Splice - Cable Harness CAD Tool - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: splice
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 15, 2025, 11:24:11 pm
content: Hey everyone—I’ve been working onSplice CAD, a browser-based tool for drawing and documenting cable harnesses/assemblies.The Builder UI features an SVG canvas where you can:Place connectors from our growing parts libraryConnect and route wiresExport a parts-ready drawing, diagram, or BOM in SVG/PNG/PDF/CSVWe also provide:Mate- and wire-side pin labeling for supported connectorsCompatible terminal selection by connector family and AWGSignal labeling and flying-lead calloutsWe’re actively adding more connector renderings—as well as crimp ferrules, quick-connects, and ring terminals—so the parts library keeps expanding. Would love to hear your feedback or feature requests!You can also check out a quick tutorial here:https://splice-cad.com/#/tutorialDisclaimer: You must sign in with a Google account to use the Builder, and we’re currently limiting each account to 5 active designs as we gather feedback.

author: uer166
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2025, 11:45:01 pm
content: How would you create a custom set of connectors? Is it possible to export a full BOM?I design harnesses for a living and always wanted something like this.

author: splice
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 16, 2025, 11:06:10 am
content: Thanks for the feedback! Glad to hear you might find the tool useful.Quote from: uer166 on June 15, 2025, 11:45:01 pmYes, you can export a BOM in PDF, CSV, and XLSX formats - a sample PDF is attached (along with a sample engineering drawing).Quote from: uer166 on June 15, 2025, 11:45:01 pmThis is something we're working on. The planned approach will be similar to Eagle EDA's footprint/symbol editor, where you design an outline of the connector and add data like MPN, manf., # positions, etc. Then you'll be able to save the part to your library (and optionally make it publicly available) for use in your harnesses.

author: uer166
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2025, 06:01:35 pm
content: Quote from: splice on June 16, 2025, 11:06:10 amCool, that's likely the major obstacle to any adoption by bigger companies. Even if there your library had no baked-in parts at all, that would be nbd compared to a lack of a parts creation tool. PLM (like Arena) integration would be a big +, however you likely need to establish yourself as a reliable SW company before that makes sense.

author: splice
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 25, 2025, 10:33:54 am
content: Hi all -A few updates on some changes to the app.We've added a Connector Creator feature where you can:Create a custom connector graphicAdd connector properties like manf., MPN, series, etcUse your custom connectors in harness designsYour custom connectors can be made available to all users by setting the public flag to true. You can watch a demo of creating a Kycon panel mount connector here:The Connector Creator tutorial is here:https://splice-cad.com/#/tutorial/connectorWe've also removed the requirement to sign up before trying the Harness Builder or Connector Creator. In addition to Google oauth, we now allow users to sign up directly as well.

author: eugene
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2025, 03:03:27 pm
content: It looks like a very good product. I wish I had had something similar when designing so many cable harnesses in a previous job.And, I appreciate your efforts to move away from the Google API. I understand that it offers some advantages that are attractive to developers, but it's really not necessary to commit to any of the giant information sinks out there.

author: mtwieg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2025, 03:11:22 pm
content: Sounds interesting. What if one side of the assembly isn't actually a connector? For example, if I have a fan with wire leads.Obviously I shouldn't expect the exact fan to be in the parts database, but I'm wondering if I could just have it show up as a generic device with some properties (part number, description, etc).

author: splice
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 25, 2025, 05:19:47 pm
content: Quote from: eugene on June 25, 2025, 03:03:27 pmThank you for the kind words and feedback, Eugene.

author: mtwieg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2025, 05:38:27 pm
content: I'm tinkering with it now, it's pretty slick!It looks like it only supports individual wires. What if I want to use a multi-conductor cable,for example like this one?Any support for cables with shields?

author: splice
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 25, 2025, 05:40:17 pm
content: Quote from: mtwieg on June 25, 2025, 03:11:22 pmYou can model the fan as a connector and then add the wire leads to the harness assembly to match the datasheet:https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/same-sky-formerly-cui-devices/CFM-8025V-232-330/7620559Here's a demo:CFM-8025VIf you like the not-so-great fan graphic (looks more like a wagon wheel to me), you can choose to clone the part on the Connector Creator page, which will load the graphic, and then repopulate with different part data for a different fan. If the wiring is the same for the new fan, you can then swap the part in the Harness Builder to avoid rewiring everything.

author: splice
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 25, 2025, 08:46:36 pm
content: Quote from: mtwieg on June 25, 2025, 05:38:27 pmThanks!Quote from: mtwieg on June 25, 2025, 05:38:27 pmCorrect - only individual wires at present. We're working on cable support now - our current thinking is to populate a cables library from which you can add a cable to the harness. The cable will look like the wire bundle icon on the diagram but with a pre-defined number of cores and additional data (eg., insulation material, shielding, etc. information). From there, the click interaction to define connections will be similar.Parsing manufacturing datasheets to populate this library is more challenging than the individual wires, so we're also planning to add the option to create cables yourself (similar to the Connector Creator but with data entry only, no graphic). Existing cables can serve as templates to speed this up.

author: splice
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 29, 2025, 12:32:44 pm
content: An update -Following mtwieg's suggestion, we've added a Cable Creator feature where you can:Define a custom multi-core cableAdd cable properties like manf., MPN, shielding, insulation material, # and color of cores, etc.Like the connectors, custom cables can be made available to all users by setting the public flag to true. You can watch a demo of creating an Igus CANBus cable here:The Cable Creator tutorial is here:https://splice-cad.com/#/tutorial/cable

author: splice
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 11:58:40 pm
content: Continuing to make some additions and changes to ease use and improve the appearance of the harness design: Added many standard DSub, M8/M12, and USB connector outlines/pin arrangements to aid in the creation of connectors not currently in the library In concert with the addition of more connector outlines, added a Magic Button on the Connector and Cable Creator pages that pulls all fields for an entered MPN from Digikey or Mouser. Now, you can just enter your part number (like CDM806-04A-MP-F011-67 for this CUI connector,https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/same-sky-formerly-cui-devices/CDM806-04A-MP-F011-67/16682072) and the fields will populate automatically. If a standard outline is recognized, you have the option to load the outline and pin arrangement too. For cables, this will pull the core count and other cable properties. The Harness Builder now features a grid and snap-to functionality to align items. You can also share a link (ie,https://splice-cad.com/#/shared/lgcy2htze9zlqs4igdgycfncy98fah2m) to a harness design that a collaborator can view or clone/edit).

author: splice
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 12:07:50 pm
content: Continuing to make improvements since the last post:Undo/Redo everywhere – Full command-based undo/redo in Harness Builder & Connector Creator.Multi-select & group actions – Box-select, move, delete, or copy/paste multiple items at once.Multiple connections per pin – Attach more than one wire to the same pin.New connector templates – DB37, DB50, plus many M8/M12.Magic MPN button – Enter a part number to auto-fill specs and outlines.PDF Page Configurator – Multi-page drawings with custom size, scale, crop, and BOM placement.Grid, snap-to, and share links – Align components easily, share view/clone links.Components (formerly Connectors) – Now includes categories like breakers, fuses, switches, motors to enable more complete assembly documentation.Faster wire editing – Change color, gauge, and stranded/solid from the sidebar or canvas, for single wires or entire bundles.Bulk Connect tool – Quickly make straight-through, crossover, or custom mappings with global or per-wire settings.You can see the updates on the blog section:https://splice-cad.com/#/blogKeep the suggestions/requests coming - love getting feedback!