Reusing Cable models in different shapes

[JWayman]

Hello,

I have an assemby with a number of short runs of coaxial cable, each with a connector on both ends. I want to use the same cable model in all the different locations. This means that, if my cable is 150mm long, for example, it will be stretched out almost straight in some places, whilst in others it is looped around.

I know how to create my cable in the Cabling module, but I can't work out how to have the same cable fitted in different locations and in different shapes.

Is there a strategy for this?

WF4, m220

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[BrianMartin]

Hi John…

There is no formal strategy for this currently. This feature has been requested several times and is definitely on the radar for future development. I’d like to provide a more concrete answer – such as being able to tell you when we will be able to accommodate this feature. My best guess is Creo 5.0 – but budget constraints can always push that back.

I can emphatically state that it will not be available in Creo 4.0 (tentatively being released somewhere around Q4 of 2016). That means Creo 5.0 will be somewhere around 2018-ish.

There are ways around the limitations you’ve hit. One way would be to implement a cabling family table. The functionality for this at Wildfire 4.0 was atrocious and looked as though no one had bothered developing it since 1999. This is because, indeed, no one had bothered developing it since 1999. This means you end up with two or more instances (with two or more names) to display the same harness/cable in two or more different routings. You could do this by making separate cables to start with and avoid the family table nightmare altogether. Neither approach offers the solution you’re looking for.

One final way to achieve this kind of “one cable – multiple routings” effect is to create a cabling assembly using flexible components. This works best on simple cables with only two connectors (one at each end). In your case, this might work.

Flexible components are available at Wildfire 4.0 so you’re in luck there. You’d want to create a cabling assembly by placing your two connectors offset from a coordinate system. You just need to “float them in space” via coordinate system. Then, you’d either implement a very simple network – or you’d create a couple of control points (or coordinate systems) to lay out the coax line. I realize I’m not giving much detail here. The process is not at all fun.

Finally you should be able to achieve a simple routing in your cable assembly. This will just be two connectors floating in space with a coax line of the appropriate length between them. The next trick is to assemble this floating coax assembly into the appropriate next-level assembly making use of flexible components. You will select the X,Y, and Z dimensions of both connectors and any control points/csys to be flexible. You’ll vary those dimensions in order to move the connectors and coax routing such that the assembly appears to flex into multiple positions.

Obviously, this is a complex solution and not easily described in an email.

If you put some care into it, you’ll end up with a BOM listing one line item with the appropriate quantity of cable assemblies. You assembly itself will appear to have the same coax assembly placed in different positions. This is the effect you’re after – but until at least Creo 5.0, this is the only way to get there.

I’m sure that’s as clear as mud so please write back if you have additional questions.

Thanks and good luck!
-Brian

Brian K. Martin
Sr. Mechanical/Application Engineer
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

301.286.0059 (NASA Office)
443.421.2532 (Cell)
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[jstone]

John,
I have used Brian's suggestion of placing a csys and constraining one connector to it. It comes in handy for fan assemblies or boards with a small harness attached. I remember you could set the overall length and it would warn you but still let you exceed it.
Thanks,
jef

[BillF]

We do this all the time for small harnesses that get reused for multiple products, hydraulic hoses, tubing, and flexible mechanical control lines.

Unfortunately, our expert in the electrical group is out for weeks in the future due to a bad knee injury.

As far as I understand it, we make an assembly with it straight for our main documentation, then make RT (routed) assemblies with the same part number (that has –RT01, 02, etc appended) that has the routing for each product.

Wish I could be of more help but I am the admin/librarian for our schematics software but don’t do anything with the routing itself.
Unfortunately, changing the master does not send the changes through to the RTs but having them named this way does let the engineer and the routing technician know that they all would need to change.

[JWayman]

Thanks, Brian,

I spent all morning trying this approach.

I was successful to a degree.

I am finding that I can't make large changes to my flexible dimensions. I have to approach the final destination stealthily, by degrees, otherwise it simply ignores the changes I make to the flexible dimensions. Curious.

Also, the Cabling software is, at best, flaky, it seems. The last one I moved, the connector ended up in the right place, but the cable stayed put. Who knows why?

Still, I suppose all this playing with expensive software beats having to actually work for a living...

🐵

Off home for the weekend now.

Cheers,

John