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Assembling Backshells to Connectors

Mate a backshell onto a designated connector in a Creo assembly with AutoAssemble.

The same mate-into-current path used for schematic connectors can place a backshell onto a connector that is already in the assembly (or that is assembled earlier in the same file). Dialog steps: Assemble from a File. Column spec: CSV and Excel Format. Connector placement first: Schematic Assembly.

JSON does not parse mate-to component or port fields. Use CSV or Excel (or a routing file that already carries connected-to data).

What has to be true

  1. Backshell model — a Component Interface named CONNECTOR_MATE (organization setting Mating - Default Placement Interface Name).

  2. Connector model — a Component Interface named BACKSHELL_MATE (Mating - Default Receiving Interface Name), plus a CSYS / entry port the file can name (often BACKSHELL).

  3. File row for the backshell — MODEL_NAME, a designation, and mate-to columns that point at the connector.

See Settings for Automate for the default interface names.

Input file

Role

Preferred header

Example

Backshell model

MODEL_NAME

the backshell part

Backshell designation

DESIGNATION

BOX101P16_BACKSHELL

Connector to mate onto

MATE_TO

BOX101P16 (the connector’s designation)

Port / CSYS on that connector

CONNECTED_TO_PORT

BACKSHELL

Interface on the backshell

MODEL_PLACEMENT_INTERFACE

CONNECTOR_MATE

Interface on the connector

MATED_RECEIVING_INTERFACE

BACKSHELL_MATE

Optional label

COMPONENT_TYPE

BACKSHELL

csv

Order

Row order does not have to put connectors first. AutoAssemble assembles anything listed as MATE_TO before the rows that point at it, so backshells can land on connectors assembled in the same run.

COMPONENT_TYPE=BACKSHELL is a label only. It does not change creation or placement. Creation of bulk / skeleton / harness models is TYPE / SUB_TYPE.

What assemble-to-component needs

When the backshell mates to an existing designated component (not a skeleton CSYS), AutoAssemble looks up the connector by designation, then requires an entry-port CSYS named CONNECTED_TO_PORT (or MATING_CSYS if the port is empty). After that it places using either:

  • Both interface columns (MODEL_PLACEMENT_INTERFACE + MATED_RECEIVING_INTERFACE), or

  • Both CSYS columns (MODEL_CSYS + MATING_CSYS)

If those pairs are omitted, the backshell row will not pick up the organization default interface names on this path. Put the interface names on the backshell row.