Routing is a powerful add-in that is included in SOLIDWORKS Premium. Routing allows for quick generation of piping, tubing, and electrical routes for HVAC applications and other from/to connection path planning. It streamlines not only the generation of the routes but also allows for the standardization of components.
I’ve found Routing a great tool but in the past many companies struggled to implement a central Routing library with controlled access. The biggest struggle is dealing with duplicate files and mismanaged standard components, which leads to lots of design rework. This all changes by leveraging the power of 3DEXPERIENCE’s Cloud data management to have a solid, common database to ensure the library is centralized and shared amongst all users.
Critical Steps to Integrate SOLIDWORKS Routing with 3DEXPERIENCE
Users should take several steps to ensure that the routing library is optimally set up for your design team. Ideally, these steps are followed soon after software procurement to ensure the library is ready and tested before attempting to create controlled/production routes.
- Identify the Collaborative Space where the Routing library will be stored
- Optionally, structure Bookmarks (like folders) for easy access
- Upload the CAD files to 3DEXPERIENCE via the Batch Save command
- Execute this in the Routing Library Manager software
- Point end users to the 3DEXPERIENCE Routing library
- Update SOLIDWORKS file locations
- Test on a simple route assembly
- Clear local cache and reopen assembly to emulate downloading a ‘fresh object’
- Understand the update process
- See what happens if Routing connectors get changed, added, or deleted
1. Identify the Collaborative Space and Review Bookmarks
The Routing library will be stored in a Collaborative Space with the proper control/access given to users for your organization. If you intend to allow your entire design team to see the files then it’s easiest to start in the Common Space. However, if that is not the case, a new Collaborative Space can be created: remembering to credential users to the Collaborative Space afterward. For the following example, we will be using the Common Space.
3DEXPERIENCE Standard Library Bookmark
Next, let’s review the quintessential app in 3DEXPERIENCE: the Bookmark Editor. Here, you can identify the location and desired structure of the tags, so other users can easily filter or find these Routing library components. I created a secondary Bookmark called “Routing 2024” underneath my Standard Library Bookmark. Just like my Routing library, I’ve located all the bookmarks in the Common Space for easy visibility. Here, you can start to build a similar structure to folders that many users are used to in Windows. With the library structure set, it’s time to put components in the Bookmarks.
Note: A Collaborative Space is like a directory that users are given permission to access and Bookmarks are references to objects within.
2. Upload the Routing library up to 3DEXPERIENCE
The first thing to do in SOLIDWORKS (after ensuring the Routing add-in is on) is to launch the Routing Library Manager via Tools>Routing>Routing Tools>Routing Library Manager. Next, the user will upload the Routing Library CAD components to 3DEXPERIENCE. Referencing the image below, the user will leverage the “Batch Save to 3DEXPERIENCE” utility. This automated process will take about one hour. The utility will grab all the parts alongside their configurations and save them into 3DEXPERIENCE making it our new central repository for SOLIDWORKS Premium Routing. 3DEXPERIENCE can handle the physical CAD parts but the XLS and XML files for things like cable/wire information must still be managed separately.
SOLIDWORKS Routing Library Manager
Batch saving the library components lets the user specify the destination Collaborative Space and optionally denote a Bookmark for the files. Additional folders can be added at this point as well if there are Routing components located elsewhere. Although the upload typically takes one hour to complete, if library components were customized or added to the local library the process could take longer. Regardless, you will want to ensure the process is fully completed before continuing work in SOLIDWORKS or adjusting Bookmarks. At this point, SOLIDWORKS will need to be updated to point to the new 3DEXPERIENCE-controlled Routing Library.
Batch Save to 3DEXPERIENCE
To learn more about batch saving to 3DEXPERIENCE, check out our blog on the topic here.
3. Connect SOLIDWORKS Routing to 3DEXPERIENCE
The last critical step is to connect each end-user machine to the 3DEXPERIENCE location for the Routing library. In the SOLIDWORKS System Options the file location for “Design Library” will need to be updated. When adding a new location the “Select from 3DEXPERIENCE” option can be used to select content from a related Bookmark. This process will take a few minutes as during this time, the 3DEXPERIENCE library is syncing down into the end user’s local cache. Below, the “Routing 2024” library location is surrounded by brackets. The brackets indicate the connection to the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.
SOLIDWORKS File Locations
4. Testing The Library
Below, I created a simple assembly using an off-the-shelf slip-on weld flange – a component from my previously uploaded library. As indicated by the MySession window, the slip-on weld flange is already in the Platform. This is a great first sign that everything is working.
Routing assembly in MySession
Next, I’ve saved the entire assembly up to the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform so those components are showing PLM data in the MySession panel. From here, I close the files and then delete the files from the local cache. We do this to make sure that the files can make the round trip back down from 3DEXPERIENCE and emulate the experience other users will have. Remember that the local cache should be managed from within SOLIDWORKS in the right task pane as below. Finding and opening the same routed assembly afterward is a breeze by navigating through the bookmark tool directly in SOLIDWORKS and dragging the file back into the session.
Bookmarks integrated into SOLIDWORKS
With the assembly successfully back in SOLIDWORKS we need to check one final thing: the relations. The Relations Explorer is a powerful app that we can leverage to check the relations of any 3DEXPERIENCE object. Below, we can see that the relations are pointing to the correct locations for parents and children.
3DEXPERIENCE Relations Explorer
Bonus Tip: Disconnect the old routing library by either renaming the existing folder or deleting it to stop components from being accidentally pulled from there.
5. Update the Routing Library
New connectors and standard components can be uploaded to 3DEXPERIENCE using the standard save through MySession or the Batch Save Utility from within the SOLIDWORKS session for higher volume uploads. After new or modified components are uploaded to the same controlled Collaborative Space and Bookmark for the Routing library, the end user machines will need to be refreshed from the File Locations section of SOLIDWORKS System Options. The Update button will synchronize the local cache with what has been added or removed.
Updating Routing library
Routing is a powerful tool that speeds up the design process in various industrial applications. With 3DEXPERIENCE governing the central Routing library, all users can ensure they are working with the same single source of truth. While this blog focused on Routing libraries being managed in 3DEXPERIENCE, there are cross-over applications with other design library elements as well. While standardization takes some careful planning and time to setup it can be a formidable technical asset to your design team once in place.
To see how else to best leverage 3DEXPERIENCE for collaboration and design, sign up for one of TriMech’s Training Courses here.
