentation

An XML file guides the creation of piping and tubing routes by describing routes, lines, connections, and
equipment in a text format.
Process Drawings

Create and use SOLIDWORKS blocks to create process drawings. Download

from SOLIDWORKS the Content/Blocks folder:

Drag and drop into the SOLIDWORKS Drawing.

Lesson 8: Electrical Ducting, Cable Tray, and HVAC Routes
Electrical Ducting, Cable Tray, and HVAC Routes

Electrical Ducting – Routes used to transport insulated electrical cables in a building.

• Closed, thin-walled, rectangular shapes

Cable Trays – Route used to transport insulated electrical cables in a building.

• Open, thin-walled, rectangular shapes

HVAC – Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning routes used to transport air in a building.

• Rectangular and circular, closed, thin-walled shapes

Lesson 9: piping skids
Grid Systems

The Grid System uses an initial sketch to generate 2D and 3D geometry as well as planes and surfaces to
represent the skeleton of a welded frame.
Weldments

Weldments are multi-body parts that are made up of structural shapes and/or un-merged bodies to
represent welded or bolted structures.

Structural Members

Structural members use sketch lines to sweep weldment profiles to create

geometry.
Trim/Extend

Groups inside the Structural Members feature can automatically cope members, but there may be times
where you need to manually trim and extend bodies up to other bodies and faces.

Cut-List

The Weldment Cut-List creates a List (similar to a regular Bill of Material) where we can track the size,
length, and quantity of structural members.
Walk-through Animations

We can create animations as we walk through and travel around a part or assembly. We can move freely or
travel along a constrained path.
Lesson 10: Using solidworks content
SOLIDWORKS Content

SOLIDWORKS provides access to several different types of files that do not get installed by default.

Here are some examples of different files available:

• Routing files – Several different standards of flanges, elbows, tees, crosses, and unions.
• Blocks – 2D representations/symbols that can be used in process control drawings.
• Weldment profile – Multiple standard profiles useful for Weldments and Skid Systems.

© 2021 by GoEngineer
All rights reserved.
This document or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.