Connectors

Modular Connector

Component Description

This tutorial illustrates the definition / description of modular connectors. A modular connector is a connector that can be recursively assembled, so that certain fields can fitted with different other parts.

In the displayed example the PartVersion “4711” is a modular connector. The ConnectorHousingSpecification defines a regular Slot “A” with a number of cavities and a ModularSlot “B”. This ModularSlot is compatible to two different inserts (defined by individual ConnectorHousingSpecifications). The two PartVersion “4712” & “4713” define these allow inserts.

The referencing for the allowedInserts is established to a PartVersion and not to ConnectorHousingSpecification to support the distribution of part master data in individual files.

Instancing

The diagram shows the instantiation of modular connector (previous example). On the left hand side of the diagram the component description of the modular connector is shown (similar to the previous example). On the right hand side the instancing of such a modular connector is shown.

Both parts of the modular connector (the housing and the insert) have their own PartOccurrence. The ModularSlotReference defines which inserts are actually used in the specific context and references their ConnectorHousingRoles to name the concrete housing instance directly.

Note: As a wiring harness is often described in a 150% scope, it is possible that a ModularSlotReference references more than one ConnectorHousingRole as usedInserts. In these cases the variant management mechanisms have to ensure, that in a concrete case only one insert is used. This can be either done explicitly with PartStructureSpecifications or implicitly with a VariantConfiguration.

Segment Connection Points

The picture above shows an example of connector with multiple segment connection points (sometimes also called bundle postion / connection points). The segment connection points are marked with red circles. Such connectors have multiple entry points for wires, that can be used alternatively or at the simultaniously. The geometric position of the segment connection points is different, that they have to be treated individually, so each segment connection point is accessed via an individual SegmentConnectionPoint

The example shows a connector that has two cavity, that are only reachable through different segment connection points. By associating these SegmentConnectionPoints with corresponding PlacementPoints the SegmentConnectionPoint become ‘placeable’ on nodes in the topology of a harness.

Wire Addons

Cavities

This example shows how add-ons for cavities in a connector could be defined. In this example, the ConnectorHousingSpecification has two different SegmentConnectionPoints. Each of them is defining it’s own CavityAddOn. So depending on the SegmentConnectionPoint used, a Cavity can have for example 50mm as well as 150mm as Add-On.

Modular Slots

If a ConnectorHousingSpecification has ModularSlots, the Add-ons are not defined individually for all cavities for all possible inserts, but **only per ModularSlot. The Add-On defined in the ModularSlotAddOn, is the Add-On need to reach the ModularSlot from the corresponding SegmentConnectionPoint. The add-on needed to reach a certain cavity in an used insert, can be obtain from ConnectorHousingSpecification of the used insert.

ConnectorHousingCap

Wire add-ons caused by cap’s are defined in the ConnectorHousingCapSpecification. The specified value is the add-on required to reach the SegmentConnectionPoint of the ConnectorHousing from the entry point of the cap.