SW2010 SP2.1 (what I'm using) has a neat tool for belts and chains. However, the way I want to use it appears to be impossible.

What I want to do is model a wire rope going through its reeving in a hoist. I have to do this with derived parts currently and reference planes within the assembly. There has to be a better way - so I stumbled upon the belt/chain button. But, this only works with coplanar pulleys (i.e. it only understands one plane per belt). In a hoist, one contiguous piece of rope will go through multiple sheaves (pulleys) in different planes.

What's an easier way to model this? The way I'm doing it now is very tedious.

Here's a screenshot of what I'm talking about: