topic Snapping to routing/line in different run in Inventor Forum

Snapping to routing/line in different run

Dulli2 — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 15:07:46 GMT

Hello.

I am doing work with the tube and pipe module. I have two runs in my assembly and when working with routing inside run1 I am not able to use routing lines of the other run. I watched a video where it was possible to align to routes in other runs. Point snapping is not helping.

Aligning routes of two different runs is even more challenging when not possible to do this. I am talking about situations where it is not endless with space so that one can simply route whereever one wants.

Re: Snapping to routing/line in different run

A.Acheson — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 18:02:09 GMT

Can you post a screenshot of the method you using and of the browser structure? You can hide anything that's confidential.

Re: Snapping to routing/line in different run

CGBenner — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 18:45:30 GMT

@Dulli2

This ability to snap between different pipe runs is one that I added to a wish list many years ago. The only way I ever found to do this is to add a branch fitting to one of the pipe runs and use the connection point of the branch as either the start or end point for the second run. Of course, precise alignment becomes very difficult,... but not impossible. As @A.Acheson said, some images of what you're trying to do might help us to give you some suggestions.

Re: Snapping to routing/line in different run

Dulli2 — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 08:18:44 GMT

@A.Acheson, @CGBenner

When one fitting or start/end point is defined it is not a problem to route from there, but when you got two points (start and end point) defined it gets tricky especially when not only using 90degree bends and not having much space.

See attached picture that describes the critical alignment.

Procedure how I did the alignment:

1) Routing route in Run 1 with adding the Tee fitting just somewhere.

2) Go to Run 2 and add the 45deg elbow on to the tee fitting. Route the straight line to the height of Run 1.

3) Go to Run 1 and use trigonometric function to adjust the gap between center of 45deg elbow and connecting pipe of Run 2 simply by measuring and calculating. I.e. I move the tee.

Right that it is not impossible, but it is a lot of measuring when doing all the time and more difficult routings than that one will appear. Use of construction lines is another way, but then you need to go via the 3D sketch because in the route itself it does not support drawing construction lines (acc. to my knowledge/trying).

Re: Snapping to routing/line in different run

CGBenner — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 11:24:50 GMT

@Dulli2

Wow... yeah, that would be a tricky connection, no matter what. What I would do a lot for tricky matchups like that is use the Include Geometry function in a route and include the origin planes of (in this example) the tee in run one. That would give me something to dimension or constrain to. Even then, I could imagine myself wrestling with this one for a while and inventing a few new colorful metaphors until I got it lined up just right. 😉

Re: Snapping to routing/line in different run

A.Acheson — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 18:44:57 GMT

As mention by Chris, using include geometry will be the key if your using sketch only for routing. Each route segment needs to have a manually placed constraint. When in place a dimension will moved the segments along the planes.

It is important that your run your routing to as a fitting placed on it. This is in order for the route to pick up the authored connection.

For aligning the tee to the fixed vertical section you can used the orientation button and then use point snap to move the fitting to the desired location.

And to avoid having to place the 45 degree fitting direct to the tee you can use a very small piece of pipe .001mm to allow the fitting be directly connected to the tee via the route assuming all angles are valid.