Goal Based Pipe Routing?

[TheMeatHead]

Hi everyone,

I've read about SW's automated-goal-based-optimization features with FEA, but haven't found anything similar w/ piping. Does anyone know if Solidworks (or plug-in tool) can create an optimum piping route based on a minimize-pressure-drop goal if one specifies the following?:

1. Inlet and Outlet locations of the pipe in 3D space
2. Boundary walls the pipe cannot hit within this 3D space
3. Pipe diameter
4. minimum bend radius (so any bends do not go below the inner pipe diameter)

[fatal-exception]

I'n not sure about the pressure drop goal, but it looks like routing for 2011 can at least put in the pipes between 2 points in space following some rules that you define.

Even that amount of functionality would be handy as now all you have to do is calculate the pressure drop for each part of the piping system, and you know all the lengths and number of elbows, ect...

Paul

[TheMeatHead]

I only have access to the measely SolidWorks 2009, doh! Do any good Solidworks API programmers exist that could make something like this so the process is more automated?