Routing with Points, Devices and Supports

You can route branches with points and devices as well as through supports.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Insert desired devices and supports into an electrical geometry.
See Also
About Routing
Adding, Replacing and Removing Objects
Routing along Retainers

Route with Points, Devices and Supports

You can route branches between points, electrical devices, through supports as well as along existing curves and surfaces.

  1. Double-click the electrical geometry in the tree to activate it.


  2. Create the first branch and define branch parameters.
  3. Click Route Definition.
    The Route Definition dialog box appears.
  4. Select a first device in the work area.

    Moving the pointer over a device displays segment connection points or cavity. You can select:

    • A device. CATIA finds the segment connection point or cavity closest to your point of selection.
    • Published points of the device other than the segment connection point or cavity. Moreover, there will be no link between the segment extremity and the device, and the connection should be made using the Connect Segments command or selecting the segment connection point / cavity.
    • A label.

    A red arrow appears in the work area showing the direction of tangency. If necessary, click the arrow to reverse this direction.

    Important: Only the first and last route points can be connected to another branch or a device.

  5. Select a support.

    Moving the pointer over a support displays annotations showing the possible entry points of a support.

    You can select:

    • A support.

      If you select a multi-section support instead of a label, the section closest to your selection point is selected.

    • A label.


    If necessary, adjust the direction and position of the branch going through the support.

  6. Select other desired points, devices and supports. The corresponding names are listed in the Route Definition dialog box.
    The final branch looks something like this:

  7. If you want to route your branch in the support more than once, right-click an object and select Repeat Support in Branch Route > Section 1 or Section 2.

    In our case, two sections are represented but if your support only contains one hole, then you do not need to choose a section.

  8. Select the object once again.

    You can see a preview of your branches.



  9. Click OK to validate.
    The Route Definition dialog box closes and the Branch Definition dialog box is displayed again.
  10. Click OK to validate the branch definition.
  11. Optional: If you want to arrange your segments, select your product and click Arrange Segments in the Electrical 3D Design app or click Position in the Route Definition dialog box.

Change the Orientation of the Branch Within the Support

The orientation of the branch inside the supports is specified when creating them. You can change it when routing the branch within the support.

  1. To change the orientation of the branch, you can do either of the following:
    • In the 3D area, select the red arrow to invert the tangent direction.
    • Change the orientation by clicking More>> Reverse in the Route Definition dialog box.

    The direction of the branch changes accordingly.

  2. Click OK to return to the Route Definition dialog box.

Change the Position of the Branch Within the Support

The position of the branch inside the supports is specified when creating them. You can change it when routing the branch within the support.

  1. Select the branch you want to position and click Classic Branch Definition in the action bar .
    The Branch Definition dialog box opens.
  2. Click Route Definition.
    The Route Definition dialog box is displayed.
  3. Select the support (physical system) in the Routed Objects list. Or click in the 3D area.
  4. Click More>> Position.
    The Arrange Segments dialog box is displayed. You can change the U and V values. Or click in the 3D area and reposition the point using the 3D handle.

  5. Optional: In the Segments Passing Through Reference Support area, there is only the branch you are editing. If you want to arrange all the branches in the support:
    1. Select the product to switch to Electrical 3D Design.
    2. Select the support and click Arrange Segments in the action bar. All the branches passing through the support are listed in Segments Passing Through Reference Support area.
  6. Click OK to return to the Route Definition dialog box.

    Important:
    • Slack is ignored when branches are routed through supports.
    • In case of adaptive supports, the Position button in the Route Definition dialog box is unavailable.
    Note: After selecting Position, you can see either the Point Definition or the Arrange Segments window. It depends on the following conditions:
    • If the branch has been routed in the support in V5 and the support has been upgraded via the Post-Process (Finalize Data Import in the Electrical 3D Design app), the Point Definition dialog box appears.
    • If a branch (already routed or not) is routed in 3DEXPERIENCE in this support, the Arrange Segments dialog box appears, listing the names of the branches passing through the reference support.
    • If a branch has been routed after V5R17 in a support that has been saved after V5R17, the Arrange Segments dialog box appears.

    For more information about reference support part imported via FBDI, see Electrical Library File-based Design Import.

Add a Tangent Constraint at a Route Point

You can add tangent constraint at a route point to maintain the tangency of the branch.

  1. Click More>> in the Route Definition dialog box.
  2. In the Constraint type list, select Explicit or From curve.
  3. Select the tangent direction:
    • In the Tangent direction box, select a line or plane for the Explicit constraint type. The contextual menu is available.

    • In the Element box, select a curve for the From curve constraint type. The tangent direction is that of the selected curve. The example below shows an edge being selected.