Routing on Surfaces between On-the-Fly Points

You can route branches on surfaces between points created on-the-fly.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Create an electrical geometry.
See Also
About Routing between On-the-Fly Points
About Routing

Route on Surfaces

You can route the branch on the surface.

  1. Double-click to activate the electrical geometry.
  2. Create the first branch and define branch parameters.
  3. Click Route Definition.

    The Route Definition dialog box appears.

  4. Press Ctrl to display a manipulator and the tangent direction.


    The manipulator follows the surface when you move it. The point is positioned perpendicular to the surface, and is located by default at a distance from the surface equal to the segment radius.

    A number of options let you manage the offset distance from the surface. To route branches while managing this distance, see Managing the Offset Distance.

  5. Click successively to create points and define the flexible curve.


    Note: The green arrow shows the tangent direction of the curve at the point you are about to create and the red arrow at the point just created.

  6. Release Ctrl to end the flexible curve definition.



    You can modify the route by adding, replacing or removing points as well as modifying the tangent direction.

  7. Click OK to validate the route definition.
    The Route Definition dialog box closes. The Branch Definition dialog box is displayed afresh.
  8. Click OK to validate when done.

Manage the Offset Distance

You can manage the distance between on-the-fly points and the surface when routing branches.

  1. Double-click to activate the electrical geometry.
  2. Create the first branch and define branch parameters.
  3. Click Route Definition.
  4. Press Ctrl and start to define the flexible curve with an automatic offset:


  5. Release Ctrl to access the Route Definition dialog box.
  6. Click More>> to access Offset management at creation options:
    • The default value is set to Automatic.
      • For circular profiles, the offset is equal to the segment radius at all route points. This allows you, for example, when the slack value is null, to keep the segment in contact with the surface.
      • For non-circular profiles, the offset is equal to an equivalent radius computed as follows:

        average_areaπ

    • Automatic with safety margin: the offset is equal to the segment radius (or equivalent radius in the case of non-circular profiles) plus the value entered.
    • Manual: lets you specify a different offset at a selected point of the route.

    Note: In Automatic mode, the branch will remain in contact with the surface if it is modified, but not if the surface is modified.

  7. Select Manual and change the value if necessary.
  8. Press Ctrl again to continue the route.
    Note: You can change the mode at one or more points. If you then come back to automatic offset management, the result looks like this:



  9. Release Ctrl to end the route definition.
  10. Click OK to validate the route definition.
    The Route Definition dialog box closes. The Branch Definition dialog box is displayed again.
  11. Click OK to validate.