Handles and Mounting Points

A main handle is an auxiliary object. It is either imported with a 3D macro or can be added to a library part to define an alternative coordinate center of origin. If a main handle is imported with a 3D macro, it is always placed at the point of origin. When this part is being placed in EPLAN Harness proD Studio workspace, the mouse cursor will be fixed onto this point, instead of the origin of the part's reference plane. A part can only have 1 main handle.

To insert a main handle select Features > Main handle.

A list of predefined names of mounting points can be defined for each main handle. The list is not case-sensitive. When placing such a part, pressing the G key switches between predefined mounting points onto which the main handle is placed. Mounting points not defined in the list are ignored. If no list exists, switching is carried out between all existing mounting points.

Proceed as follows to create list of predefined mounting points in the main handle:

  1. In the EPLAN Harness proD Library 3D Window select a main handle.
  2. In the Properties panel click the button.

    The dialog Add new filter item appears.
  3. Enter the desired mounting point name.
  4. Click [OK].

    The name of the mounting point is added to the list. The list is displayed in the Properties window.
  5. Click the button to delete an item from the list.

A handle is an auxiliary object. It is either imported with a 3D macro or can be added to a library part to help align it with other parts that contain handles in EPLAN Harness proD Studio.

To insert a handle select Features > Handle.

A mounting point is an auxiliary object. It is either imported with a 3D macro or can be added to a library part to define a point on which other parts can be placed. The mounting point of a part that is already placed can be used as a snap point onto which the part can be placed by its main handle.

To insert a mounting point select Features > Mounting point.

Note:

The default name prefix, color and size of handles can be set in the 3D Environment Settings in Settings > 3D environment > Handles.

Handles and mounting points are supported for Connectors, Connectable objects, Terminals and Parts (meaning end clamps, end covers, busbars, etc.).

Handles and mounting points together with coordinate systems can be used to align parts when placing them in Workspace / Workdesk.

Placing a part onto a mounting point in EPLAN Harness proD Studio

  1. Make sure you have inserted a base part into Workspace / Workdesk with predefined mounting points.
  2. Go to Insert and select a part to mount onto the base part.
  3. In Placement options make sure the Toggle placing on mounting points is On. For convenience it is recommended that all other placement options be turned off.
  4. With your cursor hovering over the base part, the inserted part should snap into the first mounting point on the base part. Use the keyboard arrow keys to switch between different mounting points. Once the desired mounting point has been selected, complete placing the part by either left-clicking your mouse or using the Enter key.

In case there already are other parts placed on one or more of the base part's mounting points, you can toggle the Single slot placement is off / on / option to ignore mounting points that are already occupied.

Working with handles in EPLAN Harness proD Library

In a typical workflow, handles would be pre-defined and imported as part of 3D macros from an EPLAN Platform parts database ready to be used in the EPLAN Harness proD Studio. However, handles can be created, removed or edited in EPLAN Harness proD Library as well. For a more in-depth understanding of how to work with handles in the EPLAN Harness proD Library see the example below:

A well designed part should have the following handles:

  • 1 main handle with the name G1.
  • 9 handles with names V1, V2, V3, V4, M1, M2, M3, M4 and C.
  • An optional 10th handle with the name W. This handle is colloquially referred to as the width handle.

The width handle is automatically generated in EPLAN Harness proD if the Width value in the EPLAN Platform Parts management > Mounting data is smaller than the distance between handles M2 and M4. This handle is used when a terminal strip is generated from an EPLAN Platform Project import. Instead of placing terminals next to each other at a width of M2→ M4, they will be placed at the reduced width of M2→ W.

Warning:

Deviating from this handle naming convention is not recommended; especially for the main handle G1 and the width handle W.

See also

Placing parts