What is Pro/ENGINEER Routed Systems Designer (RSD)?
Pro/ENGINEER Routed Systems Designer (RSD) is a powerful diagramming solution that enables the fast and easy creation of even the most sophisticated routed system diagrams. It has multi-discipline breadth, so it meets the functionality needs of piping as well as cabling design. And finally, RSD can automatically drive the routing of cables and pipes in virtually any 3D MCAD system that accepts the output format from RSD, and is specially optimized for use with the cabling and piping solutions within Pro/ENGINEER.

How do I know if RSD and Pro/ENGINEER cabling and piping solutions can help my company?
If you develop products with any cabling or piping, RSD and Pro/ENGINEER cabling and piping solutions will help you to:

  • Reduce time to market - RSD eliminates the manual, tedious process of recreating the 2D schematics in Pro/ENGINEER to create the 3D assembly
  • Reduce total product cost - RSD enables the complete digital model to be defined, reducing the dependence on physical prototypes and therefore significantly reducing product costs
  • Improve product quality - Pro/CABLING and Pro/PIPING can automatically check the completed 3D routed assembly for exact compliance with the 2D schematics from RSD, saving the engineer hours of manual tedious checking and eliminating mistakes before production, leading to improved product quality and confidence

What is RSD Lite, and how does it compare to the full version of RSD?
RSD Lite is a functionality-limited version of the full version of RSD. As shown in the table below, RSD Lite is limited in the areas of design reuse, multi-user capabilities, customization for design automation, and export. In general, a company with 3 or more schematic engineers stands to benefit the most by purchasing the upgrade from RSD Lite to the full version of RSD. RSD Lite, available in May 2003, allows designers of routed systems to experience the benefits of the product with little or no risk. Both RSD and RSD Lite are superior to Pro/DIAGRAM. Please note that RSD Lite diagrams can be opened in the full version of RSD, but diagrams created in the full version of RSD cannot be opened in RSD Lite. Maintenance-paying customers with certain Pro/ENGINEER routed systems solutions will be automatically eligible to receive RSD Lite at no cost (see next question).

Function RSD RSD Lite Pro/DIAGRAM
Piping Diagrams
Pneumatic
Hydraulic  
Process Flow Diagrams (PFD)  
P & ID  
HVAC  
Cabling Diagrams
Block Design  
Circuit  
Wiring
Ladder Diagram
Panel Design  
Design Reuse Capabilities
Design Snippets    
Design Sheets    
Design Catalog    
Datables - tables of properties    
CAD Integration
Can drive Pro/ENGINEER cabling
Can drive Pro/ENGINEER piping  
Can drive other 3D MCAD cabling
Can drive other 3D MCAD piping  
Optimized for Pro/ENGINEER
Miscellaneous
Unlimited sheets per design  
Multi-user capabilities    
Java API customization    
DXF, DWG export capabilities  
Utilizes generic terminology  
Full interoperability with RSD    
Function RSD RSD Lite Pro/DIAGRAM

Am I eligible to receive RSD Lite, and how do I get the software?
In general, for every package you own containing Pro/ENGINEER routed systems solutions (Pro/PIPING, Pro/CABLING or Pro/DIAGRAM), you will be eligible to receive one RSD Lite license at no charge. Simply go to the RSD product page on ptc.com, click on the Learn & Try tab, and there you will find the link to download RSD Lite. You will be prompted to enter your customer ID number, which checks which software packages you own, verifying that you are eligible to receive RSD Lite at no charge.

Today I am using Pro/DIAGRAM, the schematic diagram tool integrated within Pro/ENGINEER. How do RSD and RSD Lite compare?
As you can see from the table in question #3, RSD and RSD Lite both offer diagramming functionality far superior to that of Pro/DIAGRAM, and are now the PTC recommended solution. For example, RSD Lite provides diagramming tools for many more disciplines than does Pro/DIAGRAM, and RSD Lite has rich functionality for design reuse that Pro/DIAGRAM does not. Second, because Pro/DIAGRAM is locked to the Pro/ENGINEER license, the mechanical engineer's valuable Pro/ENGINEER license will be unavailable while the schematic designer is using the license for schematic designs. In contrast, RSD Lite is a stand-alone product that can be run independent of a Pro/ENGINEER license. And finally, Pro/DIAGRAM is limited in that it can only create wiring diagrams and drive Pro/CABLING. RSD Lite can create multi-discipline diagrams, and can drive both Pro/CABLING and Pro/PIPING.

I am the mechanical engineer, not the schematic designer. How can RSD and Pro/ENGINEER cabling and piping solutions help me?
Pro/ENGINEER cabling and piping solutions will help you to route the cables, pipes and wires virtually in 3D, rather than physically routing them on a prototype, which can be time-consuming, slow and inaccurate. With RSD, the logical information from the schematic diagrams can be read directly into Pro/ENGINEER, providing all the necessary information such as connection points, pipe specification, wire size and so on to help automate the routing of the cables and pipes. This speeds the 3D design significantly by removing the tedious, manual process of interpreting 2D schematic diagrams, and virtually eliminates errors.

Is Pro/ENGINEER a prerequisite for RSD?
No, Pro/ENGINEER is not a prerequisite for RSD. RSD is a stand-alone product. This improves user flexibility, since your schematic engineers, who do not typically need to use Pro/ENGINEER, can be licensed for the functionality they need, while mechanical designers can purchase the appropriate number of Pro/ENGINEER seats for their use.

Our schematic designers currently use Microsoft PowerPoint for creating diagrams. How does RSD compare to these tools?
Some schematic designers settle for the method of "overstretching" office tools, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, or AutoCAD LT, that were never intended for schematic design. This results in diagrams that consist of unintelligent lines, drawn manually instead of selected from symbol templates, used to represent symbols and diagrams. Making changes to these types of diagrams requires considerable manual effort. These products' diagramming capabilities are primitive compared to RSD, which, in contrast, provides intelligent, schematic-specific tools that make creating and changing diagrams a quick and easy process. And, of course, these office tools have no ability to drive the downstream 3D routing of cables and pipes, as can RSD.

How does RSD compare to software applications made specifically for schematic design?
RSD provides rich diagramming functionality, similar to competitive schematic solutions, but it is superior to them all when combined with Pro/CABLING and Pro/PIPING. This combined solution enables the routing of cables and pipes in Pro/ENGINEER to be driven by RSD, saving time, reducing costs and increasing quality by reducing errors. Most competitive schematic solutions do not have the ability to drive the downstream 3D routing, as can RSD. Of the competitors who can drive 3D routing, RSD is superior because it is optimized [see next question for definition] for interaction with Pro/ENGINEER.

In addition, competitive schematic software applications generally address only a single discipline's needs, forcing customers to purchase and maintain multiple software applications to meet their needs in different schematic disciplines. In contrast, RSD can handle multi-discipline designs (e.g. cabling, electrical, piping, hydraulic, pneumatic, heating venting & air-conditioning (HVAC), process flow, and process & instrumentation diagrams (P&ID)), so a company can perform all of their schematic design activities using a single solution. Thus, RSD proves to be the best choice because it eliminates the purchase and maintenance of multiple software applications, and reduces the training required.

How is RSD "optimized for Pro/ENGINEER" compared to its interaction with competitive 3D MCAD systems?
RSD is always updated to support the full range of capabilities of Pro/ENGINEER, including new enhancements added in each release. The XML export from RSD is designed to utilize all of the rich capabilities in cable and pipe routing within Pro/ENGINEER. For example, RSD can control the advanced functionality, such multi-layer cables, in Pro/ENGINEER. Additionally, RSD and Pro/ENGINEER are tested and tuned for optimal performance in combination as well as in stand-alone operation, an advantage RSD competitors do not have. The combined use of RSD with Pro/ENGINEER allows the complete digital model to be defined, with no compromises. Therefore, PTC recommends deploying RSD with Pro/ENGINEER rather than with an MCAD system from another vendor.

How does RSD communicate with 3D MCAD systems?
RSD extracts all schematic information such as connector, pin and wire specifications from the RSD database and transfers it in XML (Extensible Markup Language), a very lightweight, standard format for communication between different software, to Pro/ENGINEER or other 3D MCAD systems. In order for a 3D MCAD system to import the XML, it must adhere to the XML output specifications from RSD in order to allow RSD to drive routed systems in their application. All RSD XML specifications are fully documented and available to these other systems.

How does adopting RSD Lite affect my maintenance price?
RSD Lite will have no impact on your maintenance price.

Will I be eligible to receive technical support for RSD Lite?
With continued maintenance you will be eligible to receive RSD Lite technical support.

How can I migrate my Pro/DIAGRAM designs to RSD/RSD Lite?
Currently, the ability to reuse Pro/DIAGRAM designs in RSD is limited to migrating existing Pro/DIAGRAM catalogs-libraries containing company, industry, or government standard symbols, and notes. PTC is considering a future enhancement to migrate additional Pro/DIAGRAM data into RSD, but in the meantime, you should plan to start all new projects using RSD to minimize conversion issues.

Will PTC ever discontinue Pro/DIAGRAM?
RSD is PTC's strategic solution for all diagramming needs, but Pro/DIAGRAM will continue to be maintained indefinitely.

Can I still purchase Pro/DIAGRAM?
Pro/DIAGRAM will remain available as an optional module. However, RSD and RSD Lite provide superior functionality compared to Pro/DIAGRAM, so PTC recommends RSD and RSD Lite as the schematic diagram solution of choice for all Pro/ENGINEER customers developing products with cabling or piping.

What training is available for routed systems solutions?
PTC Global Services have launched

  • Creating 2D Schematics with Routed Systems Designer (2 days)
  • Modelling 3D Wire Harnesses with Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire (3 days)
  • Modelling 3D Piping Designs with Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire (3 days)

PTC has RSD-trained implementation experts to provide consulting around RSD-specific tasks, from schematic engineering to driving the 3D routing of cables and pipes in Pro/ENGINEER. To locate these experts, contact your PTC sales representative or PTC Global Services representative.

Can RSD files be managed by PTC data management solutions?
Yes, RSD designs can be managed in either Pro/INTRALINK 3X or Windchill PDMLink.

Is RSD available in languages other than in English?
RSD is available in French, German and Japanese.

Where can I find additional resources about RSD?
You can find more information about RSD on www.ptc.com/go/route/ or on www.rsdesigner.net, the independent Web site devoted to Pro/ENGINEER Routed Systems Designer.