Understanding Electrical Assemblies

An electrical assembly is a special manufacturer part that groups several individual manufacturer parts. It is managed like a manufacturer part, can be associated with a symbol, and has circuits and terminals.

You use specific processes to manage the electrical assemblies, for example in the Copy or Paste commands, 2D and 3D layout, or import data. In a report (bill of materials), you can display the Electrical assembly as a manufacturer part (group) or display all the manufacturer parts composing the Electrical assembly.

Inserting an Electrical Assembly into the Catalog

To create one or more Electrical assemblies, in Manufacturer part management, do one of the following:
  • Click Add manufacturer part > Add electrical assembly

    Creates a specific manufacturer part named Electrical assembly.

  • Click Multiple Insertion > Add electrical Assembly

    Creates several electrical assemblies.

In the Electrical assembly properties enter the characteristics and assign the individual manufacturer parts.

Electrical Assembly Properties

Option Description
Properties Lets you select or enter the characteristics of the Electrical assembly. The Properties tab of an Electrical assembly and of a manufacturer part are managed in the same way.

For more information, see Manufacturer Part Properties.
ERP Data Lets you enter specific values in the user data fields. You can use this data to update your personal database.

Manufacturer parts

Lets you manage and define the individual manufacturer parts you want to group in the Electrical assembly.

Option Description
Add new item Adds a new manufacturer part by accessing the Manufacturer part selector.
Delete Deletes the selected manufacturer parts.
Up Lets you move the part one place higher in the order of manufacturer parts.
Down Lets you move the part one place down in the order of manufacturer parts.
Associate Associates the accessory with the base manufacturer part, circuit, or terminal.
Dissociate Dissociates the accessory from the base manufacturer part, circuit, or terminal.

The circuits, terminals, and ERP data of an electrical assembly are those managed in the sub manufacturer parts.

Assign an Electrical Assembly to a Component

To assign an Electrical assembly to a component, use the same steps as to assign a manufacturer part. When you assign an Electrical assembly to a component, all the individual manufacturer parts of the Electrical assembly are assigned to the component. All the manufacturer parts are grouped under the Electrical assembly.