Best Way to create Hydraulic Hoses

maxime_merlaud563

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for the best way (as of 2025) to model hydraulic hoses in Onshape for simple hydraulic assemblies.

I already have a library of standard hydraulic components (see attached image), such as cylinders, pumps, valves, and fittings. What I'm missing is an efficient way to connect these components with flexible hoses — ideally in a quick and clean way, without manually drawing 3D splines and sweeps for each hose.

I'm aiming to build relatively simple hydraulic systems like the one shown in the second image.

I don’t need super realistic behavior (like hose dynamics), but I would like something that:

• Connects two ports or faces in an assembly.
• Automatically routes or bends nicely.
• Allows me to specify a hose diameter and radius of curvature.
• Ideally creates a Part Studio or solid body for the hose (for BOMs, etc).

I know there are Custom Features for cable/wire routing, but they seem more tailored to electrical harnesses than high-pressure hoses. I’ve also searched for something like a “Flexible Hose Generator,” but can’t find anything reliable or up-to-date.

Are there any custom features, workflows, or tips you'd recommend in 2025 for this type of task?

Any feedback or examples would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Maxime

NeilCooke

The Cable/Wire Routing feature will do hoses, just the terminology is different and the hoses are not hollow.

wayne_sauder

Here is a thread with the tool I use currently.

https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/21957/hose-routing-feature#latest

stefanbreg

You can use the routing curve

maxime_merlaud563

Thanks @wayne_sauder;

The tool look very easy to use.

How do you create a midpoint that you can easily move to control the path of your hose ? Do you create a routing curve first ?