SOLIDWORKS 2016 What’s New – Routing – #SW2016

SOLIDWORKS 2016 Routing has had a couple updates, some are new items and others are modifications to previous additions.

Command Manager and Menu Updates for Rectangular Ducting.

Item: User Defined.

Where is it?

You can access functionality from the User Defined tab in the

CommandManager or from Tools > Routing > User Defined.

Item: Auto Route for Rectangular Section Routing

Use the Auto Route tool for creating Rectangular sections to create:

• Cable Trays
• Electrical Ducting
• HVAC

*Auto Route only works for orthogonal routes and does not support flexible routes for rectangular sections at this time.

Item: Flex Cables

Where is it?

Tools > Routing > Electrical > Start at Point and selecting Flex Cable as the

subroute type. Drop a flex cable component into a route assembly to define with connects to single flex cables. This is a built off of the existing ribbon cable functionality.

Item: Route Wires through Electrical Ducts and Cable Tray

Where is it?

This is based on the existing cable tray parts, only now they include cpoints for routing.

Item: Coverings for Rectangular Section Routes and Ducts

Where is it?

From Tools > Routing > Routing Tools > Covering

You can create coverings for rectangular cross section route types including HVAC round

ducting and electrical ducting. This is based off the original covering functionality.

Please note that the design library has changed and some of the parts inside as well. Make sure to update you design library or point to the new default location at:

C:Program DataSOLIDWORKSSOLIDWORKS 2016Design Library

Also update your routing file locations using the Routing Library Manager to reflect your changes to the design library if you changed your path.

For additional updates and fixes, please see the What's New? PDF on the Help menu inside SOLIDWORKS 2016.

We hope this part of the What’s New series gives you a better understanding of the new features and functions of SOLIDWORKS 2016. Please check back to the CATI Blog as the CATI Support Team will continue to break down many of the new items in SOLIDWORKS 2016. All of these articles will be stored in the category of "SOLIDWORKS What's New." You can also learn more about SOLIDWORKS 2016 by clicking on the image below to register for one of CATI’s Design Summit’s.

John Van Engen
Sr. Technical Support Analyst
Computer Aided Technology