Today I’m going to take a look at the functionality within E3.series that allows you to integrate with MCAD systems including Creo, CATIA and NX, to define cable lengths and harness structures. You can also watch a movie that shows how this is done in real life – transferring data back and forth from E3.schematic to Creo Parametric (aka ProE).
Electrical and MCAD integration, if you’re not already doing it, has the potential to save you a good deal of time in the electrical product development process. On the most basic level you can cut out the prototype stage needed for calculating wire lengths. If you’re also working with E3.formboard, as well as the basic module (E3.cable), then you can obtain the entire harness structure.
Watch the movie below that shows a user working in E3.schematic, exporting data via the E3.3D Routing Bridge, opening up Creo, routing the wires, and then exporting back into E3.schematic to get the actual wire lengths.