To Work with Branch Harness Segments

Create and branch harness segments, and control harness segment diameters.

Create harness segments

When you insert a harness segment, you select points that position and shape the segment in the context of the harness assembly.

Use Create Segment on the ribbon to define the possible paths that a wire or cable may take through the harness assembly.

Tip: You can create work points within the assembly before creating the segment, to position the segment precisely to key points in the harness assembly. Segment points associated to work points or other model geometry update when changes are made to the model. Points offset from a face do not update.

1. In the browser, double-click the harness assembly.
2. On the ribbon, click Cable and Harness tab Create panel Create Segment .
3. In the graphics window, select the segment start point:
   • To associate the start point with existing geometry, select a vertex, work point, sketch point, or center points on circular components.
   • To offset a segment work point at a specified distance, set the offset, and then select a face.
   • To create a non associative segment work point without an offset, select a work plane or work axis.

   As you make your selections a straight line appears from selected point to current cursor position. The system draws the line between the points as selections are made.

4. To change the offset while defining the segment path, right-click, and then select Edit Offset.
5. In the Edit Offset dialog box, enter the offset value (with or without a unit), and then click OK.

   Once the offset is changed, the new value is used until the segment is finished, or until the offset is changed.

   Note: If no unit is specified the default unit setting is used.
6. Select additional points to define the path.
7. When the segment shape is complete, right-click, and then select Continue to end the current segment and create additional segments.
8. Right-click, and then select Finish. Press ESC at any point during segment creation to cancel.

The segment is displayed as rendered or centerline depending on the display setting.

Branch harness segments

Segment branches are made by starting or ending a new segment on an existing segment. The two segments representing the original segment are constrained to be tangent to one another. No tangent constraint is formed between the new segment and the two pre-existing segments.

As wires are routed, each of the three segments behave as separate entities and can assume different diameters.

1. Double-click a harness assembly that contains the segment to branch.
2. On the ribbon, click Cable and Harness tab Create panel Create Segment .
3. Pause the cursor over the harness segment to branch, and then click the start point for the branch on the existing segment.
   Note: Selecting Finish splits the segment into two separate segments. It does not add the third (new) segment.
4. Continue selecting points for the branch until the shape is complete, right-click, and then select Continue to define additional segments, if desired.
5. Once the shape is complete, right-click and select Continue to define additional segments, right-click, and then select Finish to end the operation.

Control harness segment diameters

Segments can be configured as fixed diameter segments or as variable diameter segments. Fixed diameter segments, such as semirigid tubing that the wire bundle is routed through, do not change as wires and cables are routed, unrouted, or deleted. The diameter of variable segments automatically update as wires and cables are added or removed.

By default, segment diameters update automatically as wires are routed, unrouted, or deleted from the segment.

1. Double-click the harness assembly containing the segments to change.
2. In the browser or graphics window, right-click the segment to change, and then select Harness Properties from the context menu.
3. In the Segment Properties dialog box, select the needed diameter setting.
   • For a variable diameter, select the Calculate from Wires check box.
   • For a fixed diameter, clear the check box and enter a diameter value.

   The segments update accordingly.

When the Defer Update option is enabled, the segment diameters do not update until Update is selected on the the Quick Access toolbar.