Mechatronic Integration for Wiring Harness Development and Manufacturing

After acquiring the Harness Integration Manager (HIM) from the Engineering Center Steyr (Magna group), Aucotec AG goes yet one step further for more consistency in the harness design process of the automotive, aerospace, and the transportation industry. In cooperation with Intec Industrie-Technik GmbH & Co. KG, Aucotec developed a link of its harness design system Engineering Base (EB) Cable with Catia V5. It significantly facilitates the interaction of mechanics and electrics as it allows both sides to start the design process in parallel and enables them to synchronize their information at any time.Wiring harness development process

Aucotec and Intec have now developed a sample project that illustrates the time-saving and error-saving capabilities of the new link. The core element of the solution is the shortening of the design process for wiring harnesses as those involved in electronics/electrical systems and mechanical systems can start their work independently of each other. After one of any possible data synchronizations, all changes are displayed and the responsible employee in that case decides which changes are adopted. These decisions are also recorded in a traceable manner.

The Catia plug-in HIM that enables this close interaction was developed by the Austrian Engineering Center Steyr, which is part of the Magna group. At the start of this year, Aucotec AG exclusively assumed all related rights and obligations. Intec takes care of the national and international support for future users of this link.

By means of the HIM, Catia V5 receives the electrological definitions – thus the specification of electrical components – from EB Cable. HIM transfers the wiring harness data that is processed in 3D (topology, length, protective material) back to EB Cable. The routing of the individual wires takes place there and the 2D wiring harness conductors and follow-up documentation are generated automatically, for example, form board drawings, calculations of working hours, etc.

This cooperative solution permits exceptionally consistent wiring harness engineering for any type of harness design: without data discontinuities due to system transitions, without duplicate data entries or manual additions. This eliminates sources of error and the quality increases with significant savings of time.

Source: Aucotec AG

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