Placing Wires

A wire provides electrical connectivity between pins. Typically it has a core of drawn or rolled metal whose length exceeds its diameter.

Wires can be pulled through bundles (including those with surface protections), leading parts, and empty cables. On the other hand, no objects can be pulled through wires.

Two types of interpolation are available for wires: Spline and Rounded corners. These can be set in the command bar during wire placement, or in the properties bar for already placed wires. With interpolation set to spline, the wire will pass through control points. If the interpolation is set to rounded corners, a bending radius can be set. The wire then follows a straight-line path between two control points, and bends with the given radius around any middle control points.

Pins which a wire is connected to are displayed in the Connected pins property of the General section of the properties panel.

Wires have ends, which have the Cross-section, Outside diameter and Stripping length properties. The Stripping length property determines the length at each end without (additional) insulation. The value can be edited when the User-defined stripping length check box is activated.

Place wire in workspace

Select the Insert > Place wire or the Rapid prototyping > Place wire menu items or the / button in the toolbar (if you are placing a rapid prototyping wire, go to Step 3).

The Part navigator dialog is opened.
Select the desired wire and click [OK].

The Part navigator dialog is closed.
Select a pin, a grouped pin, or an auxiliary pin as the starting point for the wire.

By selecting a pin in the tree view it is possible to connect a wire directly to a virtual pin included in a grouped pin. This also applies to the pin on the wire's end.
Place any additional points to guide the wire by entering their coordinates in the command bar or clicking in the working window.

The Interpolation can be set in the command bar.
If you accidentally place an unwanted control point, press the [Backspace] key to remove it.

The command remains active.
Select a second pin, grouped pin, or auxiliary pin as the end point for the wire.

The wire is placed.
Repeat the command by using the space bar, if desired.

Place wire in workdesk

Select the Insert > Place wire or the Rapid prototyping > Place wire menu items or the / button in the toolbar (if you are placing a rapid prototyping wire, go to Step 3).

The Part navigator dialog is opened.
Select the desired wire and click [OK].

The Part navigator dialog is closed.
Select a pin, a grouped pin, or an auxiliary pin as the starting point for the wire.

Note:

By selecting a pin in the tree view it is possible to connect a wire directly to a virtual pin included in a grouped pin. This also applies to the pin on the wire's end.

Place any additional points to guide the wire by entering their coordinates in the command bar or clicking in the working window.

The control points are automatically snapped to the global grid in the workdesk working window.

The Interpolation can be set in the command bar.

You can switch between the Cartesian and the polar coordinate system in the System section of the command bar.

You can also switch between absolute and relative coordinates in the Measurement section of the command bar.
If you accidentally place an unwanted control point, press the [Backspace] key to remove it.

The command remains active.
Select a second pin, grouped pin, or auxiliary pin as the end point for the wire.

The wire is placed.

The so-called "active dimensions" are inserted within the wire. You can edit their values, and the wire changes accordingly.
Repeat the command by using the space bar, if desired.