About Locations
Locations are points that set the network and cable path. They describe the offsets and fixed points of the cable's path through an assembly. Use locations to assign dimensions and constraints to capture the design intent of the cable and harness when changes are made to the assembly. Network locations are required for autorouting. When you define a network path, multiple wires and cables can follow the path during autorouting. Three kinds of location points are:
• Free—You can place a free location as a point on any surface, curve, axis, or network segment. It is automatically offset by 0.6 of the radius of the cable or cables passing through the location. Free locations on curves, axes, or other cable entities are always centered on the entity and tangency is not constrained.
• Dependent—A dependent location has the same default offset and directional values as the free location, but you are prompted for a dimension from the previously specified location, and an offset from a second selected surface. When the reference entity is moved, the dependent location moves with it.
Use the dependent location when you must route along a complex surface, when the cable must follow a straight line as seen from the top or side view. If you must move the cable, you can move only the reference location, and the dependent locations move with it.
• Offset—An offset location is similar to a dependent location, but lets you define the location relative to three dimensions. Other location types place the path along a selected axis or parallel to a channel. Use an Offset location to place cables in a tight passage or cramped volume; the cables move relative to assembly geometry. You can use the Offset option to create locations relative to a global coordinate system, but you should avoid this exclusively because the resulting trajectory has no reference to the assembly and does not capture your design intent.
After specifying locations of any kind, you can optionally add a maximum diameter constraint to them for the maximum width of the cable to be routed through the location.
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 To select locations that are lower than other geometry in the z-axis when you add or modify locations, or route cables in shaded mode, set the cables_with_hlr configuration option to no. |
To Add Locations
After you route a cable, you can add locations to create the detailed cable path.
1. Do one of the following:
◦ Click
Location.
◦ Right-click a network or cable in the graphics window and click
Insert Locations from the shortcut menu.
The Location tab opens.
2. Select a segment if you did not select it before opening the Location tab. The segment is highlighted.
3. Select the next location type from the list or right-click in the graphics window and select one of the following options from the Next Location list:
Locations List | Shortcut Menu | Result |
On | On | Creates a location on the selected reference. |
Offset from Point | Offset from Point | Creates a location offset from a selected point or coordinate system. |
Use Direction | Use Direction | Creates a location offset from the previous location in the specified direction. |
Offset from Previous | Offset from Previous | Creates a location offset from the previous location. |
| The first location can only be an On location or an Offset from Point location. |
4. Select a reference to place the location. The segment highlights to indicate the direction in which the locations are being added. A handle is displayed.
5. Drag the handle to the required point.
6. To add locations on a datum plane, select the datum plane. The pointer changes to
. Click to add the location points. Middle-click or click
to exit the selection mode.
7. To add locations at each end of an axis, right-click in the graphics window and select the Along Axis check box from the shortcut menu, if not already selected. Click the axis where you want to add locations.
8. To change the placement type, click Placement, or right-click on the handle.
9. To set options, click Options.
10. To reverse the direction of progression, click
or right-click in the graphics window and choose
Reverse Direction from the shortcut menu.
11. Once a location is fully defined, you can click a reference to place another location on the same segment.
12. To edit locations, click
.
13. To accept the location placement and add locations on another segment, click
.
14. Click
.
To Rotate a Location
1. Select a location in the Model Tree or graphics window and perform one of the following operations:
◦ Click
Properties. The
Location Properties dialog box opens.
◦ Click
from the shortcut menu. The
Location tab opens. Click
Options.
Select a segment in the Model Tree or graphics widow, right-click and click Edit from the shortcut menu. The Location tab opens. Click Options.
| You must select a location with more than one cable. |
2. Type or select a new Angle value.
3. Click
on the tab or
OK in the dialog box. The packing is rotated by the specified value.