ISS UE

15
JAN UA RY
Solid Works
esprit real Spirit

2010

In This Issue
∆ SolidWorks Routing-
Electrical routing

∆ Tips and Tricks

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Electrical Routing part 1

SolidWorks Routing software simplifies the design

of all types of piping, tubing, and electrical cabling
systems. With this powerful software, you can save
significant time designing machinery and equipment that
contains pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical subsystems.
SolidWorks Routing includes a library of ready-made
fittings that further reduces design time, as well as a
component selection filter that eases compliance with
industry standards.

Routing involves the creation of electrical wiring and

cabling, electrical conduit, tubing and piping routes as
solid parts in assembly.
In this issue of espirit electrical routing is covered

1. Click Tools, Add-Ins.

2. Select SolidWorks Routing.
3. Click OK.
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In this issue we have covered the Electrical Harness tools from the ROUTING module. The
rest of the tools in routing will be covered in the upcoming issues. The below illustrates
ELECTRICAL HARNESS in solidworks with an example.

Electrical tools

OR

Electrical tools

Start by From-To Start an electrical route by importing a From-to list.

Start by Drag/ Drop Start an electrical route by drag/drop of a connector

Start at Point Start an electrical route by adding a connection point to a non-routing

component.

Add Point Add a connection point to a non-routing component so you can add the
component to an existing route.
Edit Wires Add or edit wire information in an electrical route

Edit Route Edit an existing electrical route.

Flatten Route Prepare the route for a flattened drawing.

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For creating a route with from to list you need to have following
requirements
1. A cable library /wire library: A cable/wire library is an .xml file that defines the attributes
of the cables and wires, such as specification number, size, color, description, and so on. You
need a cable/wire library if you want to assign electrical attributes to the route. A wire has a
single conductor. A cable has two or more conductors, called cores, bundled together.

2. A component library: A component library is an .xml file that cross-references the

components in the From-to list to the SolidWorks part documents for those components. If
you are importing data with a From-to list, you need a component library.

3. A From-to list: The From-To List is an Excel spreadsheet that defines, Electrical connection
data for each wire in a routed cable assembly. Components, such as connectors, terminal
blocks, and ring terminals, to which the wires connect.

COMPONENT LIBRARY:

STEPS TO GENERATE THE COMPONENT LIBRARY:

1. Design the component or the end connector

2. Go to Routing  Routing tools Routing component wizard

3. Use the wizard tool to generate the route component with c-point or the route point
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Create the connection point as electrical by selecting the category as Electrical and sub type
as Harness

In the same wizard tool you can add the component in to the default component library list

Save the part in the design library location

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How to create a cable library

A cable has two or more conductors, called cores, bundled together.

To create a cable/wire library,

Uses Routing  Electrical  Cable /wire library wizard

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It is a wizard tool use next

Define the cables and wires, such as specification number, size, color, description, and so on.

A wire has a single conductor. A cable has two or more conductors, called cores, bundled
together. [Following is a cable which has 2 wires bundled together]

Save the file as .xml file in the routing library folder

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Next is to create the From-to list

From-To List is an Excel spreadsheet that defines:

 Electrical connection data for each wire in a routed cable assembly.

 Components, such as connectors, terminal blocks, and ring terminals, to which the wires
connect.

Open an assembly document use routing electrical  From-to list

Select create a new library

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It is a wizard tool use next

Select the component library and the cable library the file which you generated in their
respective field

Define the wire name, from reference, from pin, part no, to reference, to pin part no, cable
name, core name and wire specification

Save the file as .xml file.

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After saving the file automatically the insert component option opens, place the component
using smart mates

OR

Use routing start by From-to, and select the From to list file,

A message command shows all components placed start routing now, say yes to continue.

Specify the route properties

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Automatically route start from the c point with auto route properties, use guidelines to
merge the route.

Route will be generated as shown below

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Use edit route to modify the route path.

You can also generate the flatten route for this assembly. Along with this you can able to
generate the connector list, electrical BOM and circuit summary.

NOTE: the flatten route topic will be discussed in the upcoming issue.
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Tips and tricks

You can drag a specific configuration of a part into an assembly by selecting the
configuration from the FeatureManager design tree.

You can display view arrow and labels on drawing views. Select a drawing view, and in the
property manager, select ‘display view arrow’, and optionally, specify a label (one or two
characters).

To change the crosshatch pattern in a drawing section view, select the crosshatch region and
specify the pattern in the Area Hatchfill PropertyManager.

You can Ctrl-drag a reference plane to make a quick offset copy. Double-click the new plane
to specify the offset dimension exactly.

You can create patterns of features, and patterns of patterns in parts. In assemblies, you
can create patterns of components and patterns of components and patterns of assembly
level features.
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We welcome your valuable feedback on this issue of

newsletter.

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