Closing Loops

When flattening a harness containing a closed loop, the loop is automatically opened at the free end of the selected segment and a green line created to serve as a reminder that a link exists between the two ends of the previously-joined branches. To prepare manufacturing, you must close the loop in the flattened view, using the Close Loop command in the Prepare Layout. Thus, the designer will have closed loops in his final layout.

You can close the loop manually with the rotate, roll, etc. commands but the close loop command allows you to do it in just one click and the action is more accurate.

Note: The Close Loop capability closes the loop geometrically by bringing one end of the loop onto the other end of the loop for a better layout preview. It does not close the loop electrically and no new content is created.
Tip: For information, you can check opened / closed loops in the extracted content before flattening with the Network Assistant.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Flatten the harness.
See Also
About the Flattening Results

Close Loop with a Maximum Number of two Branches

When two branches form a loop, you can select the bigger branch to close the loop. As a result, the selected branch is rolled to close the loop and its length is not modified by the action.

More precisely, if the loop involves two branches only and if you select the longer branch involved in the loop, it can be closed with the Local Mode and Close Loop commands and, the selected branch is rolled to close the loop.

  1. From the Formboard section of the action bar, click Prepare Layout .
  2. On the context toolbar, click Local Mode and then Close Loop .


  3. Select the bigger segment of the branch.

    • You can select a portion of the branch which moves to close a loop.
    • You can select the device at the end of the branch if the loop line is created with the device at one end.

    A preview of the loop closure is generated:

    The system automatically rolls this side of the branch to close the loop. This is the loop line nearest to the selection that is chose for closure.

    You can select the device to close the loop if the loop has the device at its end. The selected side of the network is moved to close the loop

    Note: The conditions for loop closing are described below:
    • If the distance between the ends of the first and second loop is less than the selected branch's length, the loop closure is possible. If not a message appears stating that the selected branch is not long enough to close the loop and it is recommended to selected a longer branch or to click Global Mode and Close Loop .
    • If the branches forming the closed loop are straight with approximately same length, the loop does not close.
    • By default, the bend radius for rolling will be two times bigger than the branch's bend radius or as specified in the business rule.
    • If the whole branch is not involved in the loop, only the portion of the branch which is straight, is rolled.
    • If the branches forming the closed loop are straight with approximately same length (the branch's configuration leads to a very small or very large roll angle) a message asks you to rotate the branch to reduce the distance between the open ended branches.
    • If length tolerances are applied on the portion of the branch to be rolled, a message is displayed.
    • If a branch is common to more than one loop, select first the branch portion having a loop line that can be considered uniquely, without impacting the other loops.
  4. Click the 3D area background to validate or press Esc to cancel the modification and exit the command.


Close Loop in a Network

When more than two branches form a loop, you can select a branch involved in the loop to close the loop.

In the context of a network, loop closure is available into two modes:

  • If the selected branch is long enough, it can be closed using Local Mode and Close Loop and the selected terminal branch is rolled to close the loop.
  • If the selected branch is not long enough, it can only be closed using Global Mode and Close Loop and at least two branches at the loop's end (or the whole network involved in the loop) are rotated to close the loop. This case is explained in the steps below.

  1. From the Formboard section of the action bar, click Prepare Layout .
  2. On the context toolbar, click Global Mode and then Close Loop .


  3. Select the branch.

    You can select a portion of the branch which moves to close a loop.

    In the preview, the protection along the selected branch is in No Show. And the support, if any, moves to keep the same curvilinear position on the branch.

    A preview of the loop closure is generated:

    The system automatically rotate and the two branches close to the loop.

    If the branch is not fully involved in the loop, rotation occurs at the branch point to close the loop.

  4. Click the 3D area background to validate or press Esc to cancel the modification and exit the command.


  5. Click Prepare Layout to exit the command.