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Ribbon Cabling

This new functionality accurately captures the mechanical and electrical aspects required for virtual design of ribbon cabling. Ribbon cables can be defined and routed with tools to split, fold and bend the cable. Logical schematic information is supported from Routed Systems Designer.  This is a significant improvement over workarounds using sheetmetal or sweeps.

  1. Set Working Directory to CABLING.

  2. File > Open File Open vcr.asm.

  3. View Manager , click All tab, activate Ribbon-Start.

  4. Applications > Cabling from the main menubar.

  5. Verify Datum Points are displayed - including their tags.

  6. Select Harness > Ribbon to activate Work Harness.
    - Spool with a 15 conductor ribbon cable was pre-defined
    Spools

 

Once the harness is activated, the new assembly transparency will be enabled causing inactive assembly members to appear with stippled transparency. The config.pro option dim_inactive_components is available to control this. You can also just turn off the transparency using View > Display Settings > Model Display > Shade options.

  1. Route > Ribbons > Create to define the new cable.

  2. Enter RIBBON-1 for the name.

  3. Select 15_Cond > Done Sel to use all conductors.

  4. Done Sel from CABLE SEL menu.

  5. View , select RIBBON-START.

 

Instead of using the Search Tool to select the Entry Ports, you can also just enable the display of Coordinate Systems . 

  1. Define the Entry Port to start routing:
    1. Click Search Tool or (CTRL+F)
    2. Look in: start typing "VCR" and Pro/E will auto-complete field
    3. Enter RIBBON for the Name Value to search

  2. Click Find Now button.
  3. Two matches will be found for the same connector in (2) locations.

    Note pre-highlighting, and select this one as the start:
    port1

Datum points have been named to indicate the type of route TO that location. You do not need to snap to them, just pick in their vicinity.

*use the Through option for routing to points labeled "free-#". There will be a single green-dot to denote each location, but each wire will have a centerline arranged in parallel to form ribbon.

  1. View , select RIBBON.
  2. Complete routing, using named Datum Points as guides:
  1. View , select RIBBON-END.
    port2
  2. Select Entry Port option from the side menu to define termination.
    1. Use the Search Tool  as above in Step 12 (or display CSYS)
    2. Find and Select select the other RIBBON CSYS
  3. Done/Return or MMB to complete route

  4. Switch to Thick Cable Thick Cable display style.

Conductor 1 is automatically colored Red.

Congratulations, the Ribbon Cable is complete!

You have completed this Exercise, continue to Next Page.