ds-blue-logo
Preview  |  SOLIDWORKS USER FORUM
Use your SOLIDWORKS ID or 3DEXPERIENCE ID to log in.
MCMing Chen Lin02/01/2017

I came across many videos explaining how to route wires/cables/harnesses inside a electrical cabinet and have no trouble understanding them.

An example would be:

Integrating Schematics in 3D Panel Design with SOLIDWORKS Electrical - YouTube

Screen Shot 2017-01-02 at 2.57.22 PM.png

However, I don't understand how there is an electrical cabinet model in the assembly file. Using the above video as an example, the user generated components such as the terminals, PLC, cables, etc, in Solidworks Electrical so that they can be routed. But where does the electrical cabinet come from? Did they just import it into the assembly created by Solidworks Electrical? What is the correct workflow?

I am thinking that the following workflow might work:

1. Using Solidworks Electrical, define connections and components for your harnesses (i.e. bundle up your cables, connectors, terminals, etc)

2. Export the harnesses as .sldasm to Solidworks 3D.

3. At this point the Solidworks Electrical tab in the .sldasm file has connectors to be inserted but there is no electrical cabinet to mate with.

4. Import an external .sldasm file of electrical cabinet into the previously generated .sldasm by Solidworks Electrical.

5. Start inserting/mating connectors onto the electrical cabinet.

Does this workflow make sense? Is it the best way to do it? If so, important bonus question: If the external electrical cabinet model was modified, do I have to re-import the model? Would the updated model mess up the harnesses that were already routed?