TransBridge0 pages

TransBridge
Concurrent design interface for electrical system
design and EDS’ I-DEAS 3D modelling

TransBridge provides the optimum linking between the electrical design
world and I-DEAS 3D packaging. Electrical system design and analysis
can be done in TransDesign, prior to the definition of solid models and
then synchronized with the mechanical representation of the layout. In
this process a topological comparison is done to ensure that the design
in the electrical domain is indeed topologically equivalent to that in the
mechanical domain. In addition, items mastered in IDEAS (mechanical
support and harness dressings) are transferred into the TransDesign
toolset and added into the Unified Bill of Materials.

Target Market
These tools are the best choice for
companies that have adopted rigorous
mechanical design processes that rely
mainly on complete 3D digital packaging
using EDS I-DEAS. In addition, companies
whose products have complex electrical
distribution systems, like automotive,
aerospace, shipbuilding, and the defense
industry will significantly benefit from the
use of these tools. The primary area of
benefit is the reduction in cycle time due to
the concurrency in the design process
enabled by TransBridge.
Design Scenario
The electrical design is captured using a
combination of tools within the TransDesign
environment. TransCable is used for
schematic capture. TransLayout is used to
construct the electrical design of the entire
product. Early in the design process, before
detailed mechanical constraints are defined,
the electrical design is developed in
TransLayout. Wiring paths and component
placements are established. TransLayout
synthesizes wires, splices, and multiterminations. System interconnection
architecture, including aspects such as
system signal content, electrical equipment
(module) positioning, the number of
harnesses, interconnection of harnesses via
inline connectors, and the topology of
harnesses may be established based upon a
plan-view of the system.

www.mentor.com/harness

When product design is ready to package
wiring, a topological definition of the
harness is passed to I-DEAS. This process
uses a bi-directional ASCII format interface.
The connectors, bundles, bundle diameters,
and branching nodes are passed to I-DEAS
to synchronize the packaged wiring harness
design with the electrical design. After the
wiring paths are routed, each I-DEAS
bundle length is fed back to the TransDesign
tool suite. These bundle lengths are used by
TransDesign to update the lengths of all the
wires in the wiring harness. In addition, wire
harness parts, such as protective coverings,
retention clips, and brackets can be passed
through the interface to the UBOM.