Placing Connection Points Using the Advanced Method

You can position connection points using the advanced method.

The advanced method is an alternative method that lets you place connection points using multiple constraints. When making connections, devices or components are connected by mechanical constraints via geometrical elements.

Important: You cannot place segment position point using this method.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Open any document containing a device in which you want to place a connection point or cavity.

Place All Connection Points (Except Segment Connection Points)

You can place a connection point using multiple constraints.

In this scenario, a cavity is added to a device. The scenario is identical for cavity connection point, backshell connection points, connector connection points, and shell connection points.

  1. From the Device section of the action bar, click Cavity .
  2. In the tree or in the work area, select a device.
    The Cavity Definition dialog box appears.
  3. Select the Advanced tab to set the placement constraints.
  4. In the work area, select a geometrical element (i.e. pocket, pad, face, etc.) to represent the connection point.
    This element lets you visualize the connection point in the work area and facilitates its identification while you work.

    The selected geometrical element appears in the Representation box.
  5. In the Constraining Geometry area, define one or more constraints depending on the degree of desired freedom.

    Valid geometries used to define the three degrees of freedom offered are:

    Constraining geometry Valid geometry
    Contact (mandatory)Surface or point
    Coincidence(optional) Surface, line or axis
    Orientation (optional) Surface, line or axis
    Note: Orientation is used to constrain the rotation i.e. the third degree of freedom.

    The type of constraint obtained depends on the selected geometrical elements for mating connection points.

    For example, you obtain a contact constraint only if, for mating connection points, the degree of freedom is defined by two surfaces for both connection points. If a point is selected, the constraint is a coincidence constraint.

    SurfacePointLine
    SurfaceContact CoincidenceCoincidence
    PointCoincidenceCoincidence Coincidence
    Line Coincidence Coincidence Coincidence
  6. Click More... to edit the dimensions of the cavity and visualize your changes directly in the profile preview in the work area.


  7. Click OK to validate.

The cavity is added to the selected device and appears under the Electrical node in the tree.

Place Segment Connection Points

You can place a segment connection point using multiple constraints.

  1. From the Device section of the action bar, click Segment Connection Points .
  2. In the tree or in the work area, select an device.
    The Segment Point Definition dialog box appears.
  3. Select the Advanced tab.


  4. In the work area, select a geometrical element (i.e. pocket, pad, face, etc.) to represent the connection point.
    This element lets you visualize the connection point in the geometry area and facilitates its identification while you work.
  5. In the Constraining Geometry area, define the constraints:
    1. Select a point to set a point constraint.

      Note: The selected point can be used to identify the end of a segment.

    2. Select a plane or an axis to set a tangency constraint.

      Note: The selected plane or axis can be used to orientate the segment.

  6. Click More... to set the width, thickness, or diameter values.


    Note: In the work area, you can preview the profile and dimensions to identify errors more rapidly.
  7. Click OK to validate.

The segment connection point is added to the selected device and appears under the Electrical node in the tree.