3D lead and cable assemblies - Program or Add-On?
3D lead and cable assemblies - Program or Add-On?
(OP)
Hello,
Over the past few years my company has been transitioning from Autocad 2D drawings to Solidworks 3D models. During that time we have been reluctanct to model leads/cables in 3D, because it doesn't appear to be worth it. It takes so much time to model the leads/cables, that the time would be better spent elsewhere. So, many of these parts have remained in 2D.
I am aware that you can make leadwires/cables using 3D sketches w/sweeps. I am aware that there is a Solidworks Router program, which I do not have any experience with, but it looks pretty involved.
I am a mechanical engineer. Perhaps there are some electrical engineers out there that could provide some insight on this. Are there other 3D modeling programs(other than Solidworks) out there that are better at creating routed wire/cable assemblies? Are there add-on packages for Solidworks, other than the SW Router, that could help create these leads/cable assemblies more efficiently?
Typically, in our application, the leads/cables are routed through an electric motor out to a control.
Thanks,
-ren
Over the past few years my company has been transitioning from Autocad 2D drawings to Solidworks 3D models. During that time we have been reluctanct to model leads/cables in 3D, because it doesn't appear to be worth it. It takes so much time to model the leads/cables, that the time would be better spent elsewhere. So, many of these parts have remained in 2D.
I am aware that you can make leadwires/cables using 3D sketches w/sweeps. I am aware that there is a Solidworks Router program, which I do not have any experience with, but it looks pretty involved.
I am a mechanical engineer. Perhaps there are some electrical engineers out there that could provide some insight on this. Are there other 3D modeling programs(other than Solidworks) out there that are better at creating routed wire/cable assemblies? Are there add-on packages for Solidworks, other than the SW Router, that could help create these leads/cable assemblies more efficiently?
Typically, in our application, the leads/cables are routed through an electric motor out to a control.
Thanks,
-ren






RE: 3D lead and cable assemblies - Program or Add-On?
I would either create the wires with sweeps or using router as you described, or create a fake representation of them and add a schematic on a dwg using Visio.
There are Autodesk products that can do this type of work.
Another option is to have you electrical engineers create the parts/dwgs.
Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP4.1
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: 3D lead and cable assemblies - Program or Add-On?
RE: 3D lead and cable assemblies - Program or Add-On?
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I have heard of using Visio and 3D sketches w/special lines. Just wish there was something more out there. Something simple to use, that you could create the 3D of the leads/cable assemblies. Maybe in the next 5 yrs they will have something.
Thanks,
-ren
RE: 3D lead and cable assemblies - Program or Add-On?
RE: 3D lead and cable assemblies - Program or Add-On?
Joe Hasik,
CSWP/SMTL/MTLS
SW 10 x64, SP 3.0
Dell T3400
Intel Core2 Quad
Q6700 2.66 GHz
3.93 GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4600
RE: 3D lead and cable assemblies - Program or Add-On?
BB
RE: 3D lead and cable assemblies - Program or Add-On?
Joe Hasik,
CSWP/SMTL/MTLS
SW 10 x64, SP 3.0
Dell T3400
Intel Core2 Quad
Q6700 2.66 GHz
3.93 GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4600