Route cables and wires

Route cables and wires automatically

Use Automatic Route to route one or more selected unrouted wires or cables or all unrouted wires or cables into segments in the active harness assembly. Routed wires (including cable wires) are ignored. For unrouted wires, Automatic Route is also available from the context menu.

All wire or cable wire work points are deleted when routed from a point to point state.

Note: If you prefer, you can preselect one or more wires in the browser or graphics window before clicking the Route command. To select the wires in the graphics window, set the Select command to Select sketch elements.

1. Double-click the harness assembly that contains the wires and cables to route.
2. On the ribbon, click Cable and Harness tab Route panel Automatic Route .
3. Select the wires to route, if not preselected.
   • To route all unrouted wires, select the All Wires check box.
   • To use selected wires, in the graphics window, select the wires to route.
   Note: Selecting one cable wire automatically selects all wires associated with the same cable.
4. Click Apply to route the wires.
5. Optionally, continue selecting wires to route.
6. Click OK.

The wire lengths, cable lengths, and segment bundle diameter update each time Apply or OK are clicked.

Note: If routing fails, the system may have identified two discontinuous segments for routing. Try routing manually.

Route cables and wires manually

With manual routing you select one or more wires or cables to route through a selected segment. You can continue to route the same wires or cables through additional segments one at a time.

Segments used for manual routing can be continuous or discontinuous. Routing through discontinuous segments creates routes with gaps. For example, a gap is created by running a wire from one segment, through space for a certain distance, and then into another segment.

Note: If you prefer, you can preselect wires (including cable wires) in the browser or graphics window before clicking the Route command. To select the wires in the graphics window, set the selection filter to Select sketch elements.

All wire or cable wire work points are deleted during routing.

1. Double-click the harness assembly containing the wires to route.
2. On the ribbon, click Cable and Harness tab Route panel Route .

   Alternatively you can select the wires to route, right-click, and then select Route from the context menu.

3. From the browser or graphics window, select one or more wires to route, if not preselected.
4. In the Route Wires dialog box, make sure the Single Segment (Manual) check box is selected.
5. Select a single segment through which to route the wire.

   Only segments from the active harness can be selected.

6. Click Apply to route the wires into the segment.

   The wire lengths, cable lengths, and segment bundle diameters update and the wires remain selected.

7. Repeat Steps 4 through 6 to continue routing the selected wires or cables through additional segments, one at a time.
8. Click OK.

The wire lengths, cable lengths, and segment bundle diameters update each time Apply or OK are clicked.

Route cables and wires semi-automatically

Click Route to use semi-automatic routing for wires and cables. You select one or more wires to route (including cable wires), and then select the first and last segment within the network in which to route them. You can also select the wires to route, right-click, and then select Route from the context menu.

The wires are routed through the shortest continuous path that connects the two segments. Gaps are not created during semi-automatic routing. All routed wires are ignored. All associated cable wires are routed together. All wire or cable wire work points are deleted when routed from a point to point state.

Note: If you prefer, you can preselect wires in the browser or graphics window before clicking Route. To select the wires in the graphics window, set the Select command to Select sketch elements.

1. Double-click the harness assembly containing the wires to route.
2. On the ribbon, click Cable and Harness tab Route panel Route .
3. Select one or more wires from the browser or graphics window, if not preselected.

   To select the wires in the graphics window, set the Select command to Select sketch elements.

4. Make sure the Single Segment check box is clear.
5. Select the first segment for the route.

   Only segments from the active harness can be selected.

6. Select the last segment for the route.
7. If there is more than one possible path for the route, use the Previous and Next arrows on the Select Path command to select the path to use. Click the green center button to accept the highlighted selection. Click Cancel to exit without routing.

   The buttons cycle through the possible paths in order, from shortest to longest. The Select Path command is displayed for each wire or cable that has multiple routing possibilities.

8. Click Apply to route wire(s) into the continuous segments that connect the selected segments in the network.

   The harness updates.

9. Continue selecting and routing additional wires. Click OK.

The wire lengths, cable lengths, and segment bundle diameters update.

View a cable, cable wire, or wire path

As a result of routing and unrouting wires and cables in complex assemblies, the path the object takes is not always evident from visual inspection. Use View Path from the context menu to highlight the wire stubs and all segments a cable, cable wire, or wire passes through. The centerline geometry or rendered geometry of the wire(s) or cable wires are also highlighted.

If a splice exists on the selected wire, the system highlights the wire to and from the splice along with the segments that the wire is routed through.

1. Double-click the harness assembly containing the object(s) of interest.
2. From the graphics window or the browser, select the desired cables, wires, or cable wires, right-click, and then select View Path from the context menu.