Wiring harness design in CATIA V5 - 3D modeling Week 2 Challenge
WIRING HARNESS DESIGN IN CATIA V5-3D MODELING WEEK 2 CHALLENGE
Aim-Defining connector and clips using Catia v5.
Downloading the 3D CAD files form the te.com website and then defining the parts electrically and further creating a catalogue for the components.
Deutsch DT06 – 08SA (https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-DT06-08SA.html)
Tyco 174357-2 (https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-2-174357-2.html?source=header-match)
Tyco 85229-1 – (https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-85229-1.html?q=85229&source=header)
Introduction
A connector is a device (or more precisely, a mating pair of devices, often a plug and a socket) for connecting together two or more wires, cables, or hoses, allowing electricity or fluid to flow but also allowing easy disconnection and reconnection when necessary. Mounting Clips are used for supporting conduits. These clips are made of High-Quality Impact Resistant Polyamide. The mounting clips are stackable and are fixed with the help of screws on to the panel or equipment surface.
Connector Definition
Following parameters are required to define any connector –
Geometry Parameters - Points & Co-ordinate system (Axis)
Connector connection points - This point is used for the connection of one connector to another connector.
Harness bundle entry point - This point defines where the harness bundle segment point will end when routed to the electrical connector.
Cavity connection point (Optional) - This point is used to define the connection of a connector to a connector clip. This only applies to connectors which have the mounting feature for a connector clip.
Defining the mounting clip
- Download the clip 3d data.
- Create the geometry parameter.
- Define the part as mounting component.
- Define the part as cavity.
Connector definition in Catia v5
1.DT06-08SA:
Connector Mating Side:
- Create midpoint on the contact face of mating side of Connector in Mechanical Part Design.
- Create an axis system on this point with direction rotate the axis system to ensure the correct position as shown in below image.
- Rename the axis system as Connector Cavity Axis.
Bundle Entry Side:
Create midpoint on the contact face of wire bundle entry side as per the image.
Define as Electric Part:
Choose ‘Electric Part Design’ workbench.
- Define the part as CONNECTOR in this workbench & give name of part and number of terminals as 8 according to image.
- Defining Bundle connection point by selecting point and face.
Connector Connection point-
Define Connector Connection Point by selecting face, point as well as Y & X axis as shown in figure.
- Tyco 174357-2:
First open the 3D CAD data in Catia and then convert the file format (ex: igs,.stp) to. CATPart.Then define the connector geometrically in the Catia Part Design Workbench.
Bundle Entry Point-
we have to first assign a mid-point to the bundle connection side face of the connector.
Connector Connection Point-
we also have to assign a mid-point to connector connection side of the connector, along with that we also have to assign an axis system on the mid-point of the connector connection side face.
Also, we have to create a mating reference at the bottom side of the connector so that we can mount a clip onto the connectors. To do that we can just create a mid-point and an axis system with that mid-point as reference on the face which will have contact with the clip. Make sure the axis direction is same as create in connector connection point This will allow us to fully define our connector geometrically.
Define Connector
To define connector, start the Electrical Part Design Workbench in Catia to define the connector electrically. First, we select the define connector option from the toolbars and then we select the connector body and also assign the number of terminals to the connector which in this case are 3 terminals.
Define bundle connection point
Then we select the define bundle connection point option from the toolbars and then we select the connector body, bundle contact face for representation, mid-point for point, and again bundle contact face for initial condition and then click on ok.
Define connector connection point
Then we select the define connector connection point option from the toolbars and then we select the connector body, mid-point for representation, contact face for contact, Y-axis for coincidence and X- axis for orientation and then click on ok.
Define cavity connection point
Define cavity connection point option from the toolbars and then we select the connector body, bottom side mid-point as representation, mating face for contact, Y-axis for coincidence and X- axis for orientation and then click on ok. This will fully define our connector electrically.
3.Mounting Clip
open the 3D CAD data in Catia and then convert the file format (ex: .igs,.stp) to .CATPart.Then define the clip geometrically in the Catia Part Design Workbench.
To do that we can just create a mid-point and an axis system with that mid-point as reference on the face which will have contact with the connector. This will allow us to fully define our clip geometrically.
Electrical Part Design
After that start the Electrical Part Design Workbench in Catia to define the clip electrically. First, we select the define mounting equipment option from the toolbars and then we select the clip. Then we select the define cavity option from the toolbars and then select the clip body, mid-point for representation, contact face for contact, Y-axis for coincidence and X- axis for orientation and then click on ok. This will fully define our connector electrically.
Creation of Connector & Clip assembly
Import Connector and cavity / mounting clip. Select Define Electric connection select cavity and then connector. Both will automatically connect as per given.
Conclusion-
I have learned in this Challenge about how to define connectors and clips as electrical parts as well as I have also learned about how to define assembly as Electrical and how apply to Electrical Connections with different parts from this presented challenge.