3.3 Components Receptacles
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In the product-development world, there is a trend toward modular systems in which the functional range of one base product can be varied or expanded by combining it with additional components. This typically involves manufacturer-specific system components.
Component receptacle blocks are used to describe locations on the product where additional products (accessories such as touch-guards, labels, auxiliary switches or triggers) can be attached in order to expand its function. The article to be added is overlaid on the base object with its fixing supply point coinciding with the position of the component receptacle, ensuring too that the appropriate fixing variant is being used. The value of the “name of fixing variant” property of the fixing variant and the value of the “components receptacle variant designation” property should be identical in order to allow the appropriate combination of receptacle and mating part to be determined.
Simple relationships between objects can be described using the component receptacle block. However, this block is not suitable for the additional description of comprehensive configuration options. For this task, it is better to use the applicable manufacturer-specific configurator tools, the results of which can then be applied.
| Level | Type | Structure element name | Application, explanation | Function for CAx and process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | C | Number of component receptacles | Indication of the number of existing positions for the attachment of supplementary components | Calls the block that describes component receptacles; number of calls determined by number given here |
1/2 | B | Component receptacle | Component receptacle block | Description of possible article-specific auxiliary equipment |
3 | M | Component receptacle designation | Manufacturer-specific naming for the identification of component or system interface. Base device and accessory must have the same designation | Comparison of names when selecting components during the project-planning process |
3 | M | Component receptacle description | Text-based indication of the application and usage of the component receptacle | Used in the assignment and arrangement of components |
3 | C | Number of component receptacle variants | Indication of the number of possible usage variants for component receptacle | Calls the block that describes component receptacle variants; number of calls determined by number given here |
3/4 | B | Component receptacle variant | Block for description of component receptacle variants | |
5 | M | Component receptacle variant designation | Manufacturer-specific naming for the identification of component or system interfaces. Base device and accessory must have the same designation for the component receptacle variant. | Comparison of names when selecting component receptacle variants during the project-planning process |
5 | M | Component receptacle variant description | Text-based indication of the application, usage of the component receptacle variant | Used to position and arrange components |
5 | M | Position (in mm) | Indication of the point and direction (unit vector) for the precise assembly of components | Indication of coordinates and arrangement of attachment point |
5 | M | Arrangement (in mm) | Indication of the point and degree of axial rotation of the destination-anchor | Information regarding the placement and arrangement of the attachment position, according to the information associated with the mating part |
5 | M | Type of component mounting | Selection of the type of mounting from a list | Used to position and arrange components |
6 | W | Build at the top | ||
6 | W | Build on down | ||
6 | W | Build on the device | ||
6 | W | Build under the device | ||
6 | W | Installation | ||
6 | W | Side build on the left | ||
6 | W | Side build on the right | ||
5 | C | Number of component exclusions | Used if certain components with the same component receptacle designation cannot be attached here | Calls the block that describes component exclusions |
5/6 | B | Component exclusion | If the component receptacle is being used, the component receptacles listed here are not usable (e.g., they may be mechanically blocked) | |
7 | M | Exclusion component variation name | The value provided is the “component receptacle variant designation” of the corresponding excluded component receptacle | |
5 | C | Number of mounting points | Fixing variants are only necessary where the objects are to be attached to one another in a punctiform manner, for example with screws. | Calls the block that describes mounting points; number of calls determined by number given here |
5 | C | Number of parts relations | Used only if attachment requires parts beyond those already defined at the article level in the part relation section | Calls block that describes parts relations; number of calls determined by number given here |
Power contactor example: Attachment of auxiliary components
Figure 28: CAx-basis example for component receptacle
Figure 29: CAx example: component receptacle
As illustration of the relationship between a component receptacle and the components that can be attached there, the following options are available:
The articles that can be used in this position are listed in the part relation block, which is itself part of the component receptacle block. This is shown in the following graphic:
Figure 30: Component receptacle with part relation
Within the component receptacle block, the component receptacle designation section can be used to identify the items that can be used at this position. This is shown in the following graphic:
Figure 31: Component receptacle with identification using the component receptacle designation
The suitable mating part must then contain the same entry in its fixing variants property.
Figure 32: Shows the fixing variants property, with the identification in the name of fixing variant property
In addition, the proper article can be listed in the component receptacle block in the part relation section. However, this depends on the particular use case. If a large number of products are compatible with a given component receptacle – thus, in the case of system solutions with a high number of variants – users should use the manufacturer-specific configuration tool to generate the correct solution. The resulting complementary products can then be positioned on the main product accordingly.