Creating Parametric Ribbon Cables

Cool Software Tricks
Extremely helpful stuff you won’t find in the user’s manual

Phil Sluder, TriAxial Design and Analysis (www.triaxialdesign.com)

As consumer product design becomes more ergonomic and stylistic, and technology shrinks the size of electronics, the 3D packaging of the electronic components into enclosures become more difficult. The challenge involves coordination between the electrical schematic, mechanical components, and PCB layout, as well as interferences between PCBs, wiring, cabling, and the surrounding environment.

The routing of the wiring and cabling in the 3D assembly model can be a significant part of the problem. One solution is to create cable subassemblies containing connectors and wires. Both discrete wire harnesses and ribbon cables can be modeled parametrically which allows the repositioning and routing of the wiring within the enclosure.

So want an easy to make a parametric ribbon cable to use inside a SolidWorks assembly? Here is a simple assembly example consisting of connector parts at each end, two ribbon guide parts, and the ribbon cable part.

You need this trick if: You are packaging electronic components and need to route ribbon cables through an electronic enclosure.

Online resources: Most common connectors (and other 3D solid models) can be downloaded from manufacturer’s websites or libraries such as 3D Content Central. Go to www.3dcontentcentral.com and search through a Certified Supplier or User Library to locate the components. There are literally millions of 3D models available for free download.

Modeling a Parametric Ribbon Cable in Six Easy Steps

	After downloading or creating solid models of the connector parts, modify them by adding two sketched lines that will locate loft sections of the ribbon cable part.
	Next create a cable guide part with two parallel lines sketched about .06 inches apart.
	Now create the ribbon cable assembly and place the connectors and two cable guides in this assembly.
	Insert a new component, the ribbon cable part, and exit the 2D sketch that is automatically created. Insert a 3D sketch; pick one of the lines sketched in the connector or ribbon guide part, and convert entities. Close the 3D sketch and repeat to create seven more 3D sketches for all the surface loft sections of the ribbon cable part.
	Loft a surface between all eight 3D sketches and then thicken.
	You’re done. You’ll find can move the components, and the ribbon cable will update to the new shape. If you want a more realistic look, add a thread texture to the faces of the ribbon cable.

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