yang686526

pipe routing
hello,
i am working on automating a piping assembly. in particular, i need to dynamically select parts and correct configurations from a parts library and build a route/aseembly.
reading the api i have come across the below..
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i am relatively new to solidworks and have come across the below in the api help.
the solidworks routing application programming interface (api) :
allows you to automate and customize only solidworks electrical routes.
is an ole programming interface to only solidworks routing's electrical routing functionality.
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any clarification and suggestions are much appreciated. i've attached an example route which im trying to automate.
thanks in advance
i havent really worked with routing up to now but i presume the parts library is just a bunch of files located on your harddrive/network?
if you could describe the process you go through manually i may be able to help
thanks for the reply luke.
currently, our drafting department receives idf files(flat files containing part information along with coordinates) as well as isometric drawings(pdf format) from engineering firms. the drafting department uses a series of programs including spoolgen(imports the idf file and generates a spool automatically) and autocad to mark up the drawings for release to the shop floor for fabrication. we are trying to make a switch to solidworks but would need the ability to import the idf file thus automatically generating a spool(example shown in the previous attachment).
an example of part information retrieved from the idf...
pipe, a106-b,smls, std wt, bbe, 3
(part, material grade, seamless, schedule, beveled both ends, size)
tee, bw, a234-wpb, stdwt
there is thousands of unique combinations for parts in the idf file. most of these part properties will be imported as custom properties(such as bbe property for the pipe part above) to the part file used in the route assembly. the pipe part in the solidworks library has 400+ different configurations and i will need to select the right one when creating the routing assembly based on the pipe size and schedule rating only.
the parts library is just a bunch of .sldprt files located on the network.
am i correct to assume that connection points are only used for routing?
my concern is that because the solidworks has no api for pipe routing that the automatic routing assembly generation may not be possible.
thank you
it sounds like quite a big job as it requires reading and parsing a native format and linking to solidworks files and processes.
it is possible but depending on the amount of possible entries in the file format that need linking to piping parts and what variables define the positioning etc...
solidworks does have a routing api library so it is all possible but it is definately a bespoke software job. i could do it for you and quote you on it if you provide more details to me (just email contact@angelsix.com), however my current workload is pretty heavy so i cannot say when i could do it as of yet.