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Engineers need to choose not just the right type, length and part number of the cable/s to use between the machines and the control cabinet, but also place the cables correctly. For example, they must ensure power and data cables are kept apart to avoid interference. Special attention must be paid to the minimum bend radius of fibre-optic cables to prevent signal attenuation. And they must be easily accessible by future operatives should they need to replace a cable (if it fails or if the cabinet needs to be reconfigured).
Machine builders tend to use standard products which means that engineers must select the lengths they need to order from lists of off-the-shelf cables. Purchasing the wrong length of cable is, unfortunately, very common and remains a major cost driver in machine building, while extending lead times and increasing waste.
It’s therefore not surprising that cable management planning is a job usually undertaken only by skilled and experienced electrical engineers – which makes it an expensive and resource-intensive process.
However, help is at hand. Eplan ECAD software now supports machine cabling design, making it a faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective process.
Eplan’s Cable proD allows the user to view 3D machine components, the cabling and the associated control cabinets. Eplan’s 3D digital twin allows engineers a 360-degree visualisation of each individual cable’s routing to optimise its pathway and allow for easy assembly.
Cable proD is integrated into Eplan’s vast cloud-based Data Portal, containing around two million component parts from the product catalogues of more than 340 global manufacturers (product catalogues for mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and fluidic components). Macros are already loaded up into the platform which means that engineers do not have to spend time constructing their own macros. They don’t have to build the parts database themselves, and the correct cables will be contained within the parts list, which can be exported for ordering.
As a further time-saving, the ECAD/MCAD integration allows engineers to simplify certain tasks such as part placement, routing and assembly. This enhanced functionality helps improve productivity and reduce labour costs.
The Cable proD Task Manager can check for issues, such as collisions of Cables with the machine parts, also checking Bend Radius, Cable Fixed lengths and other tasks.
Once completed, the 3D cabling designs can be transferred to the MCAD system to provide a clear view, not just of the cabling connections and control cabinets, but also of the machines. It also allows both mechanical and electrical engineers to collaborate over any placement issues before it is passed to the shopfloor. The final 3D model can then be exported via HTML to assembly technicians and used as a virtual prototype during manufacture, providing them with a clear image of which cables need to be placed where, making installation a trouble-free and efficient process.
Design Advantages of Digital Twin for Cabling
- Easy planning and visualisation of cable routing
- Cable lengths confirmed during the planning process
- Timely order placement for prefabricated cables
- Clear specifications and 3D visuals for assembly
Assembly Advantages of Digital Twin for Cabling
- 3D model available as a digital prototype for standardised cabling
- Prefabricated cables can easily be connected
- Trouble-free assembly
- Lowers material consumption and waste to reduce production costs
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