Routing Branches along a Surface

You can route a branch along a surface by positioning passing points on a curve.

This curve is generated from:

  • The creation of a passing point with offset
  • The intersection of a plane with the offset surface

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:
  • Activate an electrical branch geometry, and then select a branch in the work area.
  • From the Branch section of the action bar, click Immersive Branch Definition .

    The Auto Routing Mode is activated and yellow bullets appear on route elements.

Create a First Passing Point with Offset and Generate the Curve

You can define an offset from a surface to add a new passing point to an existing route.

The position of this passing point is defined according to the intersection between a direction and the offset surface.

  1. Click a passing point, and then click Route On Surface on the context toolbar.

    Note: The command is not available if:
    • The selected point is a corner point. For more information, see About Multiprofile Branches.
    • The selected branch has only one route element.

    The Route On Surface panel appears.
  2. Under Offset, select the Offset mode.
    OptionDescription
    Center curve

    The offset is the distance set between the surface and the center curve of the branch.
    Profile width

    The offset is the distance set between the surface and the height of the branch profile.
    Profile length

    The offset is the distance set between the surface and the width of the branch profile.
  3. Define the Offset value.
  4. Under Intersection, select your preferred direction.
    OptionDescription
    U axis

    The U axis of the Robot is used as direction to position the new passing point along the offset surface.
    V axis

    The V axis of the Robot is used as direction to position the new passing point along the offset surface.
    W axis

    The W axis of the Robot is used as direction to position the new passing point along the offset surface.
    Branch direction

    The direction of the branch is used to position the new passing point along the offset surface.
    No preferred direction

    The direction to position the new passing point along the offset surface is defined manually.

    To do so, hover over the surface and use the manipulator snapped on the surface to position freely the passing point.

    Tip: You can manipulate the Robot to modify the orientation of the U/V/W axis.

  5. In the 3D area, hover over a surface.
    The offset surface and the passing point are previewed according to your parameters.

    In the following example, the direction selected for the intersection between the branch and the surface is the W axis.

  6. Click to add the previewed point to the route of the branch.
    • The route of the branch is updated.
    • A curve is generated. It corresponds to the intersection between a cutting plane and the offset surface.


Manipulate the Curve and Route the Branch

After the generation of the curve, you can modify and reorient the cutting plane, and then create passing points along the curve to route your branch.

  1. Under Intersection, select the cutting plane.
    OptionDescription
    UV plane

    The UV plane of the Robot is used to generate the curve the branch follows along the offset surface.
    VW plane

    The VW plane of the Robot is used to generate the curve the branch follows along the offset surface.
    WU plane

    The WU plane of the Robot is used to generate the curve the branch follows along the offset surface.
    No cutting plane

    In this case, no curve is generated and only one passing point is added to the branch route.
    In our example, the UV plane is selected.

  2. Optional: Manipulate the Robot to edit the orientation of the plane.
    The preview of the curve is updated accordingly.
  3. Under Snapping, select a snap mode:
    OptionDescription
    Free snapping

    Allows to click the curve to position freely the passing points. When you click the curve, a passing point is added to the route of the branch.
    Length snapping

    Allows to define on the curve a set of previewed passing points. The distance between the passing points is set under Length Snap Step.

    Note: The Length Snap Step value corresponds to the absolute distance between each point.
    In our example, the Length snapping option is selected.

  4. Click the previewed points to route the branch.

    Note: You can select the points one by one, or press Shift + click another previewed point to select a range of points and create several passing points in a row.

  5. To validate your manipulations, click in the 3D area or press Enter.