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Using Solidworks Electrical for Racecar Wiring Layout and Optimization

Question asked by Chris Halliday on Mar 8, 2013
Latest reply on Mar 9, 2013 by Joe Wilcoxson

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Hi there,

I am thinking of modeling my race car in solid works. I would then also like the ability to use solidworks electrical to:

1. Layout the electrical components in my car model

2. Find the shortest route to wire each wire to minimize weight

3. Provide a finished scematic drawing on how the car is wired

Basically, i realize solidworks elec. will be able to provide me a scematic like I asked. Im just not sure after modelling my race car, if i can incorporate SW Elec into that model so i can see if a wire needs to go over,through frame components etc...If i can layout the wiring in my race car model, after ive made the model and done the wiring in the model, can i still pull a scematic drawing?

Hopefully that explains what im after. Thanks all!

Chris,

Daen Hendrickson Mar 8, 2013 10:44 AM

Correct Answer

Chris,

I think Tony's "modules" are referring to the Schematic software and the Routing Bridge software. The bridge is what I referred to above as the CAD component. It is what creates the handshake between E3 and SW Routing.

The general workflow would be:

You would need to create a library of 2D schematic library components representing all your components. The software comes with basic library you will likely be able to use. The library items would be your lights, connectors, terminals, switches, relays, fuses, and wire.

You would create your 2D schematic placing your components and then drawing your connections. Your connection lines can then have a wire type assigned to them.

Once you have your schematic completed, you would bring this into your SW environment to model the physical routing. I am not sure on the details of this because we do NOT have SW electrical.

We used this for a big project with SW2008 and manually exported/imported between E3 and SW. The libraries in SW and E3 had to match EXACTLY (names, spelling, capitalization, etc) to get it to work. I know Routing has had numerous improvements since then to make this more usable. And the SW Electrical functionality may provide tools to ease this part of it.

The routing assembly would be created as a subassembly in your race car model. SW Electrical should take care of bringing in the components specified in the 2D schematic, but you would need to perform the actual placement. Once the components are mated and the routing designed, the lengths of the individual conductors or wire groups are fed back to the 2D schematic.

The 2D can then create a nail-board drawing for producing the actual harness.

If you have not priced the SW electrical suite yet, be prepared for $3K per module. Might be more. Or there might be some promotional deals.

Daen

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Ian Worrall Mar 8, 2013 7:38 AM

In Electrical, you start with the schematic.

Then, you can use the schematic to route the wires along a 3D sketch you add to your SW model.

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Chris Halliday @ Ian Worrall on Mar 8, 2013 8:52 AM

ahh yes. I can make a schematic first no problem.

I take from the last part of your reply that after making my schematic and race car model. I can then route the wiring throughout my race car model...

Chris,

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Tony Cantrell @ Chris Halliday on Mar 8, 2013 9:49 AM

You need the modules modeled that the wiring will connect to with the C1 points.

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Daen Hendrickson Mar 8, 2013 10:13 AM

Chris,

SW Electrical has two components - the schematic and the 3D. You can purchase separately.

The Schematic is a re-bundled product from Zuken / E3. We have been using this for years.

The 3D uses SW Routing and creates a bi-directional link between the schematic and the CAD. Schematic provides the From/To and other component data. Routing feeds lengths back into the schematic.

Daen

http://www.zuken.com/en/products/electrical-wire-harness-design/e3-series/e3-2012

http://www.caetek.com/

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Chris Halliday @ Daen Hendrickson on Mar 8, 2013 10:23 AM

ahh perfect, sounds like it will do as id like it to! Am i correct that i heard SW Electrical can provide wire lengths?

Tony -> the modules you talk of, for me would be the modeling of switches and lights and so forth that id need to make and add to my race car model before i begin routing wires?

Thanks all!!

Chris,

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Daen Hendrickson @ Chris Halliday on Mar 8, 2013 10:44 AM

Chris,

The general workflow would be:

You would create your 2D schematic placing your components and then drawing your connections. Your connection lines can then have a wire type assigned to them.

Once you have your schematic completed, you would bring this into your SW environment to model the physical routing. I am not sure on the details of this because we do NOT have SW electrical.

The 2D can then create a nail-board drawing for producing the actual harness.

If you have not priced the SW electrical suite yet, be prepared for $3K per module. Might be more. Or there might be some promotional deals.

Daen

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Tony Cantrell @ Daen Hendrickson on Mar 8, 2013 11:59 AM

Thanks for explaining, nice job.

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Chris Halliday @ Tony Cantrell on Mar 8, 2013 9:42 PM

Do i need normal solidworks 2013 to use solidworks electrical schematic and electrical 3D?

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Suraj Sethi @ Chris Halliday on Mar 9, 2013 1:37 AM

You need Solidworks 2013 only for Electrical 3D. Solidworks Electrical runs on its own as a separate progam.

Suraj

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Chris Halliday @ Suraj Sethi on Mar 9, 2013 1:42 AM

Thanks

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Joe Wilcoxson @ Daen Hendrickson on Mar 9, 2013 11:29 AM

SWE isn't rebundled E3/ Zuken, it's rebundled Trace Elecworks.

I would stay away from the 3D aspect of Solidworks Electrical for now, it just doesn't work very well in my experience and isn't worth the investment. The development team is great, and they have made huge improvements since I started with Elecworks 2011, but again, I wouldn't buy it strictly for 3D.

For electrical schematics, the software does really well once you get past the steep learning curve. It has some minor issues and bugs that still need worked on, but it's worth the time and money investment on that front.

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11 Replies

Ian Worrall Mar 8, 2013 7:38 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
In Electrical, you start with the schematic.
Then, you can use the schematic to route the wires along a 3D sketch you add to your SW model.
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- Chris Halliday @ Ian Worrall on Mar 8, 2013 8:52 AM
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  Correct Answer
  ahh yes. I can make a schematic first no problem.
  
  I take from the last part of your reply that after making my schematic and race car model. I can then route the wiring throughout my race car model...
  
  Chris,
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  - Tony Cantrell @ Chris Halliday on Mar 8, 2013 9:49 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    You need the modules modeled that the wiring will connect to with the C1 points.
    Like • Show 1 Like1
    Actions
Daen Hendrickson Mar 8, 2013 10:13 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Chris,

SW Electrical has two components - the schematic and the 3D. You can purchase separately.

The Schematic is a re-bundled product from Zuken / E3. We have been using this for years.

The 3D uses SW Routing and creates a bi-directional link between the schematic and the CAD. Schematic provides the From/To and other component data. Routing feeds lengths back into the schematic.

Daen

http://www.zuken.com/en/products/electrical-wire-harness-design/e3-series/e3-2012
http://www.caetek.com/
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- Chris Halliday @ Daen Hendrickson on Mar 8, 2013 10:23 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  ahh perfect, sounds like it will do as id like it to! Am i correct that i heard SW Electrical can provide wire lengths?
  
  Tony -> the modules you talk of, for me would be the modeling of switches and lights and so forth that id need to make and add to my race car model before i begin routing wires?
  
  Thanks all!!
  
  Chris,
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  - Daen Hendrickson @ Chris Halliday on Mar 8, 2013 10:44 AM
    Unmark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Chris,
    
    I think Tony's "modules" are referring to the Schematic software and the Routing Bridge software. The bridge is what I referred to above as the CAD component. It is what creates the handshake between E3 and SW Routing.
    
    The general workflow would be:
    
    You would need to create a library of 2D schematic library components representing all your components. The software comes with basic library you will likely be able to use. The library items would be your lights, connectors, terminals, switches, relays, fuses, and wire.
    
    You would create your 2D schematic placing your components and then drawing your connections. Your connection lines can then have a wire type assigned to them.
    
    Once you have your schematic completed, you would bring this into your SW environment to model the physical routing. I am not sure on the details of this because we do NOT have SW electrical.
    
    We used this for a big project with SW2008 and manually exported/imported between E3 and SW. The libraries in SW and E3 had to match EXACTLY (names, spelling, capitalization, etc) to get it to work. I know Routing has had numerous improvements since then to make this more usable. And the SW Electrical functionality may provide tools to ease this part of it.
    
    The routing assembly would be created as a subassembly in your race car model. SW Electrical should take care of bringing in the components specified in the 2D schematic, but you would need to perform the actual placement. Once the components are mated and the routing designed, the lengths of the individual conductors or wire groups are fed back to the 2D schematic.
    
    The 2D can then create a nail-board drawing for producing the actual harness.
    
    If you have not priced the SW electrical suite yet, be prepared for $3K per module. Might be more. Or there might be some promotional deals.
    
    Daen
    Like • Show 1 Like1
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    - Tony Cantrell @ Daen Hendrickson on Mar 8, 2013 11:59 AM
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      Thanks for explaining, nice job.
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      - Chris Halliday @ Tony Cantrell on Mar 8, 2013 9:42 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Do i need normal solidworks 2013 to use solidworks electrical schematic and electrical 3D?
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
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        Suraj Sethi @ Chris Halliday on Mar 9, 2013 1:37 AM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        You need Solidworks 2013 only for Electrical 3D. Solidworks Electrical runs on its own as a separate progam.
        
        Suraj
        Like • Show 1 Like1
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        Chris Halliday @ Suraj Sethi on Mar 9, 2013 1:42 AM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Thanks
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- Joe Wilcoxson @ Daen Hendrickson on Mar 9, 2013 11:29 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  SWE isn't rebundled E3/ Zuken, it's rebundled Trace Elecworks.
  
  I would stay away from the 3D aspect of Solidworks Electrical for now, it just doesn't work very well in my experience and isn't worth the investment. The development team is great, and they have made huge improvements since I started with Elecworks 2011, but again, I wouldn't buy it strictly for 3D.
  
  For electrical schematics, the software does really well once you get past the steep learning curve. It has some minor issues and bugs that still need worked on, but it's worth the time and money investment on that front.
  Like • Show 1 Like1
  Actions

Using Solidworks Electrical for Racecar Wiring Layout and Optimization

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