The properties of rapid prototyping parts can be subdivided into several groups:
Shared properties
The shared properties are the same for all rapid prototyping parts; they include:
- Weight/item (value and unit)
- Cost/item (value and unit)
- Minimum order quantity
- Lead time
- Temperature.
If the Share general properties check box is activated in the workspace / workdesk settings, these properties are shared by the default rapid prototyping parts of the same type and the rapid prototyping parts of the same type (rapid prototyping splice, rapid prototyping connector, etc.).
Place e.g. a rapid prototyping splice several times. Edit any of the shared properties of any placed rapid prototyping splice in the properties panel. The change will apply to all placed rapid prototyping splices.
Changing the properties of rapid prototyping splices will change the properties of existing rapid prototyping splices; changing the properties of rapid prototyping cables will change the properties of existing rapid prototyping cables, etc. Newly placed rapid prototyping splices (rapid prototyping cables, etc.) do not have any properties defined.
Editable properties
Depending on the rapid prototyping part, there are editable properties in the properties panel:
- Rapid prototyping wires: Name, cross-section, outside diameter, color, min. bending radius, separation code, el. class, imprint, wire harness.
- Rapid prototyping cables: Name, outside diameter, min. bending radius, separation code, el. class, wire harness.
- Rapid prototyping ribbon cables: Name, separation code, el. class, wire harness.
- Rapid prototyping ribbon connectors: REFDES, selectable, in bill of materials, required wire terminal, cavity seal, and cavity plug, wire harness.
- Grouped pins of rapid prototyping ribbon connectors: Name, color, fixed extra length, cavity size, preferred coating, stripping length, in bill of materials, multiple wire terminal, pin requirements, wire harness.
- Rapid prototyping special components: REFDES, required wire terminal, cavity seal, and cavity plug, el. options, wire harness. The following special components also have these additional properties:
- Pins of rapid prototyping special components: Name, color, fixed extra length, cavity size, preferred coating, stripping length, in bill of materials, multiple wire terminal, pin requirements, wire harness.
It is possible to add non-active wires to rapid prototyping cables: Clicking the [Add non-active wire] button in the properties panel adds one latent (non-active) wire. Selecting the Add wire(s) command in the rapid prototyping cable popup menu displays a Number text box in the command bar for you to specify the number of non-active wires to be added. This way it is possible to add up to a hundred wires at once.
Non-active wires can be activated by selecting the Deactivate wire popup menu item.
Active and non-active wires can be removed by selecting the Delete menu item from the popup menu or by selecting the wire and pressing the [Del] key.
It is also possible to add wires to rapid prototyping ribbon cables: Clicking the [Add wire] button in the properties panel adds one wire. In case the rapid prototyping ribbon cable is branched, you are prompted to select an end pin for the wire in the command bar.
The use of the Add wire(s) command is the same for rapid prototyping ribbon cables and rapid prototyping cables.
It is also possible to add pins to rapid prototyping ribbon connector grouped pins and to rapid prototyping special components; the procedure is as described above for rapid prototyping ribbon cables and rapid prototyping cables.