Standards and/or sample drawings for Cable Assembly drawings. 1

[KENAT]

Beyond the basic Y14.100 series drafting standards does anyone have a suggestion for where I might find some standards and/or good sample drawings for cable assemblies?

Y14.24 doesn't have much in it, nor do Genium or Global DRM's that I can see (though I think the section for cables may be missing from my Genium folder based on the contents page).

The quality of our cable drawings has caused some problems when changing vendors etc. so it's on my back burner of projects to look at.

We do some weird/unusual stuff with some of our cables in terms of shielding, termination, adding air lines or etc.

Also many of our cables have to be very flexible as we're very vibration sensitive which means we end up with a lot of fairly custom cable assemblies built up from individual wires etc.

I'm not an electrical or electro mechanical guy so I'm somewhat out of my depth on this one and will appreciate any assistance.

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[ctopher]

We do cable dwgs all the time. Unfortunately I can't post them.
Basically they show a length, and stripping details.
The length has a tolerance, usually +xxx -0.0.
If a variable length, we use dash numbers that correspond with the length (12345-12 is a 12" long cable).
Notes (or BOM) call out another P/N (Word doc) that indicates cables materials and number of wires, etc.

It's just how we do it. It works for FAA, NASA, military, etc.

Chris, CSWA
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[ModulusCT]

I once did all manner of cable drawings with all sorts of terminations as well. My cable assy would consist of, typically, a number of independent circles (wires - diameter dependent on the sheilded dia of the wire in questions) equally spaced about a 3D path which was then routed around the assembly. In the same assembly a second configuration simply showed a staight length of this cable, or a flat pattern of colored wires. In the drawing environment then, this flat pattern was set up in a broken view and the terminations were exploded in any way needed and the terminations were called out and shown stripped in whichever manner was appropriate.

For cables with say, right angle MMCX connectors, again a straight broken cable view was used but this time the orientation of the right angle connectors to themselves was shown, either with an angle dimension or simply by the right angle rule.

Does that help at all? I wish I had some examples. I might have one... I'll get back to this thread a little later.

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[KENAT]

Thanks for responding guys, like I mentioned we work to Y14.100 so (should) have the basics down of BOM, Pin Out/Schematic etc.

If you do have an example you could share ModulusCT I'd appreciate it.

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[MintJulep]

You may find some inspiration in the references and links at the end of this Wiki article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_lacing

 

[MadMango]

Kenat, I tried to find a complicated cable/harness drawing, attached was the best I could come up with. It's been my experience that cable vendors that do this daily are your best sources. I was told by our vendor that a simple schematic like nailboard drawing is the best to build from... inspecting to it my prove more difficult.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[KENAT]

Thanks MM

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[KENAT]

MS75027 standard CABLE ASSEMBLIES AND CORD ASSEMBLIES, ELECTRICAL, USED WITH COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENTS, STANDARD TOLERANCES FOR (03-JAN-1986)

Not a drawing standard but does give recomended cable length tolerances.

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[Tunalover]

I've seen and drafted a lot of multiconductor cables assemblies used for military applications. They were usually shielded and environmentally sealed. Typically the drawing consisted of a 2D view of the connectors and two straight lines between them representing the cable. Also on the assembly drawing was a schematic showing the shield and drain wire terminations and a table listing the From To positions in the connectors, the wire part nos and reference designators (W1,W2,W3,...) going between them, and the part nos and reference designators (E1,E2,...) of the terminals going into each position. If necessary, the end views of the connectors were shown. Reference designators were assigned to the connectors, usually P2 and P1, and an overall length with generous tolerance provided.

I just wish I had some examples to show you because it all makes sense when you see it all pulled together!



Tunalover

 

[3DDave]

Do not.
Under any circumstance.
Ever.
Show a pictographically correct image of a cable.

The next thing you'll be getting are complaints that the shielding braid is not exactly like the real braid and you need to show the glue layer on strain reliefs. It's easy, right? It's on the computer.

Better solution. Create a document for all terminations and transitions and splices. It may end up the thickness of a phone book (remember those? Good old days) but then you just point to where you want the feature with a note that says per Figure XYZ of Document 123.

Then keep the drawing a stick figure (already mentioned, like nail boards).

 

[CheckerHater]

KENAT,

I think I found pages missing from your Genium manual

 

[KENAT]

Thanks CH

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