
How assembly wire harnesses are made?
2025-12-25 16:12You make an assembly wire harness by putting wires, connectors, and covers together. This helps organize circuits so power or signals move safely. An assembly wire harness is very important for electrical systems in cars, electronics, and machines. People must be careful and do good work because the market is growing and rules are strict.
The wire harness market may reach $91.39 billion by 2029. This is because of cars and new technology.
Automation, quality checks, and Asia Pacific’s bigger part show we need custom, reliable solutions.
Key Takeaways
Assembly wire harnesses keep wires neat and safe. They help carry power and signals in many things we use. Strict rules like IPC/WHMA-A-620 make sure harnesses are safe and good quality. The main parts are wires, connectors, terminals, covers, and clamps. These parts help the harness last a long time. Designers use special software to plan and test harnesses first. This helps stop mistakes before building starts. Factories cut, strip, and label wires with care. This makes sure assembly is safe and correct. Wires are routed and bundled to keep them safe from harm. This also makes fixing them easier. Crimping is the most used way to join wires. It makes strong and steady connections. Testing and checking find problems early. This makes sure every harness works well and lasts long.
Wire Harness Basics
Definition
Wire harnesses are used in many different industries. People also call them cable harnesses, wiring harnesses, cable assemblies, or wiring looms. These products group wires or cables together. They help send signals or power in a safe way. Manufacturers wrap the wires with strong things like rubber, vinyl, or tape. This keeps the wires safe from shaking, water, and other problems. When you go to a wire harness assembly factory, you see that every assembly wire harness must follow strict rules for safety and quality.
Note: Standard rules are important. The IPC/WHMA-A-620E standard gives the rules for quality, testing, and types. This makes sure you get good products every time.
Components
Every wire harness has important parts. Each part does something special:
Wires and Cables: Move electricity or signals.
Connectors: Link wires to devices or other wires.
Terminals: Go on the ends of wires for strong connections.
Protective Sleeves and Tapes: Keep wires safe from heat, water, and rubbing.
Clamps and Grommets: Hold wires in place and stop damage from moving.
When you visit a wire harness assembly factory, you see each part must meet tough rules. You pick wires by their size and how much power they carry. You choose connectors and terminals for how well they fit and last. You use covers to keep the harness safe in hard places.
Applications
Wire harnesses are used in many areas. Here are some examples:
Automotive: Cars, trucks, and buses need wire harnesses for lights, sensors, and engine parts.
Consumer Electronics: Things like computers, TVs, and game consoles use harnesses for power and data.
Industrial Equipment: Factory machines use harnesses for controls and safety.
Medical Devices: Life-saving machines need good harnesses for signals and power.
Aerospace and Defense: Planes and military vehicles need harnesses made to the best rules.
Using an assembly wire harness helps keep things neat, safe, and easy to fix. When you work with a wire harness assembly factory, you get products made for you, built to last, and checked for quality.
Assembly Wire Harness Process
Making an assembly wire harness starts with a plan. You must know what the harness will do. You also need to know where it will go. It is important to see how it connects to other parts. At a wire harness assembly factory, engineers use special software. They use programs like Autodesk AutoCAD, Inventor, Creo, and SolidWorks. These tools help make 3D models and run tests. You can see the harness before you build it. This helps you find mistakes early and saves time.
Design
First, you draw a schematic diagram. This diagram shows every wire, connector, and terminal. You use CAD software to make the layout. The software helps you check for problems. Modern tools let you test signal strength. You can use waveform analysis to find noise or crosstalk. Eye diagram analysis and Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) check for clear signals. These steps help make sure the harness works well.
Tip: If you plan early with PCB and system design, you avoid mistakes. Tools like Altium Designer link your wire harness to the whole system. This makes the process easier and more reliable.
Material Selection
Picking the right materials is very important. You choose wires based on power or data needs. You pick connectors that fit well and last long. You also choose covers like sleeves or tapes. These protect against heat, water, and rubbing. At a wire harness assembly factory, you have many choices. You must think about where the harness will be used. Cars need harnesses that handle heat and shaking. Medical devices need harnesses that are safe and clean.
You also think about how flexible the wires are. Some wires bend easily, but others are stiff. This changes how you put them in small spaces. Using the right materials stops knots, tangles, or damage.
Prototyping
Prototyping lets you test your design first. You build a sample harness to check if it fits and works. You can find problems with length or connector spots. You might see a cable needs to be longer. You can also test the harness with bending and stress tests.
Custom prototyping is a big help at a wire harness assembly factory. You can work with experts to change your design. You can try new materials or fix special problems. Prototyping helps you save money. You focus on the most important parts and use cheaper options. Some factories use 3D printing to make custom parts fast.
Note: Prototyping makes sure your assembly wire harness meets all rules. It also helps you avoid waste and extra work later.
When you follow these steps—design, material selection, and prototyping—you get a good product. Xiamen Evershine is an expert in this process. They help you at every step and work fast. You get a harness that fits your needs and meets strict standards.
Preparation
Before making an assembly wire harness, you must get each wire ready. This step is very important for a good product. At a wire harness assembly factory, workers and machines work together. They follow strict rules to make sure the harness works well.
Cutting
First, you cut wires to the right length for your project. It is important to be exact. If a wire is too short, it will not reach where it needs to go. If it is too long, it can make a mess or be unsafe. Factories use machines to cut wires fast and correctly. These machines follow your design every time.
Factories also check each wire after cutting. They write down each batch and check the size. This matches the rules for good quality. You avoid mistakes and keep your project moving.
Stripping
Next, you take off the insulation from the ends of the wires. This is called stripping. You need to show just enough metal for a good connection. If you strip too much, the wire gets weak. If you strip too little, the connection is not good.
Factories use machines that strip wires of different sizes. These machines work fast and help stop damage. Workers check the ends to make sure they are right. They write down and check every step. This follows good factory rules. It makes sure each wire is ready for the next step.
Labeling
Labeling is very important in this step. You must mark each wire so you do not get confused later. Factories often use barcodes for labels. Barcodes help stop mistakes and make it easy to track wires.
Good labeling helps you avoid big mistakes and makes fixing problems faster.
Factories also teach workers how to label wires the right way. They use checks and feedback to find and fix mistakes. Teams work together to check each label before moving on. This matches the best ways to work, like the CDC says. It keeps your wire harness neat and easy to use.
By doing these steps, you help make a great product. You make sure things are right, stop mistakes, and meet the rules every time.
Arrangement
Layout Boards
At a wire harness assembly factory, you start with a layout board. This board acts as a template for your harness. You place pegs or fixtures on the board to match the exact shape and size of your design. This step helps you keep wires organized and prevents mistakes. You can see where each wire goes before you begin connecting anything.
Layout boards let you plan every detail. You use them to check wire lengths, connector positions, and branch points. Many factories use CAD tools to design these boards. With CAD, you can visualize the harness and simulate how it will fit in the final product. This planning helps you spot problems early and fix them before production starts.
Using layout boards reduces wire strain and wear. You avoid sharp bends and tight spots that can cause wires to break. You also make sure wires do not cross or tangle, which keeps the harness neat and safe.
A good layout board also helps with quality control. You can label each wire and connector as you build. This makes it easier to check your work and find any errors. When you use layout boards, you improve both speed and accuracy at the wire harness assembly factory.
Routing
Routing means guiding each wire along the best path. You follow the plan from your layout board. You secure wires with clips, ties, or sleeves to keep them in place. Good routing protects wires from heat, vibration, and sharp edges.
You want to avoid sharp corners and areas with lots of movement. This keeps wires from wearing out too soon. You also keep wires away from sources of heat or moisture. These steps help your harness last longer and work better.
Careful routing lowers the risk of mechanical failures.
Proper wire paths improve signal quality and reduce electrical noise.
Securing wires with the right tools makes maintenance easier.
Labeling wires during routing helps you find and fix problems quickly.
Protecting wires from dust and moisture boosts long-term reliability.
You also match connectors to the right wire size and rating. This prevents faults and keeps connections strong. Using strain relief at key points reduces stress on solder joints and connectors. You may add extra protection, like overmolding or potting, to block out water and dust.
When you route wires well, you make the harness easier to build and repair. You also help your product meet strict industry standards. At a wire harness assembly factory, these best practices lead to better performance and fewer problems down the road.
Connectors
Picking the right connector method is very important at a wire harness assembly factory. You want connections that are strong and last a long time. There are three main ways to attach connectors: crimping, soldering, and other mechanical ways. Each way has its own good points and best uses.
Crimping
Crimping is the most used way to connect wires in a wire harness assembly factory. You use a special tool to press a metal terminal onto a stripped wire end. This makes a tight bond without using heat. Crimped connections are strong and do not shake loose. You see crimping in cars, planes, and big machines because it works well in hard places.
Crimping is quick and gives the same result each time. This is good for making many harnesses fast. You need the right tools and must check your work, but you do not risk heat damage. Many people trust crimping because it works for years without problems. But you must get the wire ready the right way or it can get damaged.
Tip: Always pick the right crimping tool for your terminal. This helps make sure your connection is safe and strong.
Soldering
Soldering uses heat to melt metal and join the wire to the connector. This makes a strong electrical connection that can handle a lot of power. Soldering is good for repairs or custom jobs. You can fix or change connections if you need to.
But soldering takes more time and skill. You must control the heat so you do not hurt the wire or its cover. Soldered joints can get stiff and may break if the harness moves a lot. Sometimes, soldered connections last longer, but only if you add strain relief to protect them.
Many wire harness assembly factories use soldering for special jobs or repairs. You should always check for cold joints or too much solder, as these can cause trouble later.
Other Methods
Besides crimping and soldering, you can use screw terminals, insulation displacement connectors (IDC), or push-fit connectors. Screw terminals let you attach wires by turning a screw. This way is easy and lets you make quick changes, but screws can loosen if there is vibration.
IDC connectors cut through the wire’s cover and touch the metal inside. You often see these in computer cables and ribbon wires. They are fast and do not need stripping, but they may not be as strong as crimped or soldered joints.
Push-fit connectors snap into place without tools. They save time and help stop mistakes, especially when making many harnesses. But you must check each connection to make sure it is tight before moving on.
At a wire harness assembly factory, you pick the connector method that fits the job. Crimping is best for most projects because it is fast, strong, and reliable. Soldering and other ways are used when you need to fix things or make changes easily.
Bundling
Bundling keeps your wires organized and safe. At a wire harness assembly factory, you use different methods to hold wires together. You want your harness to last a long time and work well in tough places. Bundling also makes installation easier and helps with repairs later.
Taping
Taping is one of the most common ways to bundle wires. You wrap special tape around groups of wires. This tape can resist heat, water, and chemicals. You often see PVC, cloth, or vinyl tape in a wire harness assembly factory. Taping keeps wires from moving and stops them from rubbing against each other.
You start by laying out your wires on a flat surface. You then wrap the tape tightly, making sure there are no gaps. Good taping protects wires from dust and moisture. It also helps you spot problems quickly during inspections.
Tip: Always use the right tape for your project. Some tapes work better in hot places, while others resist oil or water.
Sleeving
Sleeving gives extra protection to your wire bundles. You slide a sleeve over the wires before you finish the harness. Sleeves can be made from plastic, fabric, or braided materials. At a wire harness assembly factory, you pick the sleeve based on where the harness will go.
Sleeving helps protect wires from sharp edges, heat, and vibration. It also keeps the harness flexible. You can use expandable sleeves for bundles that change size. Some sleeves have special coatings to block fire or chemicals.
A table can help you choose the right sleeve:
Clamping
Clamping holds your wire bundles in place inside a device or vehicle. You use clamps to attach the harness to panels, frames, or walls. At a wire harness assembly factory, you pick clamps that fit the size and shape of your bundle.
Clamps stop wires from moving or shaking loose. They also keep wires away from hot or moving parts. You can use plastic, metal, or rubber clamps. Some clamps have cushions to protect the wires from damage.
Note: Always check that your clamps are tight but not too tight. Too much pressure can crush the wires.
When you use taping, sleeving, and clamping together, you get a strong and neat harness. These steps help your product pass quality checks and last longer in the field.
Testing
Testing is a very important step in making wire harnesses. You must check that each harness is safe and works well. Factories like Xiamen Evershine use special testing machines. These machines help make sure there are no mistakes. They follow the newest rules and use the best tools.
Electrical Tests
First, you test how well the harness works with electricity. At the factory, machines check for continuity, resistance, and insulation strength. These tests help find broken wires or bad connections. They also show if the insulation is weak. You also do tests that act like real-life use. This helps you find problems before the harness leaves the factory.
Continuity tests show if electricity can flow through each wire.
Resistance checks make sure nothing blocks the current.
Insulation tests help stop short circuits and leaks.
You use machines to test fast and get correct results. The machines collect data and show it on charts. This helps you see problems and fix them quickly. You also keep the room at the right temperature and humidity. This makes sure your test results are always good.
Visual Inspection
After the electrical tests, you look at each harness by hand. Visual inspection helps you find things machines might miss. Workers check for broken covers, missing parts, or wires in the wrong place. You compare each harness to the design and quality rules.
You follow rules like IPC/WHMA-A-620E and IPC-A-610J. These rules show what a good harness should look like. You use pictures and lists to help check each part. You also measure to make sure the harness is the right size.
Tip: Always use bright lights and magnifiers when you look at harnesses. This helps you see small problems and keep quality high.
Final Checks
Last, you do some final checks. You look at all the test results and reports. You make sure each harness meets the customer’s needs and the rules. You use charts to watch for problems and lower mistakes. If you find a problem, you fix it right away.
Collect and check all electrical test results.
Use charts to watch if the process is steady.
Look for patterns to stop future problems.
Teach your team to find and fix mistakes fast.
Xiamen Evershine trains workers and uses the best test machines. They always try to get better. This means you get safe and high-quality harnesses every time.
Inspection
Criteria
You want every wire harness to pass strict checks before leaving the factory. These checks help you find problems early and keep products safe. At each step, you follow clear rules to guide your work.
Here is a table that lists the main things you check:
First, you check how strong the wire and terminal are. This makes sure the connections stay tight when used. Next, you do a visual check. You look for broken covers, missing labels, or wires in the wrong place. You use bright lights and magnifiers to find small problems.
Then, you test how well the harness works with electricity. Machines check for good flow and strong insulation. You also run high-voltage tests to find hidden problems. After that, you test how tough the harness is. You bend and shake it to see if it stays together.
You also check if the harness can handle heat, cold, and water. Last, you review the rules and certificates. You make sure every harness matches the rules and passes all checks.
Tip: Always write down your inspection results. Good notes help you track quality and fix problems fast.
Packaging
After checking, you focus on packaging. Good packaging keeps wire harnesses safe during shipping and storage. At the factory, you use special materials and ways to protect products.
You start by wrapping each harness in anti-static bags or bubble wrap. This keeps out dust, water, and static. Next, you put the harnesses in strong boxes with foam or dividers. These boxes stop the harnesses from moving or getting tangled.
You label each box with clear information. Labels show the part number, batch, and where it is going. This helps you track and manage shipments. You also add handling notes, like "Fragile" or "Keep Dry," to stop damage.
Use anti-static bags for sensitive parts.
Pick strong boxes for big or heavy harnesses.
Add foam or dividers to stop movement.
Label every box with clear, correct details.
You finish by sealing the boxes and checking them again. This careful process helps you send high-quality harnesses to customers, ready to use right away.
At a wire harness assembly factory, you follow simple steps. First, you design the harness and pick the right materials. Next, you make a sample and get wires ready. Then, you arrange the wires and attach connectors. After that, you bundle the wires together. You test the harness and check it for problems. Good factories focus on quality and custom work. The best companies make samples fast and test everything carefully. They also offer flexible choices for cars and planes. Xiamen Evershine is known for careful work and quick service. They help customers and answer questions fast. If you want good results, work with a skilled wire harness assembly factory. This helps your project turn out well.
FAQ
What does a wire harness assembly factory do?
A wire harness assembly factory makes wire harnesses for many uses. The factory designs, builds, and tests each harness. You get custom harnesses that fit your project. Every harness must pass strict quality checks before it leaves.
How do you ensure quality in a wire harness assembly factory?
The factory uses special machines to test each harness. Skilled workers check the harnesses by hand too. They follow rules like IPC/WHMA-A-620. Every harness gets electrical and visual tests before shipping.
Can you customize wire harnesses for my project?
Yes, you can get custom wire harnesses for your needs. The factory helps you pick the right materials and connectors. You choose the layout that works best for your project. Your harness is made to match your exact needs.
How long does it take to produce a wire harness?
How long it takes depends on your order and design. Standard orders are usually finished quickly. Custom projects might take more time. The factory gives you updates at every step.
What industries use products from a wire harness assembly factory?
Wire harnesses are used in cars, electronics, medical tools, factories, and planes. The factory changes the design to fit each industry. This keeps the harnesses safe and reliable.
What support do you get after purchasing from a wire harness assembly factory?
You get help with your harness even after you buy it. The factory helps with setup, fixing problems, and upgrades. You can ask questions and get quick answers from the team.
How do you choose the right wire harness assembly factory?
Pick a factory with lots of experience and good quality checks. Look for places that offer custom options. Check for certifications and read customer reviews. A good factory talks clearly and delivers on time.