CC BY
12Journal of Siberian Federal University. Engineering & Technologies 6 (2014 7) 660-664
УДК 004.021
Development of Electrical Wiring Automated Design Algorithm
Aleksander S. Nikitin, Aleksander M. Fen and Sergey I. Tregubov*
Siberian Federal University 79 Svobodny, Krasnoyarsk, 660041, Russia
Received 09.06.2013, received in revised form 18.07.2014, accepted 21.08.2014
Nowadays, 3D electrical wiring design automation is less covered by EDA&CAD systems, than its other aspects (solid modeling, simulation analysis, printed circuit boards development). This article offers an algorithm of electrical wiring design automation realization and an algorithm of computer aided development of design documentation package for electrical wiring aspect. The algorithms are based on EDA system Altium Designer and CAD system SolidWorks. As a case study, existing instrument manufacturing plant was taken.
Keywords: electrical wiring, automated design algorithm, EDA, CAD.
Разработка алгоритма автоматизированного проектирования проводного монтажа
А.С. Никитин, А.М. Фень, С.И. Трегубов
Сибирский федеральный университет Россия, 660041, Красноярск, пр. Свободный, 79
В настоящее время автоматизации проектирования объёмного электрического монтажа уделяется значительно меньше внимания, чем другим возможностям САПР (твердотельное моделирование, анализ конструкций, печатный монтаж). В данной статье предложены алгоритм внедрения системы автоматизированной разработки проводного монтажа и алгоритм автоматизированной разработки пакета проектной документации на проводной монтаж. Алгоритм основан на системах EDA Altium Designer и CAD SolidWorks, используемых на предприятиях приборостроительного профиля.
Ключевые слова: объемный электрический монтаж, алгоритмы автоматического проектирования, EDA, CAD.
© Siberian Federal University. All rights reserved Corresponding author E-mail address: tregubov-020151@mail.ru
*
3D Electrical wiring design automation implies achieving the following goals:
- development of Basic Circuit Diagram by means of EDA -system with introduction of additional criteria for differentiation of electrical and printed-circuit wiring;
- provision of circuits automated fragmentation;
- solid modeling of device chassis;
- solid mo deling of device electrical harnesses;
- automated development of design documentation package (harness assembly drawing, wire table, wires le ngth etc.);
- filling libraries of standard and frequently used elements of electrical harnesses;
- selection of softwaee to realize rforeraid items with maximum efficiency and minimum implementation cost.
Undet existing design development system at the oroantzation uodes consideration (Fig. 1), a circuit engineer develops eleetrical and runctfonal diagrams and aelivers them to a deeign engineer. The design eogigoet divides electeical circuits inro elecrrical and printed-citcuit wiring, develops eomponenas (radioelements etc.) arrangement rnd PCB routi ng, designs an assembly drawing of charsas anO electrical harness. The resulting deliverablrs package includes tiie devire assembly dtawing, harness assembly drawing, wire table,rperiíicationt etc.
Figure 1 damonstrpter the followino:
- thr soWtwere ic used as an electronic drafting machine;
- the software does not allew to use the airtoric data ffom one package into another one which leads So general inconsistencies wirhin the wotk cycle and to the inarease of human Oactor influence;
- all engineeridg oata derived from individual design procedures are delivered to the next design stage in the fonn of hord copies that causes an additional digitizatior and recoavertinv work;
Fig. 1. Block Flow Diagram of design process at the instrument plant under consideration
- device (unit) solid model is not kept up to date (or is not available whatsoever) on the stage of electrical harness development.
Analyzing CAD-systems available on the market with regard to 3D electrical wiring design automation, several criteria can be established for comparison purposes: electrical harnesses solid modeling potential, possibility to integrate with ECAD-systems (wire tables import) and project implementation cost per one workstation.
The comparison results are given in Table 1 below.
Based on Table 1, the most suitable system is Solidworks, having the necessary functionality and lowest realization cost. As a complement EDA-system for Solidworks was suggested system Altium Designer (AD) [1]. Facilities of circuit diagram editor and net list's export in AD together with specialized Solidworks module «SWR-Электрика» [2] allow to achieve efficient automated solid modeling and electrical wiring system with device live 3D model (Fig. 2).
The main advantage of suggested design scheme for the organization is the fact that they have already installed (as an experimental automation solution) Altium Designer and Solidworks systems. Integrated design cycle on this base could be achieved with minimum investments, less labor input and gives the result sooner than any other system would.
Actions for Altium Designer - Solidworks system implementation:
1) Input data (electrical, functional diagrams) should be developed in Altium Designer. Solid models, assembly drawings etc. should be developed in Solidworks.
2) Basic circuit diagram should be developed in two separate sheets for electrical and printed-circuit wiring. There should be defined some criteria to differentiate circuits for electrical and printed-circuit wiring and bound zones of developer's responsibilities.
3) Provide conversion of Altium Designer export data (net list) to «SWR-Электрика» format. It is necessary to develop specialized software to convert the data, circuits fragmenting, circuits attributing (wire brand, cross section, shield, twist).
Fig. 2. Integrated design in Altium Designer - Solidworks systems
Table 1. Potential of 3D electrical wiring design automation systems
System Characteristics
Specialization Model type Curvature radius analysis Wire length analysis Harness assembly drawing Tables generation Wire tables import from other ECAD Realization cost (per workstation)
Wire Harness
KOMPAS General* - 3D + + + - - 780 $
Solid Works 3D + + + WT, etc. + 1000-2000 $
Solid Edge 3D - + - - + = 10000 $
AutoCAD Inventor 3D + + - WT + 300 $
Catia Mechanical engineering - 3D + + + - + 2000-8000 $
NX 2,5D + + part. - + 10000-20000 $
Creo E/Pro 3D + + + WT, etc. + = 6000 $
E3 Wide range** 2D + + + + 3000-10000 $
Mentor + + + + 8000-12000 $
E-Plan + + + + = 6000 $
* General specialization means that the system is missing tools for highly-specialized tasks but almost any task can be fulfilled with the system standard set of tools with increased manhours. ** Wide range specialization means that the system has a complete set of tools both for general and highly-specialized tasks.
4) For the most efficient design automation Solidworks elements library is necessary (electrical harnesses attachments, holdings, radioelements etc.) and appointment of responsibles to fill and administrate the libraries.
Potential advantages:
1) Design automation of electrical wiring;
2) Reduction of the human factor influence (reduction of the number of mistakes associated with transfer and reconversion of data between design stages).
Potential disadvantages:
1) Increase of labor input at the circuit design and engineering design stages; as well as labor input required for the system implementation.
References
[1] Altium Designer (2013) [Online]. Available: http://www.altium.com.
[2] SWR-Electrica (23.05.2010) [Online]. Available: http://solidworks.ru/index.php?option=com content&view=article&id=155:swr-&catid=9:-all&Itemid=70 (in Russian).
