Creating a Route for Connectors to be Components of Main Assembly

To create the route when you want the connectors to be components of the main assembly:

  1. In Routing Options, make sure Automatically route on drop of flanges/connectors is not selected.
  2. Insert electrical connectors into the main assembly by clicking Insert Component tool_Insert_Components_Assembly.gif (Assembly toolbar) or by dragging them from the Design Library, the File Explorer, an open part window, or Windows Explorer.
    The connectors are inserted as components of the main assembly.
  3. Right-click the connection point on the connector where you want the route to start, and select Start Route.
    To make the connection points visible, click View Routing Points (View toolbar) or View > Routing Points .
  4. If the component does not have a connection point, click Tools > Routing > Electrical > Start at Point , to create a connection point.
  5. Then set options in the Route Properties PropertyManager, then click PM_OK.gif.
    The following happens:
    • A 3D sketch opens in a new route subassembly.
    • The new route subassembly appears in the FeatureManager design tree as [Harness<n>-<assembly_name>].
    • A stub of cable appears, extending from the connector you just placed.
    If you clear Save route assembly externally in Routing Options, the new route subassembly is created as a virtual component.
  6. Drag additional connectors and routing hardware into the route subassembly as needed.
    As each connector is added to the route, a short line is added to the sketch (from the connector's CPoint and a length of cable is generated along the line.
  7. Sketch the path between components using any combination of the following methods:
    • Use Auto Route to generate splines.
    • Use Cable Clips or other routing hardware to generate splines.
    • Sketch lines Tool_Line_Sketch.gif, splines Tool_Spline_Sketch.gif and fillets Tool_Sketch_Fillet_Sketch.gif using 3D sketch tools.
  8. If you want to assign electrical attributes to the route segments:
    1. Click Tools > Routing > Electrical > Edit Wires tool_EditWires_Electrical.gif .
    2. Specify the wires and cables to use.
    3. Specify the path for each wire or cable core.
    4. Click PM_OK.gif.
  9. Exit the sketch.
The following appear in the FeatureManager design tree of the route subassembly:
  • Components FM_folder.gif folder containing the connector and clip parts you placed in the route.
  • Route Parts FM_folder.gif folder containing the cable that was created as a virtual component when you exited the sketch.
  • Route feature FM_Icon_Piping_Route.gif containing the 3D sketch that defines the path of the cable. The 3D sketch is related parametrically to the components in the route subassembly. If you move a component, the cable updates automatically.
Click Edit Route (Electrical toolbar) to edit an existing electrical route.