Fixed Cable Length in a Family Table

[bpsangeorzan]

I am trying to create a flexible cable assembly family table for different lengths of the same generic cable assembly using WF 3.0. Each instance will have different lengths and I want to fix these lengths to the appropriate length for that instance, so when the flexibility is invoked the cables will keep the same length even though the locations may change. I can’t figure how to add the fix cable length to the family table; if there even is a way. If anyone knows how to do this please let me know. Thanks.

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[frederick.burke]

Hi Brenden,

I think what you are asking is not possible with Pro/Cable.
I don't believe you can control a cable length with a family table.
There just isn't a dimension to add to the family table.
That being said, there are a number of ways to fudge it.
Typically, when you have more than one routing with the same
cable, you add _1, _2, _3 to the file name to show the different
routings.
Then find out which is the longest and fix the lengths of the others to
match.

If that is not acceptable there is another way.
You could create a datum curve and sweep along it.
It's not perfect, but you can have quite a bit of control over
the length of a datum curve, while you have almost no control over cable
length.
(at least as being able to tabulate it is concerned)

Let me know if either of these methods are viable.

Thanks much,

Frederick Burke

Avionics Installations Engineer

Fire Scout VTUAV - Unmanned Systems

Northrop Grumman Corporation

858-618-7163

858-618-7186 (FAX)

-

[frederick.burke]

On second thought...

I was toying with ideas with Zak Yezel.

What if you made your cable with datum points.

Control the positions of the datum points dimensionally.

You could fix lengths between cable locations, and

put the dimensions that located the datum points on a

family table... It sounds crazy but it should work.

Give it a shot and let me know. Little warning,

If you put too short of a fixed lenth and make the

cable longer, your cables will fail miserably with

little or no indication why... Run a few tests before

you fix the lengths...

Thanks much,

Frederick Burke

Avionics Installations Engineer

Fire Scout VTUAV - Unmanned Systems

Northrop Grumman Corporation

858-618-7163

858-618-7186 (FAX)

-

[zakyazel]

Yes he is right. Look I teach route eat and drink pro/cable and fix len is nice. But Fred is right it is a bit touchy. I use it to fix length at the conductors so in the flat they all come out the same..but the rule is you have to be Under the fixed length for it to fix to a dim above....you nudge over....fail.



Zak Yazel, YDS LLC