About Flattening the Harness

This topic provides information needed to flatten electrical bundles or geometrical bundles.

The following topics are discussed:
 

About the Flatten Dialog Box

The Flatten dialog box lets you choose different options when flattening geometrical bundles.

The default values of this dialog box are the values you have already defined in the Harness Flattening Parameters dialog box.

The default plane is the xy plane.

Algorithm Mode:

  • Coarse: straightens each bundle segment and keep its length from the 3D data.
  • Fine: tries to respect the shape of the 3D data on the active plane.
     
    aprereq.gif (1223 bytes)
    • There are restrictions concerning the Fine mode. This mode works properly only when the active plane is collinear to the z axis.
    • The Fine mode only works with the branches containing one bundle segment.
aprereq.gif (1223 bytes)
  • It is advisable to choose the Coarse option before using any manipulators if the flattened harness has some branches built using the Straight Bend Mode.
  • Branches built using the Straight Bend Mode will be automatically switched to Length Mode during flattening.
    This ensures that the design length of the branches is maintained during manipulations.
  • If you select Fine mode for branches built using the Straight Bend Mode, the system selects the Coarse mode by default, and the build mode will be switched to Length.

 

Angle Mode:

  • Standard: the measured angles in the 3D geometrical bundle are projected on the active plane.

  • Regular: the angles on the junction in the active plane are calculated according to the number of branches on the junction.

 

Stop navigation at devices

The search for (and selection of) bundle segments will stop at the first devices, if the end of the bundle segments is connected to a device. If you do not check this option, all the bundle segments will be selected, even if they are connected to a device.
   
 

About Flattening Harnesses Containing Closed Loops

Harnesses containing closed loops are detected and can be flattened. A message appears informing the user that a closed loop has been detected and asking the user whether or not he wants to proceed.

Closed loops are managed at branch level and not at bundle segment level. When flattening harnesses containing closed loops, the system breaks the:

  • Mechanical link at a system-defined point and creates a green line between the two ends of the previously-joined branches. The green line is created between two points: the point that existed before the loop was opened and a new point created at one of the branch ends. The green line informs the user where the system had to open the loop.
  • Electrical link.

You must then close the loop manually by rotating, rolling, etc. the branch.

Notes:

  • To break a loop at a user-defined point, straighten one of the branches, taking care to correctly select fixed and free ends of the branch.
  • Where protective covering is placed over more than one branch in a loop, breaking the loop at a user-defined point by straightening a branch over which there is no protective covering is recommended.