SolidWorks Electrical Routing Research

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Thank you for using SolidWorks products and for participating in this survey. The object of these questions is for SolidWorks to:

1) understand the electrical design process in your organization
2) find out what aspects of Electrical Routing you are using and why
3) it will also help us to understand why you may not be using it
4) identify what needs to be improved.

You were selected to take part in this survey based on previous input to surveys or on issues submitted to technical support. I appreciate that you may already have supplied some of the information for your use of SolidWorks, please bear with us as we attempt to capture more specific information related to electrical design.

It would be extremely helpful if you answer the last question allowing us to contact you again to clarify particular issues and needs.

Thank you,
John Cochrane
Product Specialist

Eric Leafquist
Product Manager

Question Title

* Which of the following BEST describes the industry that your company/division is engaged in? (Note - we ask this on most surveys to ensure we have this information.)

Aerospace and Defence

Automotive and Transportation

Construction

Consumer Products

Energy, Plant and Process

High Tech

Industrial Equipment

Medical and Life Sciences

Mold, Tool and Die

Shipbuilding

Lab/Research

Education

Reseller (VAR)

Partner

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* What products do you design?

Question Title

* Why do you model electrical routes?

Please select all that apply

Space planning for systems layout - e.g electrical, hydraulics, pneumatics etc.

Complete visual representation for manufacturing

Complete Bill of Materials

Correct Mass Properties analysis

EMC or other electrical analysis

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* What types of wiring are in use in your designs?

Please select all that apply

Wiring harness

Freeform wiring

Cabling

Flexible conduit

Rigid conduit

Ribbon cables

Panels

Terminal blocks

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* Which of the following applies to the process you use to incorporate electrical modelling in your design?

Please select all that apply

Custom PCBs form part of the design

Purchased electrical modules are incorporated in the design

ECAD drives the design

MCAD drives the design

Data is passed between ECAD and MCAD

Electrical design takes place before Mechanical

Electrical design takes place in parallel with Mechanical

Electrical design takes place after mechanical

Please list any other important atributes of your electrical design process?

Question Title

* What are your documentation requirements?

Please select all that apply

Renderings of 3D model

Simple drawings

Fully detailed drawing with every wire shown

Flattened cable and harness drawings are required for documentation

Flattened cable and harness (formboard) drawings are required for manufacture

Fully detailed BoM

System schematics

Wire cut list to drive manufacturing tools

Please identify any other documentations requirements?

Question Title

* What specific pieces of information do you require on your formboard drawings?

Please select all that apply

Connector tables

Side view of connectors

End view of connectors

Choice schematic or rendered view of connectors

Connector pins

Fan out

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* If you are using any other software in addition or as an alternative to SolidWorks please identify this?

Please select all that apply

AutoCAD

AutoCAD Electrical

VISIO

Zuken - E3-CIM Team

Trace Software - ElecWorks

Mentor - VeSys

Mentor - CHS

AUCOTEC - Engineering Base

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* I consider my primary job to be?

Mechanical design engineer

Electrical design engineer

I cover both roles at my company, my background is mechanical design

I cover both roles at my company, my background is electrical design

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* Do you use SolidWorks as part of your electrical design process?

Yes

Question Title

* How frequently do you use SolidWorks Electrical Routing?

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Yearly

Occasionally, only when needed

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* What version of SolidWorks are you currently using?

2007

2008

2009

2010

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* How many years experience do you have of using feature-based CAD?

1-2

2-5

Question Title

* How many years experience do you have with SolidWorks?

1-2

2-5

Question Title

* Have you taken a training class in electical Routing with SolidWorks?

Yes

If you have had no training (please specify the reason)

Question Title

* Have you taken any training or any other steps to get up to speed with functionality in new releases?

Please select all that apply

Training

Seminar

What's new guide

None (please specify why)

Question Title

* Please rate your experience of Electrical Routing?

	Very poor	Poor	Adequate	Good	Very good	N/A
Training Materials (tutorials, videos etc.)	Training Materials (tutorials, videos etc.) Very poor	Training Materials (tutorials, videos etc.) Poor	Training Materials (tutorials, videos etc.) Adequate	Training Materials (tutorials, videos etc.) Good	Training Materials (tutorials, videos etc.) Very good	Training Materials (tutorials, videos etc.) N/A
Documentation (manuals)	Documentation (manuals) Very poor	Documentation (manuals) Poor	Documentation (manuals) Adequate	Documentation (manuals) Good	Documentation (manuals) Very good	Documentation (manuals) N/A
Functionality (can SolidWorks do everything I need)	Functionality (can SolidWorks do everything I need) Very poor	Functionality (can SolidWorks do everything I need) Poor	Functionality (can SolidWorks do everything I need) Adequate	Functionality (can SolidWorks do everything I need) Good	Functionality (can SolidWorks do everything I need) Very good	Functionality (can SolidWorks do everything I need) N/A
Ease of use (can I understand how to use it and easily get my job done)	Ease of use (can I understand how to use it and easily get my job done) Very poor	Ease of use (can I understand how to use it and easily get my job done) Poor	Ease of use (can I understand how to use it and easily get my job done) Adequate	Ease of use (can I understand how to use it and easily get my job done) Good	Ease of use (can I understand how to use it and easily get my job done) Very good	Ease of use (can I understand how to use it and easily get my job done) N/A
Performance (is the software fast enough)	Performance (is the software fast enough) Very poor	Performance (is the software fast enough) Poor	Performance (is the software fast enough) Adequate	Performance (is the software fast enough) Good	Performance (is the software fast enough) Very good	Performance (is the software fast enough) N/A
Stability (does it crash)	Stability (does it crash) Very poor	Stability (does it crash) Poor	Stability (does it crash) Adequate	Stability (does it crash) Good	Stability (does it crash) Very good	Stability (does it crash) N/A

Question Title

* Are there pieces of missing functionality in SolidWorks Routing, so serious that they stop you from completing your electrical design?

Question Title

* What 3 features of SolidWorks electrical Routing do you like the most and why?

Question Title

* What 3 features of SolidWorks electrical Routing do you dislike the most and why?

Question Title

* From the list of possible enhancements to SolidWorks electrical Routing, please identify and rank your top 5 in terms of importance

	Most important of 5				Least important of 5
Performance - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question	Performance - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question Most important of 5	Performance - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question	Performance - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question	Performance - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question	Performance - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question Least important of 5
Stability - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question	Stability - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question Most important of 5	Stability - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question	Stability - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question	Stability - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question	Stability - n.b. please give specific detail in comments at the end of this question Least important of 5
Improvements to documentation - n.b. please give more info' in comments at the end of this question	Improvements to documentation - n.b. please give more info' in comments at the end of this question Most important of 5	Improvements to documentation - n.b. please give more info' in comments at the end of this question	Improvements to documentation - n.b. please give more info' in comments at the end of this question	Improvements to documentation - n.b. please give more info' in comments at the end of this question	Improvements to documentation - n.b. please give more info' in comments at the end of this question Least important of 5
Full support of Splices - e.g. flattening of routes containing splices	Full support of Splices - e.g. flattening of routes containing splices Most important of 5	Full support of Splices - e.g. flattening of routes containing splices	Full support of Splices - e.g. flattening of routes containing splices	Full support of Splices - e.g. flattening of routes containing splices	Full support of Splices - e.g. flattening of routes containing splices Least important of 5
Fixed length cables/wires	Fixed length cables/wires Most important of 5	Fixed length cables/wires	Fixed length cables/wires	Fixed length cables/wires	Fixed length cables/wires Least important of 5
Fully parametric flatten - e.g. 3D model to 2D updates	Fully parametric flatten - e.g. 3D model to 2D updates Most important of 5	Fully parametric flatten - e.g. 3D model to 2D updates	Fully parametric flatten - e.g. 3D model to 2D updates	Fully parametric flatten - e.g. 3D model to 2D updates	Fully parametric flatten - e.g. 3D model to 2D updates Least important of 5
Ribbon Cables - Usability	Ribbon Cables - Usability Most important of 5	Ribbon Cables - Usability	Ribbon Cables - Usability	Ribbon Cables - Usability	Ribbon Cables - Usability Least important of 5
Ribbon Cables - Functionality e.g. in-line connectors	Ribbon Cables - Functionality e.g. in-line connectors Most important of 5	Ribbon Cables - Functionality e.g. in-line connectors	Ribbon Cables - Functionality e.g. in-line connectors	Ribbon Cables - Functionality e.g. in-line connectors	Ribbon Cables - Functionality e.g. in-line connectors Least important of 5
Better support for multi pin connectors - e.g. performance, flattening	Better support for multi pin connectors - e.g. performance, flattening Most important of 5	Better support for multi pin connectors - e.g. performance, flattening	Better support for multi pin connectors - e.g. performance, flattening	Better support for multi pin connectors - e.g. performance, flattening	Better support for multi pin connectors - e.g. performance, flattening Least important of 5
Flatten with loops - e.g. on the connector, connector to connector	Flatten with loops - e.g. on the connector, connector to connector Most important of 5	Flatten with loops - e.g. on the connector, connector to connector	Flatten with loops - e.g. on the connector, connector to connector	Flatten with loops - e.g. on the connector, connector to connector	Flatten with loops - e.g. on the connector, connector to connector Least important of 5
Additional BoM detail - e.g. Terminal pins, complex connectors	Additional BoM detail - e.g. Terminal pins, complex connectors Most important of 5	Additional BoM detail - e.g. Terminal pins, complex connectors	Additional BoM detail - e.g. Terminal pins, complex connectors	Additional BoM detail - e.g. Terminal pins, complex connectors	Additional BoM detail - e.g. Terminal pins, complex connectors Least important of 5
Panel layout	Panel layout Most important of 5	Panel layout	Panel layout	Panel layout	Panel layout Least important of 5
Improve standard cables	Improve standard cables Most important of 5	Improve standard cables	Improve standard cables	Improve standard cables	Improve standard cables Least important of 5
Improvements to from/to list - e.g. twisted pairs, shields	Improvements to from/to list - e.g. twisted pairs, shields Most important of 5	Improvements to from/to list - e.g. twisted pairs, shields	Improvements to from/to list - e.g. twisted pairs, shields	Improvements to from/to list - e.g. twisted pairs, shields	Improvements to from/to list - e.g. twisted pairs, shields Least important of 5

Please supply specific details here to clarify your requirements

Question Title

* May we contact you in the future to clarify your feedback, if so please provide your prefered contact details?

Name:

Company:

Country:

Email Address:

Phone Number:

Question Title

* Which of the following BEST describes the industry that your company/division is engaged in? (Note - we ask this on most surveys to ensure we have this information.)

Question Title

* What products do you design?

Question Title

* Why do you model electrical routes?Please select all that apply

Question Title

* What types of wiring are in use in your designs?Please select all that apply

Question Title

* Which of the following applies to the process you use to incorporate electrical modelling in your design?Please select all that apply

Question Title

* What are your documentation requirements?Please select all that apply

Question Title

* What specific pieces of information do you require on your formboard drawings?Please select all that apply

Question Title

* If you are using any other software in addition or as an alternative to SolidWorks please identify this?Please select all that apply

Question Title

* I consider my primary job to be?

Question Title

* Do you use SolidWorks as part of your electrical design process?

Question Title

* How frequently do you use SolidWorks Electrical Routing?

Question Title

* What version of SolidWorks are you currently using?

Question Title

* How many years experience do you have of using feature-based CAD?

Question Title

* How many years experience do you have with SolidWorks?

Question Title

* Have you taken a training class in electical Routing with SolidWorks?

Question Title

* Have you taken any training or any other steps to get up to speed with functionality in new releases?Please select all that apply

Question Title

* Please rate your experience of Electrical Routing?

Question Title

* Are there pieces of missing functionality in SolidWorks Routing, so serious that they stop you from completing your electrical design?

Question Title

* What 3 features of SolidWorks electrical Routing do you like the most and why?

Question Title

* What 3 features of SolidWorks electrical Routing do you dislike the most and why?

Question Title

* From the list of possible enhancements to SolidWorks electrical Routing, please identify and rank your top 5 in terms of importance

Question Title

* May we contact you in the future to clarify your feedback, if so please provide your prefered contact details?

* Why do you model electrical routes?

Please select all that apply

* What types of wiring are in use in your designs?

Please select all that apply

* Which of the following applies to the process you use to incorporate electrical modelling in your design?

Please select all that apply

* What are your documentation requirements?

Please select all that apply

* What specific pieces of information do you require on your formboard drawings?

Please select all that apply

* If you are using any other software in addition or as an alternative to SolidWorks please identify this?

Please select all that apply

* Have you taken any training or any other steps to get up to speed with functionality in new releases?

Please select all that apply