Understanding bundle diameter calculation

The Electrical Connection Navigator displays the connection list based on organized wire hierarchy. Wire hierarchy is based on organization by harnesses, cables, or shields. Within a harness, cables or shields can be nested within each other to any extent desired.

The Electrical Bundling Algorithm groups wires together by their owning cables (or shields). Cables and shields are bundled together before they can be considered for bundling with any other wire content on a path. If the Connection List defines a hierarchy of cables and shields, cables are recursively bundled from the lowest level up to the top level of the cable hierarchy. Wires, cables, and shields in different harnesses do not bundle together.

When Filler Stock is defined, filler stock diameter gets added to the bundle only at the very last step. Filler stock diameter does not get added when bundling individual cables and shields.

Method

1. Compute the base bundle diameter from the wires/cables/shields present on the segment.
2. Check whether any stock assigned to the segment is a filler stock. If so, query the filler stock to obtain its diameter (filler_stock_od). If more than one filler stock is present, use the diameter of the largest filler stock as the outer diameter.
3. If filler stock is present: create a circular bundle of diameter (filler_stock_od + bundle_diameter) — the wire bundle wraps over the filler stock just like an overstock would.
4. If filler stock is not present: create a circular bundle using bundle_diameter only.

Notes

The default bundle diameter computation can be overridden via the Routing_Example_Bundle_Plugin. Refer to documentation provided in the default XML Electrical Application View file (ugroute_elec_metric.xml) for more information.

The installation kit provides example code for a custom Routing_Example_Bundle_Plugin. The example source can be found in %UGII_BASE_DIR%\ugopen\SampleNXOpenApplications\C++\Routing. To use a custom bundle plugin, register the method with the Custom Manager, e.g.:

Routing.CustomManager customManager = Session.GetSession().RouteCustomManager;
customManager.SetBundlePlugin(BundlePlugin);

Then build the DLL and put it somewhere (UGII_USER_DIR) where NX can find it at startup.

Filler stock OD is only taken into consideration when bundling the topmost level of the wire hierarchy — that is, filler stock OD is considered at the very end of the bundling procedure to ensure the filler stock does not get duplicated in each individual cable (or shield) bundle.

Related topics

• Routing Electrical best practices introduction
• Color bleed-through in shaded harness displays
• Multi-conductor cable configuration
• Calculating bundle weights
• Cable diameter value used in bundle diameter calculation
• Path creation for backshell attachment
• Defining splices
• Implementing stowed wire