You can show the actual size of a channel and its cables. This is useful for determining how much space the cables consume within the model, so that you can be sure that the cabling has adequate room.
To show and hide the channel size,
1. Click Channel and then, in the Wire group, click the arrow next to Size.
2. Click Show channel real size. The Show Path Size dialog box opens.
3. If you wish, you can limit the information to cable groups. Click Defined Cable Group and select the group in the Structure Browser.
4. Select an Area correction factor.
5. Click Show to display in the viewport the actual size of the channel and its contents. Segments highlighted in red are the thickest.
6. Click Position and select a channel segment in the viewport to view information specific to that segment.
7. Click to complete the operation.
8. To hide the channel size,
a. Click Channel and then, in the Wire group, click the arrow next to Size.
b. Click Delete channel real size.
Customize the channel size formula
How does Creo Elements/Direct Cabling calculate the channel segments' thickness? The built-in formula is the sum of all cross sections that build the circular shape. This is then corrected by the Area Correction Factor, because there is empty space between circles. The radius is calculated from the corrected value.
You can enter your own formula for calculating channel segments' thickness by modifying the sc_customizations.lsp file. C:\Program Files\Creo Elements\Direct Modeling [version]\personality\cabling is a typical path to this file.
To use a custom formula, activate "sc_customized_path_thickness" by commenting out the unbound command, as shown:
;; (fmakunbound 'sc_customized_path_thickness)
Parameters:
• nr_cables (The number of cables at this segment)
• dialist (The list of diameters of the cables above
Creo Elements/Direct Cabling expects the path radius returned.
The Area correction factor in the Show Path Size dialog box is not accounted for if you customize the path thickness calculation.
The corrected diameter displays, according to the formula, in the Dia of Corrrected section portion of the Show Path Size dialog box. Note that the calculation delivers a radius, but the dialog displays a diameter value.
Size.
to complete the operation.
Delete channel real size.