Wiring harness design in CATIA V5 - 3D modeling Week 7 Challenge

Aim- To prepare a flattened-view of a previously created harness assembly.

Objectives - The objective of this project is to create a flattened-view for a harness assembly and then place it on the drawing sheet. It is desired that the bundles with protective coverings are represented with different visuals on the drawing sheet.

                              

FIGURE1: PREVIOUSLY ROUTED HARNESS ASSEMBLY FOR WHICH FLATTENED-VIEW HAVE TO BE CREATED

                  To make a flattened view of any wiring harness we should be working in the Electrical Harness Flattening workbench of CATIA V5. We should make sure that the flattening file should be in the same folder where you have all the parts of the harness assembly.

Methodology -

1.Defining Harness Flattening parameters -

            

                   First, we should make a new product file inside the Electrical Harness Flattening workbench. Second, we should define the harness flattening parameters by clicking on its icon as shown above. In the general tab, we have selected the settings as shown above. After the general tab settings are complete we should define the settings for the drawing.

                    The of representation for the bundle segment and protective covering are different from each other. Also for devices, "3D projection" can be used if the connectors are added to the electrical drawing catalog. 

2. Flattening Product by using the "Extract" feature - 

                 We aligned the Flattening Product and Harness Bundle tabs vertically. Now, as shown below, we should use the "EXTRACT" feature in the electrical harness flattening workbench to bring the harness assembly into the Flattening product.Now harness assembly file is now changed to an "EHF" file which stands for "Electrical Harness Flattening".

                

3.Flattening of the harness - 

          To flatten the harness we should select the flatten plane (face of connector) and then select all the branches present in the harness assembly as shown below.

                   

4.Using commands from flattening workbench -

1.Rotate -  All the bundle segments if needed should be rotated in the desired direction as needed by using the "Rotate" feature in the flattening workbench.Give the desired value of an angle.

2.Roll - Give angle and roll radius.

                    

5.Creating Drawing of flattened file - 

• Make a new drawing
• Insert view into the drawing file.
• Define drawing properties
• Add Frame and Title block
• Create BOM

           

Conclusion- 

            The final flattened drawing was produced for the wiring harness. As per requirement, different representation was given to the bundle segments and the protective coverings.