ACADE2004 Student Workbook

2004

Student Workbook

Official Training Courseware

AutoCAD® Electrical

ack) Description: AutoCAD Electrical 2004 -- AOTC Student Workbook -- Courseware Manual Cover ; Size: 8.5” wide x 11” high.

Copyright © 2003 Autodesk, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. AUTODESK, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, REGARDING THESE MATERIALS AND MAKES SUCH MATERIALS AVAILABLE SOLELY ON AN “AS-IS” BASIS. IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTODESK, INC. BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR SPECIAL, COLLATERAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF PURCHASE OR USE OF THESE MATERIALS. THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY TO AUTODESK, INC., REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE MATERIALS DESCRIBED HEREIN. Autodesk, Inc. reserves the right to revise and improve its products as it sees fit. This publication describes the state of this product at the time of its publication, and may not reflect the product at all times in the future.

Autodesk Trademarks The following are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries: 3D Props, 3D Studio, 3D Studio MAX, 3D Studio VIZ, 3DSurfer, 3ds max, ActiveShapes, ActiveShapes (logo), Actrix, ADI, AEC Authority (logo), AEC-X, Animator Pro, Animator Studio, ATC, AUGI, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Map, Autodesk, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk (logo), Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Streamline, Autodesk University (logo), Autodesk View, Autodesk WalkThrough, Autodesk World, AutoLISP, AutoSketch, backdraft, Biped, bringing information down to earth, Buzzsaw, CAD Overlay, Character Studio, Cinepak, Cinepak (logo), Codec Central, Combustion, Design Your World, Design Your World (logo), Discreet, EditDV, Education by Design, gmax, Heidi, HOOPS, Hyperwire, i-drop, Inside Track, IntroDV, Kinetix, MaterialSpec, Mechanical Desktop, NAAUG, ObjectARX, PeopleTracker, Physique, Planix, Powered with Autodesk Technology (logo), ProjectPoint, RadioRay, Reactor, Revit, Softdesk, Texture Universe, The AEC Authority, The Auto Architect, VISION*, Visual, Visual Construction, Visual Drainage, Visual Hydro, Visual Landscape, Visual Roads, Visual Survey, Visual Toolbox, Visual Tugboat, Visual LISP, Volo, WHIP!, and WHIP! (logo). The following are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries: AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT Learning Assistance, AutoCAD Simulator, AutoCAD SQL Extension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, Autodesk Envision, Autodesk Map, AutoSnap, AutoTrack, Built with ObjectARX (logo), Burn, Buzzsaw.com, CAiCE, Cinestream, Cleaner, Cleaner Central, ClearScale, Colour Warper, Content Explorer, Dancing Baby (image), DesignCenter, Design Doctor, Designer's Toolkit, DesignProf, DesignServer, Design Web Format, DWF, DWFwriter, DWG Linking, DXF, Extending the Design Team, GDX Driver, gmax (logo), gmax ready (logo),Heads-up Design, jobnet, lustre, ObjectDBX, onscreen onair online, Plans & Specs, Plasma, PolarSnap, Real-time Roto, Render Queue, Visual Bridge, Visual Syllabus, and Where Design Connects.

Autodesk Canada Inc. Trademarks The following are registered trademarks of Autodesk Canada Inc. in the USA and/or Canada, and/or other countries: discreet, fire, flame, flint, flint RT, frost, glass, inferno, MountStone, riot, river, smoke, sparks, stone, stream, vapour, wire. The following are trademarks of Autodesk Canada Inc., in the USA, Canada, and/or other countries: backburner, Multi-Master Editing.

Third Party Trademarks

All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Third Party Software Program Credits ACIS Copyright © 1989-2001 Spatial Corp. Portions Copyright © 2002 Autodesk, Inc. Copyright © 1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. International CorrectSpell™ Spelling Correction System © 1995 by Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products, N.V. All rights reserved. InstallShield™ 3.0. Copyright © 1997 InstallShield Software Corporation. All rights reserved. PANTONE ® Colors displayed in the software application or in the user documentation may not match PANTONE-identified standards. Consult current PANTONE Color Publications for accurate color. PANTONE ® and other Pantone, Inc. trademarks are the property of Pantone, Inc. © Pantone, Inc., 2002 Pantone, Inc. is the copyright owner of color data and/or software which are licensed to Autodesk, Inc., to distribute for use only in combination with certain Autodesk software products. PANTONE Color Data and/or Software shall not be copied onto another disk or into memory unless as part of the execution of this Autodesk software product. Portions Copyright © 1991-1996 Arthur D. Applegate. All rights reserved. Portions of this software are based on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. RAL DESIGN © RAL, Sankt Augustin, 2002 RAL CLASSIC © RAL, Sankt Augustin, 2002 Representation of the RAL Colors is done with the approval of RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung e.V. (RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Certification, re. Assoc.), D-53757 Sankt Augustin." Copyright © Stade de France - Macary, Zublena et Regembal, Costantini - Architectes, ADAGP - Paris - 2003 Typefaces from the Bitstream ® typeface library copyright 1992. Typefaces from Payne Loving Trust © 1996. All rights reserved. Genius™, Genius CAD Software GmbH and CoKG, licensed to Autodesk Inc. for limited use in connection with Genius™14, Geniu™ LT, Geniu™ Desktop, Genius™ Mold, Genius™ Motion, Genius™ Pool, Genius™ Profile, Genius™ SAP, Genius™ TNT, and Genius™ Vario. Cypress Enable™, Cypress Software, Inc. dBASE™, Ksoft, Inc. SPEC™, Associated Spring/Barnes Group, Inc. LUCA TCP/IP Package, Portions Copyright © 1997 Langener GmbH. All rights reserved. Stingray Objective Toolkit & Objective Grid © Rogue Wave Software, Inc. PKWARE Data Compression Library ©, PKWARE, Inc.

GOVERNMENT USE Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U. S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in FAR 12.212 (Commercial Computer Software-Restricted Rights) and DFAR 227.7202 (Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software), as applicable.

AutoCAD Electrical 2004 Essentials

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MODULE 1........................................................................................... 1

Exercise 1-1 Schematic Drafting and Editing Tools .......................................................1 Open a Drawing from the AutoCAD Electrical Demo Project ......................................2 Add Ladder Rungs .........................................................................................................4 Insert and Annotate a Relay Coil ...................................................................................5 Insert a Push Button – Consistent Catalog Selection ...................................................11 Insert Wire Jumpers .....................................................................................................15 Insert Second Push Button ...........................................................................................16 Trimming Wires ...........................................................................................................20 Inserting a Red Pilot Light ...........................................................................................21 Insert and Annotate Relay Contact...............................................................................23 AutoCAD Electrical Symbols ......................................................................................27

Exercise 1-2 Extract Basic Reports ...............................................................................28 Extract Bill of Material Report.....................................................................................28 Edit a Component.........................................................................................................31

Exercise 1-3 Wire Numbers ...........................................................................................38 Automatic Wire Numbers ............................................................................................38 Insert Push Button ........................................................................................................40 Insert a Device on a Vertical Wire ...............................................................................45 Wire Leaders ................................................................................................................47

Exercise 1-4 AutoCAD Electrical Templates and Circuits..........................................49 AutoCAD Electrical Configuration Settings ................................................................49 Layer Settings ..............................................................................................................52 AutoCAD Electrical Template with Ladders ...............................................................54 Revise Ladders .............................................................................................................56 3-Phase Template .........................................................................................................57 3-Phase Circuit .............................................................................................................59 Saving a Circuit............................................................................................................63 Inserting the Circuit......................................................................................................64 Copying a Circuit .........................................................................................................66


ii

MODULE 2 ......................................................................................... 67

Exercise 2-1 Project Drawing Sets..................................................................................67 Create New Project.......................................................................................................67 Add Drawings to a Project ...........................................................................................71 Remove a Drawing from the Project ............................................................................74 Replace a Drawing in the Project .................................................................................75 Select Existing Project..................................................................................................77

Exercise 2-2 Project Wide Tagging.................................................................................79 Wire Signals .................................................................................................................79 Destination Arrow........................................................................................................83 Source Arrow ...............................................................................................................85 Add Wire Numbers to the Project ................................................................................89 Cross-Reference Project ...............................................................................................92

Exercise 2-3 Project Wide Reports and Plotting ...........................................................94 Component Report .......................................................................................................94 Surf...............................................................................................................................96 Wire From/To Report...................................................................................................98 Plotting Project...........................................................................................................100

MODULE 3 ....................................................................................... 104

Exercise 3-1 PLC I/O .....................................................................................................104 Add a Ladder..............................................................................................................104 Inserting a PLC Module .............................................................................................107

Exercise 3-2 Module Appearance .................................................................................113 PLC Styles..................................................................................................................113 Inserting a PLC Module with Spacers and Breaks .....................................................117

Exercise 3-3 I/O Address-based Tagging .....................................................................121 Component Tag Format..............................................................................................121 Fence Insert ................................................................................................................123 Wire Number Format .................................................................................................127 Wire Numbers ............................................................................................................128

Student Workbook

iii

Exercise 3-4 Spreadsheet to PLC I/O...........................................................................130 Spreadsheet Format ....................................................................................................130 Ladder Settings ..........................................................................................................134 Generate the PLC I/O Drawings ................................................................................136

MODULE 4....................................................................................... 138

Exercise 4-1 Schematic Symbols and Parts Catalogs..................................................138 Symbol Naming Convention......................................................................................138 Create a Parent Symbol ..............................................................................................142

Exercise 4-2 Customize the Icon Menuing System......................................................153 Icon Menu Wizard......................................................................................................153 Adding An Icon Menu Page.......................................................................................158 Cut and Paste Icon Function.......................................................................................162

Exercise 4-3 Symbol Libraries ......................................................................................166 Library Search Path....................................................................................................166

Exercise 4-4 Parts Catalog Database............................................................................170 Catalog Filtering.........................................................................................................170 Adding a Catalog Entry..............................................................................................173 Add Catalog Entry With Subassembly.......................................................................179 BOM Copy.................................................................................................................184

MODULE 5....................................................................................... 186

Exercise 5-1 Extract Reports ........................................................................................186 Component Wire Connection Report .........................................................................186 PLC I/O Connection Report.......................................................................................188 Bill of Materials Report..............................................................................................191 Change the Report Format .........................................................................................193

Exercise 5-2 Export Report Data..................................................................................198 Save Report as Excel Spreadsheet..............................................................................198 Save Report as Text File ............................................................................................201

Exercise 5-3 Update Schematics from Spreadsheet ....................................................205 Export Data ................................................................................................................205 Update Drawing from Spreadsheet ............................................................................208


iv

Exercise 5-4 Re-Use, Re-Tag, Re-Sequence Drawings ................................................210 Project-Wide Update ..................................................................................................210

MODULE 6 ....................................................................................... 215

Exercise 6-1 "Smart" Panel Layouts from Schematics ..............................................215 Project-Wide Update ..................................................................................................215 Extract Schematic List for Panel Insertion .................................................................216 Inserting a Component From List...............................................................................220 Insert Multiple Components .......................................................................................222 Exception Report........................................................................................................225

Exercise 6-2 Bi-Directional Updates Between Schematics and Panel Layouts .........227 Panel Component Catalog Change.............................................................................227 Add a Name Plate.......................................................................................................232 Schematic Changes ....................................................................................................236

Exercise 6-3 Panel Symbols ...........................................................................................239 Create Panel Symbol ..................................................................................................239 Footprint Database Editor – Add Symbol ..................................................................245 Footprint Database Editor – "Draw" Symbol .............................................................251

Exercise 6-4 Items Numbers, Balloons, and BOM Report .........................................255 Item Numbers.............................................................................................................255 Panel Configuration....................................................................................................257 Balloon Insert .............................................................................................................259 Panel Bill of Materials................................................................................................261

Exercise 6-5 Merge Schematic Wire Connections.......................................................263 Define Wire Sequence................................................................................................263 Extract Wire Information ...........................................................................................266 Wire Connection as Report ........................................................................................269


Module 1

EXERCISE 1-1 SCHEMATIC DRAFTING AND EDITING TOOLS

This exercise provides an introduction to the AutoCAD Electrical schematic drafting tools while building a master control schematic circuit using the AE2004_Training project set.

In this exercise you will:

a. Open a drawing from the AutoCAD Electrical Demo Project.

b. Add ladder rungs.

c. Insert and annotate a relay coil.

d. Insert a push button and assign catalog information based upon other like items defined in the project drawing set.

e. Insert wire jumpers.

f. Observe the unique tag generation capability by inserting a second push button.

g. Trim wires.

h. Insert a red pilot light.

i. Insert and annotate relay contact to illustrate the "parent/child" relationship between schematic symbols.

j. Explode a symbol to illustrate that AutoCAD Electrical symbols are nothing more than a standard AutoCAD block with attributes.


2

When you are finished, your circuit will look as shown below.

Figure 1-1. Master control circuit.

Open a Drawing from the AutoCAD Electrical Demo Project

The AutoCAD Electrical Demo project contains nine interrelated drawings, though AutoCAD Electrical can extrapolate to many dozens or hundreds of interrelated drawings. In this section you will open the fourth drawing in the set for your master control circuit.

1. Select the PROJECT tool on the AutoCAD Electrical toolbar.

If the AE2004_Training project is not active by default, perform the following steps to open the AE2004_Training project.

2. Select the Pick Proj button.

3. If the AE2004_Training project is displayed in the list of recent projects, select AE2004_Training, otherwise you will need to locate it by selecting the Other Projects button.

4. Browse to the Program Files\Autodesk\AcadE 2004\Essentials\Student_Files folder and select the AE2004_Training.WDP file.

Student Workbook

3

If you did not install the training project in the default folder, you will need to browse to the target folder. AutoCAD Electrical may prompt you to verify the path to the drawing files once you select the project file.

Figure 1-2. Verify correct drawing path.

5. Select the Update button.

Figure 1-3. AutoCAD Electrical Project dialog.

6. Select DEMO04.DWG from the drawing list.

7. Select the Open button. If the No Project Database File Found dialog box appears, select OK. This dialog box defines a scratch database file for quickly accessing important project information.


4

Add Ladder Rungs

There are no rungs present on the ladder at line references 403 and 404. In this section you will add these ladder rungs.

1. Zoom up on the upper left part of the left-hand ladder. Make sure both hot and neutral vertical wires are displayed.

Figure 1-4. Upper left portion of ladder.

2. Select the ADD RUNG button (red horizontal line in middle).

3. Select anywhere between the two vertical bus wires. AutoCAD Electrical seeks to the left and to the right for the vertical bus wires and then places the rung in between at the closest line reference location.

Student Workbook

5

Figure 1-5. Rungs added, complete with connection dots.

Insert and Annotate a Relay Coil

In this section you will select a relay coil from the AutoCAD Electrical icon menu and insert it on a wire. In addition, you will assign catalog and description information to the relay.

1. Click the INS COMPONENT toolbar button.

2. Click Relay to display the Relay submenu.

Figure 1-6. AutoCAD Electrical Icon Menu - Relays.


6

3. Select the relay coil icon (1st row, 1st column of submenu).

4. Position the relay coil symbol right on top of the wire near the right hand end of the upper rung.

Figure 1-7. Placement of relay coil.

Note: The coil symbol should break the underlying ladder rung wire and reconnect. This works if you select directly on the "wire" or very near to it.

Once the relay symbol is inserted, the AutoCAD Electrical Insert/Edit Component dialog appears.

Student Workbook

7

Figure 1-8. AutoCAD Electrical Insert/Edit Component dialog.

Notice AutoCAD Electrical automatically determined a unique tag name for the new relay. The tag is based upon the line reference location that you inserted the symbol on. It is displayed in the upper left corner of the dialog.

The relay tag name calculated is "CR403". It is a Control Relay and it has been inserted on line reference 403. If you had inserted this symbol on line reference 404 then it would have automatically received a default tag name "CR404".

5. Type "MASTER CONTROL" and "RELAY" on the first and second description lines respectively.

Figure 1-9. Component's descriptions.


8

6. Click the Catalog lookup button in the BOM data area of the dialog.

Figure 1-10. Relay parts catalog.

Listed across the top are three search criteria. The large dialog list box shows all catalog numbers of components that meet this database query.

7. Pick 120 AC, 60Hz coil voltage from the right hand list box arrow.

8. Select the left-hand pop-up list box and select SQD (Square-D).

Student Workbook

9

Figure 1-11. Catalog search criteria.

9. Select the middle pop-up list and choose MASTER 600V MAX AC/DC.

10. Select the 4 NO (Convertible) entry -- "NO" means "Normally Open" contacts


10

Figure 1-12. Catalog selection for master relay.

11. Click OK on the catalog selection dialog.

The manufacturer code and the catalog number are transferred to the main dialog.

Figure 1-13. Catalog assigned to relay coil.

12. Select OK on the main Insert/Edit dialog and all of the annotation transfers to the newly inserted relay coil symbol.

Student Workbook

11

Sample catalog information is furnished with the default AutoCAD Electrical installation. The information is held in tables in an Access Database file (".mdb") which are populated with sample vendor data. You must expand and modify these tables to meet your specific BOM reporting needs. You can do this using tools provided with AutoCAD Electrical or through the use of a database program that can read/write the Access file format.

Insert a Push Button – Consistent Catalog Selection

In this section you will insert a standard push button with a normally open contact. You will then use the AutoCAD Electrical catalog "project-find" to assign a catalog number consistent with the other push buttons in the project set.

1. Select the INS COMPONENT tool and then click

PUSH on the main menu (upper left one).

2. On the push button submenu, pick the upper left hand one

(standard, Normally Open contact).


12

Figure 1-14. Push button icon menu.

3. Insert it into the wire as shown below.

Figure 1-15. Push button placement.

Note that AutoCAD Electrical automatically assigns a unique component tag name based on the insertion point’s line reference number, "PB403".

4. Type in the two-line description SYSTEM and RESET but don’t press Enter or OK yet.

Student Workbook

13

Figure 1-16. Push button annotation.

5. Select Find: Proj on the lower left corner of the main edit dialog.

Figure 1-17. Catalog project find.

6. Pick Current project and click OK on the dialog and again OK to QSAVE.

AutoCAD Electrical makes a quick search of all drawings in the project, looking for all instances of a standard push button with a normally open contact.


14

In moments AutoCAD Electrical returns from its search and displays this dialog showing all the instances of push buttons in your project.

Figure 1-18. Push button catalog information across project.

7. Highlight the AB 800EP-F2 entry and click Quick BOM chk. Once you are done viewing the Quick BOM report, click the Close button.

AutoCAD Electrical displays what its BOM data will look like.

Figure 1-19. Quick BOM check.

8. Pick the AB item, 800EP-F2, in the dialog to make your newly inserted PB match one already in use. Select OK to return the dialog and select OK again to close the Insert/Edit dialog.

Student Workbook

15

Figure 1-20. Push button with catalog assigned from project.

Insert Wire Jumpers

Now you need to tie a couple wire jumpers between the two new rungs.

1. Select the INSERT WIRE button from the AutoCAD

Electrical toolbar.

2. Pick the start and end points of each jumper. Place the jumpers as shown below, somewhat close together (the reason for this will become apparent a bit later). Make sure that each pick point lands right on or is very close to the existing horizontal wires. Undo if you make a mistake.


16

Figure 1-21. Inserted wire jumpers.

Insert Second Push Button

In this section you will insert a second push button on line reference 403. This lesson will illustrate the AutoCAD Electrical tag generating capabilities.

1. Insert another push button but this time click

Normally Closed MUSHROOM Head from the icon menu.

2. Insert it into the upper wire between the two jumpers you just inserted.

Figure 1-22. Second push button.

Look at the upper left-hand corner of the INSERT\EDIT dialog that is displayed. Note that AutoCAD Electrical automatically assigned tag name "PB403A". It added the "A" suffix because this is your second push button on this line reference. AutoCAD Electrical keeps component tags unique (you can re-define this suffix list to be numeric or whatever you want).

Student Workbook

17

Figure 1-23. Unique push button tag.

Now you need to enter the description EMERGENCY STOP. There are two ways to enter this generic description: You could type it in, or pick from the Defaults list.

3. Click the List desc: Defaults button in the Description section of the dialog.


18

Figure 1-24. Description defaults.

This dialog is displayed. It lists various standard component descriptions.

4. Pick the EMERGENCY|STOP line.

The default description list is a simple text file that you can set up with your company’s standard nomenclature. The "|" symbol directs AutoCAD Electrical to break the description into two lines. Anything after the ";" (semi-colon) is ignored. Selecting a description from this file saves time and promotes consistency. You can even include multiple languages as illustrated below.

Student Workbook

19

Figure 1-25. Multiple language description defaults.

5. Select OK to return to the Insert/Edit dialog.

6. Finish up by selecting Catalog lookup and selecting a red mushroom head push-button, AB 800T-D6A with 1 NO - 1 NC contacts. Then click OK to exit the dialog.


20

Figure 1-26. Push button values.

7. Select OK to exit.

Trimming Wires

You need to get rid of the section of wire that is "short circuiting" your Emergency Stop push-button.

1. Select the Trim Wire tool and just pick on the section of wire

that you want removed.

Student Workbook

21

Figure 1-27. Shorting wire.

AutoCAD Electrical follows the wire in each direction from your "cut" point until it finds other wires coming in from above or below. It trims the wire at each point and automatically removes the connection dot if it is no longer needed.

Figure 1-28. Shorting wire removed.

Inserting a Red Pilot Light

1. From the main component icon menu pick the light

bulb icon (3rd row, right hand side).

2. Pick the "RED" light on the submenu (upper left-hand corner).


22

Figure 1-29. Pilot Light icon menu.

3. Position it as shown, right below the relay coil. Having SNAP on will make this task easier.

Figure 1-30. Pilot Light placed.

Note that AutoCAD Electrical gives it the tag name "LT404" because the pilot light is on line reference 404.

4. Enter a description of POWER and ON.

5. Select Catalog lookup and select the AB 800H-PR16R light.

6. Click OK.

Student Workbook

23

Insert and Annotate Relay Contact

In this section you'll finish up the circuit with a normally open relay contact to seal around your RESET push button contact. Pressing the reset button picks up the relay and the seal contact keeps the relay energized as the button is released.

Figure 1-31. Seal contact needed.

1. Click INSERT Component to display the main menu

then select the RELAY icon (top row, right hand side).

2. From the submenu select a Normally Open contact.

3. Insert this normally open relay contact just below the RESET push button. This will act as a "seal" contact around the push button..

Figure 1-32. Seal contact placement.


24

The INSERT / EDIT dialog is displayed. Note that AutoCAD Electrical does not automatically calculate a tag name for a relay contact (there is just a generic "CR" in the dialog edit box in the upper left-hand corner). You must determine a relay contact tag. A relay contact is a "child" component that must link to a "parent" relay coil on the present drawing or some other drawing in the multi-drawing project. The child gets the same name that is found on the parent relay coil.

Figure 1-33. "Child" contact.

You need to assign the appropriate parent’s tag name to this relay contact. AutoCAD Electrical gives you many ways to find the parent and do the necessary annotation. In this particular case the easiest method is to just physically pick on the parent relay coil that this contact is to be tied to.

Figure 1-34. "Child" contact needs to be related to "parent".

Student Workbook

25

4. In the upper left corner of the dialog, find and click Parent\Sibling button.

5. The dialog closes and prompts you to pick the parent coil. Just select any part of the parent relay coil "CR403" on screen (Select on the circle of the coil or on any text associated with the coil – don’t pick a point in empty space near the relay).

Figure 1-35. "Child" contact annotated from "parent" information.

The Insert/Edit dialog reappears and the parent’s tag and description text is transferred to the contact.

6. Select OK.

The coil is annotated with the line reference number of the new child contact and the child contact gets annotated with the line reference location of the parent coil.

Figure 1-36. Real-time cross-referencing.


26

Note: Real-time cross-referencing takes place on the active drawing. AutoCAD Electrical can be optionally configured to do real-time updates across the entire drawing set, but in its default mode, automated "batch" utilities are used to cross-reference parent and child contacts that are spread out over multiple drawings.

Student Workbook

27

AutoCAD Electrical Symbols

AutoCAD Electrical uses stock AutoCAD blocks and attributes in its library symbols. The symbols can be any size and any width. There is no external support file or database to register a symbol for use in an AutoCAD Electrical wiring diagram drawing. To illustrate this, we will explode the relay coil inserted earlier.

1. Use the AutoCAD Explode command and select on relay coil CR403.

Figure 1-37. Exploded symbol.

2. Undo the exploded block as you will need this relay coil in future exercises.

3. Run an AutoCAD attribute edit on the push button. Since this component is just an AutoCAD block, you can make attribute changes by using the AutoCAD attribute edit command.

Figure 1-38. AutoCAD attribute edit.


28

EXERCISE 1-2 EXTRACT BASIC REPORTS

This exercise provides an introduction to the "intelligent design" philosophy of AutoCAD Electrical and shows how this relates to the flow of data for down stream documentation (reports).


a. Extract a Bill of Materials (BOM) report.

b. Locate the new devices (added in the previous exercise) within the BOM report.

c. Change a device catalog assignment on the drawing.

d. Rerun the BOM report and locate the new catalog assignment.

e. Insert Bill of Materials table.

Extract Bill of Material Report

You can extract a BOM report at any time. It will contain a tally of components for which you’ve assigned catalog information.

1. Click the RPT fly-out toolbar button and then the BOM

toolbar button.

Student Workbook

29

Figure 1-39. Report dialog.

2. Click Current drawing and then OK.

3. Click OK when you are prompted for a QSAVE.

In a few moments the BOM report will display on your screen.


30

Figure 1-40. Extracted Bill of Material report.

4. Scroll through the report looking for the relay coil and two push buttons that you inserted earlier.

Figure 1-41. Bill of Materials for push button inserted earlier.

Student Workbook

31

You should see the relay coil and two push buttons that you just inserted. In the case of the standard push-button, note that it is an indented bill-of-materials. The push-button consists of an assembly of three catalog items. AutoCAD Electrical supports this type of subassembly BOM reports.

5. Click Close to continue.

Edit a Component

You can go back to any component at any time and make changes. In this exercise you will change the catalog assignment and add a location code for the pilot light inserted earlier.

1. Click the EDIT COMP toolbar button and pick the red pilot

light on line reference 404.

The familiar INSERT/EDIT dialog displays and is pre-filled with values from the selected component.

Figure 1-42. Current pilot light values.


32

AutoCAD Electrical provides for assigning a Location code to a component. The Location code can be used to filter reports, and to enable wire from/to reporting. This pilot light will be located in the main cabinet #5.

Figure 1-43. Location code.

2. Select the List: Dwg button in the Location Code area of the dialog.

Figure 1-44. Location Codes used on Drawing.

3. Select MCAB5 and OK.

4. Click Catalog lookup.

AutoCAD Electrical opens the on-line catalog database file for red standard pilot lights, pops open a dialog box, finds the record that matches the currently assigned catalog number (AB 800H-PR16R), and highlights this entry in the dialog.

Student Workbook

33

Figure 1-45. Current pilot light catalog assignment.

You see that the assigned catalog number is for a plastic lens, corrosion resistant, 120VAC transformer type red pilot light. You really want it to be a full-voltage type with a glass lens and you prefer the 800T series.

5. Change the right-hand pop-up list to 120 AC/DC FULL VOLT.


34

Figure 1-46. Voltage selection.

6. Change the middle field to "*ALL*" (this should be at the bottom of the pop-up list box).

This causes AutoCAD Electrical to ignore this field in its search for matching records. It’s like an "*" wild card search on the middle field.

Figure 1-47. Type selection.

Student Workbook

35

There are a dozen or so catalog numbers that meet the search criteria (i.e. all "Allen-Bradley 120V full voltage red standard pilot lights). Look for the 800T unit with the glass lens.

7. Select the third entry down.

Figure 1-48. 800T-Q10J catalog selection.

8. Select OK to return to the Insert/Edit dialog. Select OK to exit.

You will be prompted to Scan the project for related components.

9. Select the Skip button since there are no related components.

10. Re-run the BOM report.

11. Click Current drawing and then OK.

12. Click OK when you are prompted for a QSAVE.

13. Look for the red pilot light.


36

Figure 1-49. Pilot light's new catalog assignment.

14. Select the PUT ON DWG button.

Figure 1-50. Insert Report as Table.

15. Click OK.

Student Workbook

37

16. Select location for upper left-hand corner of the table.

Figure 1-51. Table Inserted.

17. Click Close to exit the report dialog.


38

EXERCISE 1-3 WIRE NUMBERS

In this exercise you will achieve an understanding of the process of automatically assigning wire numbers. You will also see how wire numbers are affected as you modify your master control circuit.


a. Add wire numbering to the active drawing.

b. Verify wire numbering on the master control circuit.

c. Use the AutoCAD Electrical Scoot command to make room for a second Emergency Stop button.

d. Observe the icon menu's "Dyna-stack" feature.

e. Insert a second Emergency Stop push button in your circuit using the AutoCAD Electrical "Just Like" command.

f. Insert relay contact in vertical power bus.

g. Observe how wire numbers adjust when Scoot is used.

Automatic Wire Numbers

You can add wire numbers to your drawing at any time. In this section you will add wire numbers automatically to your drawing.

1. Select the INS WIRENUMS tool.

Student Workbook

39

Figure 1-52. Wire tagging dialog.

2. Select Tag/re-tag ALL.

3. Select Line Ref mode.

4. Check the Crossref SIGs box.

5. Select the Dwg-wide button (lower right corner) to begin processing the entire drawing.

6. Zoom back up on the upper left area of the first ladder column.


40

Figure 1-53. Wire numbers added.

In this example, note how the wire numbers were tagged on line reference 403. AutoCAD Electrical works from left to right, top to bottom as it processes wire "networks". The wire following the SYSTEM RESET push button receives the wire number "403". The wire between the EMERGENCY STOP push button and the MASTER CONTROL RELAY gets the same number but with an "A" suffix to keep it unique.

Note: There are many variations on the way wires are numbered. The AutoCAD Electrical package is extremely flexible. For example, you might want numbers to replace the alpha suffixes added to wire numbers or you might want to predefine the hot and neutral bus wires with wire numbering based on a circuit breaker number.

Insert Push Button

The Master Control Circuit built in the previous exercise has only one Emergency Stop button. In this exercise you will add a second Emergency

Student Workbook

41

Stop push button in series with the first one. You will observe what happens to the wire numbers inserted previously.

First, you will need to make room in your circuit for this push button.

Figure 1-54. No room for second push button.

With a few quick hand motions, this can be accomplished with the SCOOT command. SCOOT is an AutoCAD Electrical utility that allows you to grab a component and slide it back and forth along the wire. Everything stays connected.

1. Click SCOOT on the toolbar.

2. Click one time on the middle of the vertical wire.

Figure 1-55. First vertical wire selected for scoot.

3. Scoot your mouse to the left and click again to anchor the vertical wire in its new position.


42

4. Grab the right jumper and scoot it to the right.

5. Then select anywhere on the mushroom head push button and scoot it to the left.

Figure 1-56. Wires and push button repositioned.

Note: Wire numbers automatically re-center.

6. Select the INS COMPONENT tool.

The far right-hand column contains the last half dozen components you inserted into the wiring diagram. This is called the "dyna-stack". AutoCAD Electrical constantly updates this, always keeping a list of the last six different component types you’ve inserted during your editing session. The normally closed Mushroom Head push button is there. You can quickly pick it from the stack instead of paging down into the menu to find it.

Student Workbook

43

Figure 1-57. Dyna-Stack with Mushroom Head push button.

7. Click the Mushroom Head push button on the dyna-stack.

8. Cancel out of the command by pressing the ESC key so you can try another insertion method.

You want to insert a new component just like another one. You can bypass the icon menu completely by using the AutoCAD Electrical Insert just like command.

9. Pick the Just like toolbar button.

10. Pick the "just like" component on your screen. Select anywhere on the existing mushroom head push-button.

11. Pick where you want the "just like" copy inserted.

The wires break and the regular INSERT / EDIT dialog is displayed. Values found on the "just like" symbol are pre-filled in the dialog as default values for you to accept or edit as required.

12. Add a "No. 2" to the second line of the description for this "just like" emergency stop push-button.


44

Figure 1-58. Second Emergency Stop push button.

13. Click OK.

Figure 1-59. Push button inserted, wire number added automatically.

Student Workbook

45

Insert a Device on a Vertical Wire

Your master control circuit is complete except that it doesn’t do anything. You need to add a contact from the relay in-line with the hot bus in order to control the supply power to the rest of the ladder.

1. Click INS COMPONENT to display the main icon menu.

2. Select RELAY and then select a Normally Closed

contact from the submenu.

3. Position it directly over the left-hand vertical bus just above line reference location 405.

Figure 1-60. Device over a vertical wire.

4. Click the location for the relay contact.

The contact will flip to a vertical version, align with the wire, and pop into place. With the contact inserted and the EDIT dialog displayed, you are ready to identify the parent relay coil that this new contact is related to.

Last time you used the Parent/Sibling method and picked on the parent coil. This time you will use an alternate method: you’ll pick the parent coil from a list of all coils found on the drawing.


46

5. Click the List--Dwg button.

This will extract all relay coil tags and descriptions found on the active drawing.

Figure 1-61. List of relay coil tags on the drawing.

6. Click the CR403 entry in the list.

7. Click OK and OK again to exit the Insert/Edit dialog.

The normally closed contact is annotated with the tag name and description and reference location of its parent coil, and the relay coil gets annotated with the contact’s reference location (line reference 405).

Student Workbook

47

Figure 1-62. Relay contact inserted and annotated.

Wire Leaders

AutoCAD Electrical places wire numbers on leaders when it determines that the wire number text bumps into something (it does NOT check if the leader itself will collide with something). Leader checks are triggered when wire numbers are inserted or they re-center due to an adjacent SCOOT operation. In this exercise you will scoot a component and observe how the wire numbers are affected.

1. Click SCOOT on the toolbar.

2. Select the RAM 01 RETRACTED limit switch on line reference 406.

3. Scoot the device over to the right towards the terminal.


48

Figure 1-63. Scoot limit switch.

4. Click to position the limit switch.

Figure 1-64. Wire number leader added.

Student Workbook

49

EXERCISE 1-4 AUTOCAD ELECTRICAL TEMPLATES AND CIRCUITS

In this exercise you will gain an understanding of the theory and benefit of using an AutoCAD Electrical template to easily create standard electrical drawings. While creating a template you will become familiar with the AutoCAD Electrical flexible configuration settings. You will also create, save, and insert a simple 3-phase circuit to illustrate the ease and benefit of creating pre-drawn circuits.


a. Examine the AutoCAD Electrical configuration settings.

b. Create a template without ladders.

c. Create a template with control ladders.

d. Start a new drawing with your control ladder template.

e. Revise your ladder line reference numbers.

f. Create a template with 3-phase ladders.

g. Create, save, and insert a 3-phase circuit.

AutoCAD Electrical Configuration Settings

In this exercise you will become familiar with AutoCAD Electrical configuration settings. These settings allow you to create electrical drawings that meet your standards. The settings are saved on the attributes of an invisible block, called WD_M.

1. Start a new drawing file from scratch.

2. Select the CONFIG DRAWING button on the toolbar.


50

AutoCAD Electrical will alert you that it needs to add the WD_M block to your blank drawing. This is the smart block that will hold all of the drawing's AutoCAD Electrical configuration settings.

Figure 1-65. Insert WD_M for configuration settings.

3. Click OK.

The invisible WD_M block is inserted at 0,0. The AutoCAD Electrical configuration dialog is shown.

Figure 1-66. AutoCAD Electrical configuration settings.

Student Workbook

51

Ladder Setup Ladder's orientation, width, rung spacing, and 3-phase space.

PLC Style Graphical representation of the PLC terminals.

Arrow Style Graphical representation of signal arrows.

Wire Cross Graphical representation options for when two wires cross. Options include a gap with no loop, a gap with a loop, and solid (no gap).

Referencing Drawing referencing style, X-Y Grid, X-Zones, or Line Reference numbers.

Component Tagging

Controls how components will be tagged when placed on the drawing.

Cross-Reference Format

Format for cross-reference text.

Scale Default insert scale of components.

Layers Layer assignments for the components, attributes, wires, and wire numbers.

Wire Fan-In/Out

Settings for the Fan-In/Out markers.

IEC Coding Values of the IEC codes for the project, installation, and location.

Sheet Sheet number for the current drawing

Dwg. No. Drawing number/name designator for the current drawing.

Wire Numbering

Controls how wire numbers will be assigned when inserted.


52

Layer Settings

AutoCAD Electrical automatically manages the wire and component layers you set up in the drawing’s configuration. No matter what layer is current, wires will always go to a wire layer and components to component layers. A "wire" is any LINE entity on a layer defined as an AutoCAD Electrical wire layer. Multiple wire layer names are allowed and wild card names are supported.

1. Select the Layers Setup button

Figure 1-67. Default layer settings.

2. Select the Add layer name button.

Figure 1-68. Add layer.

Student Workbook

53

3. Enter RED* and click OK.

4. Repeat same steps to add BLK* and WHT*.

5. Click OK on the Layers setup dialog and OK to exit the Config dialog.

Using the AutoCAD Layer Properties Manager, you need to create a few new layers for common wire types. It is also helpful, graphically, to assign a matching color to the layer name.

6. Type Layer at the command line.

Figure 1-69. AutoCAD Layer Properties Manager.

You will add RED_18AWG with RED as the defined color and WHT_14AWG with white as the defined color.


54

7. Select the New button.

8. Type RED_18AWG as the layer name.

9. Click on the color button for the layer, select RED and OK from the color dialog.

10. Repeat steps 7-9 to add WHT_14AWG with WHITE as the defined color and click OK to exit the Layer dialog.

11. Select the AutoCAD Save As command and AutoCAD Drawing Template (*.dwt) as the Files of Type. Enter AcadE_NoLadders as the file name and click Save.

12. Enter a description and click OK.

AutoCAD Electrical Template with Ladders

In this exercise, you will create a template containing two control ladders.

1. Start a new drawing using your AcadE_NoLadders template.

2. Select the Insert Ladder button on the toolbar.

Student Workbook

55

Figure 1-70. Insert new ladder options.

Notice, the default values match the configuration settings set up in the first template.

3. Enter 15 for the number of rungs.

4. Enter 1 as the first reference number.

5. Click OK.

6. Click once to indicate the upper left-hand corner of the ladder, or enter a specific coordinate.

7. Repeat the same steps to insert a second ladder column. The first reference number should default to 16, if not, enter 16.

8. Save your template as AcadE_TwoLadders as described earlier.


56

Revise Ladders

Each time you start a new drawing using your template with ladders, you may need to revise your ladder's line reference numbers. In this exercise, you will start a new drawing using your AcadE_TwoLadders template and use the AutoCAD Electrical Revise Ladders command.

1. Start a new drawing using your AcadE_TwoLadders template.

2. Select the Revise Ladder button under the Insert Ladder

toolbar.

Figure 1-71. Revise ladder line reference numbers.

3. Enter 101 as the first reference number on the first ladder.

4. Enter 201 as the first reference number for the second ladder.

Figure 1-72. Modified line reference numbers.

Student Workbook

57

5. Click OK.

Figure 1-73. Revised ladders.

3-Phase Template

In this section you will create a 3-phase template that can be used to create new drawings with 3-phase ladders.

1. Start a new drawing using your AcadE_NoLadders template.

2. Select the Insert Ladder button.

3. Select the 3-Phase button on the ladder dialog.

4. Enter 101 as the first reference number.


58

Figure 1-74. 3-Phase ladder options.

Last time you specified the number of rungs. This time you will dynamically define the length of your ladder.

5. Select OK.

6. Click once to indicate the upper left-hand corner of the ladder, and watch the ladder expand as you pull your mouse down.

7. Click again to indicate the lower left-hand corner of the ladder.

8. Repeat these steps to insert a second 3-phase ladder, entering 201 as the first reference.

9. Save your template as AcadE_3phLadders as described earlier.

Student Workbook

59

3-Phase Circuit

In this section you will create a 3-phase circuit that can be inserted on an AutoCAD Electrical drawing at any time. 3-pole components are built as they are inserted, and will adapt to the underlying wire spacing.

1. Start a new drawing using your AcadE_3phLadders template.

2. Select the 3-Phase Wire button under the Ins Wire

flyout.

Figure 1-75. 3-Phase bus.

3. Select the Starting at component or another bus.

4. Click OK.

5. Pick on the left hand vertical bus next to the line reference number 102.

6. Pull the cursor slowly to the right as the second and third phases latch on to their appropriate vertical wires. Continue to the right about two-thirds of the way across the column.


60

Figure 1-76. Insert 3-Phase wiring.

7. Click to select the end of the 3-phase wiring.

Next you will insert a few 3-pole components to make a simple circuit.

8. Select the Fuses/CB button from the Ins Component

menu.

9. Select the 3-pole Fuse button.

10. Position the first fuse on top of the upper horizontal phase and click.

AutoCAD Electrical breaks the wire, reconnects, and inserts the other two poles. Each pole finds and connects to the underlying wire. AutoCAD Electrical presents the normal EDIT dialog that allows you to annotate the "parent" first pole of the 3-pole fuse.

11. Click OK.

Figure 1-77. 3-pole fuse inserted.

Student Workbook

61

12. Select the Brkrs Disc button on the Fuses/CB

icon menu page.

13. Select the 3-Pole Disconnect button.

14. Click at the right end of the top wire to insert the disconnect switch.

Figure 1-78. 3-pole disconnect inserted.

15. Click OK to exit the Insert/Edit dialog.

16. Select the Motor Control button on the Ins

Component menu.

17. Select the 3-Phase Motor button.

18. Click to insert it into the center phase of the 3-phase bus.

Figure 1-79. 3-phase motor inserted.


62


20. Select the Trim Wire button to remove the top and bottom

phases between the disconnect and motor that did not connect automatically.

21. Select the Ins Wire button.

22. Pick on the circle of the motor symbol near its 11 o'clock position.

Figure 1-80. Connect motor.

23. Move your cursor over to the left and pick on any point on the upper disconnect switch.

24. Repeat this process starting at the 7 o'clock position and ending on the bottom disconnect switch.

25. Select the Motor Control button on the Ins

Component menu.

26. Select the 3-Pole Motor Contact with Overload.

27. Click on the upper phase wire between the fuse and disconnect switch. Click OK to exit the Insert/Edit dialog.

Student Workbook

63

Figure 1-81. 3-Phase Circuit.

You now have a simple 3-phase circuit that can be saved and inserted at any time.

Saving a Circuit

In this section you will save your circuit allowing you to insert it "pre-drawn" at any time on any drawing.

1. Zoom window around the circuit so that it fills your screen.

2. Select the Save Circuit button on the Circuits flyout.

Figure 1-82. Save Circuit.


64

You need to select a circuit number for your user circuit. Valid, unassigned names/numbers are shown in the upper dialog. Existing circuit names are displayed in the lower box.

3. Select circ1 for your circuit.

4. Enter My Circuit in the description box.

5. Click OK.

You are prompted to pick the insertion Base Point for your circuit.

6. Pick the left-most wire connection point where the circuit ties in to the left-hand vertical bus.

7. Window around the circuit, capture all the components and wiring but exclude the vertical bus and press ENTER.

A dialog displays telling you that the circuit is now saved and an icon has been added to the menu for easy access.

8. Click OK.

Student Workbook

65

Inserting the Circuit

You are now ready to insert your circuit. For this exercise you can insert it on the same drawing started with the 3-phase template.

1. Zoom up on an empty space on one of the ladders.

2. Select the Ins User Circuit button on the Circuits flyout.

Figure 1-83. Insert User Circuit

The left button in the top row should look like your circuit.

3. Select the My Circuit button.

Figure 1-84. Circuit Options


66

4. Keep the default options and click OK.

5. Select the insertion point.

Your circuit is inserted and retagged as necessary. If your circuit contained wire numbers they also would be updated on insertion.

Note: use the Insert Wblocked Circuit button to insert any circuits created using the standard AutoCAD Wblock command.

Copying a Circuit

For this exercise you will copy a circuit using the AutoCAD Electrical Copy Circuit command.

1. Select the Copy Circuit tool on the AutoCAD Electrical

toolbar.

2. Window the 3-phase circuit from the previous section and press the ENTER key.

3. Select a base point for the copy and then the new insertion point.

The circuit has been copied and its component tags have been updated. You may need to update wire numbers using the Wire Numbers command.

Student Workbook

67

Module 2

EXERCISE 2-1 PROJECT DRAWING SETS

This exercise provides a further understanding of the AutoCAD Electrical Project, the project file, and how drawings are related in an AutoCAD Electrical project.


a. Create a new project.

b. Add information to the project title lines.

c. Add drawings to the project list.

d. Remove a drawing from the project list.

e. Replace a drawing in the project list.

f. Change the order of the drawing list.

g. Activate an existing project.

Create New Project

In this section you will create a new project file of your own, enter some descriptive information for the project, and examine the symbol library path.


2. Select the New Proj button.


68

Figure 2-1. New Project Name.

3. Set the path to point to the Essentials\Student_Files folder, by default installed under the Program Files\Autodesk\AcadE 2004 folder.

4. Enter NEWPROJ as the file name. The .WDP extension is added automatically. Click Save.

Figure 2-2. Project Title Lines.

Student Workbook

69

AutoCAD Electrical allows an unlimited number of project description lines. Information you put in this dialog can be included in BOM, component, and wiring reports generated for the project (select the "in reports" toggle in the right-hand column to include these lines in various reports). These values can also be "mapped" to your drawing’s title blocks.

5. Enter Your Name as project description Line1. Toggle "on" the associated "in reports" check box.

6. Enter Company Name as project description Line2. Toggle "on" the associated "in reports" check box.

7. Enter Your City as project description Line3. Toggle "on" the associated "in reports" check box.

8. Enter Your State as project description Line4. Toggle "on" the associated "in reports" check box.

9. Click OK and OK again to use the drawing's settings as the project defaults.

Figure 2-3. New Project.


70

A default value is assigned to the symbol library search path. This path is used each time you insert an AutoCAD Electrical symbol from the AutoCAD Electrical menu. AutoCAD Electrical provides three different sets of library symbols and allows for your own library symbols.

10. Select the Symbol LIB button.

Figure 2-4. Library Search Paths.

11. Leave the library paths as they are and select OK.

12. Select the OK Proj button and OK to build the scratch database if prompted.

You have created a new project and activated it.

Student Workbook

71

Add Drawings to a Project

Your project file should contain a list of the drawings that are part of the project. When you run project-wide functions, the drawings (or a subset) listed in the project will be processed. When you add a drawing to the project, it adds the drawing name and path to the project file. Similarly, when you remove a drawing from the project, it removes the drawing name from the project list. In either case, the drawing itself is not created, modified, or deleted.

1. Start a new drawing and Save As Sample1 to the Essentials\Student_Files folder, by default installed under the Program Files\Autodesk\AcadE 2004 folder. Make sure the Files of Type is AutoCAD 2004 drawing (*.dwg).


3. Select the Add CURRENT button.

Figure 2-5. Current Drawing Added.


72

4. Select the sec/sub/desc button.

Figure 2-6. Drawing Description, Section Codes.

5. Enter My first sample drawing as the description.

6. Select OK.

7. Use the dwg and desc buttons to switch the drawing list display.

8. Select OK Proj.

Now we need a few more drawings to add to the project.

9. Save your current drawing to the Essentials\Student_Files folder, using the AutoCAD Save As command, as Sample2, Sample3, and Sample4.


11. Select the Add button.

Student Workbook

73

Figure 2-7. Add Drawings to Project.

12. Select Multiple.

Figure 2-8. Folder Containing Drawings.

13. Select the Essentials\Student_Files folder.

Figure 2-9. Drawings in Folder.


74

14. Select the Sample2, Sample3, and Sample4 .dwg files and OK.

Figure 2-10. Multiple Drawings Added.

15. Select OK Proj.

Remove a Drawing from the Project

Removing a drawing from the project removes the drawing name from the project list, making this drawing unavailable for processing in project-wide functions. The drawing file itself is not affected when it is removed from the project.


2. Select the Sample4 drawing in the list.

3. Select the Remove button.

Student Workbook

75

Figure 2-11. Remove Drawing from Project.

4. Select the Remove selected dwg button.

Figure 2-12. Drawing Removed from Project.

5. Click OK Proj.

Replace a Drawing in the Project

Using the skills learned in the previous exercises you could add SAMPLE4.DWG back to the project and remove SAMPLE2.DWG from the


76

project. To make this process a little faster you could just replace SAMPLE2 with SAMPLE4.


2. Select the Sample2 drawing in the list.

3. Select the Remove button.

Figure 2-13. Remove/Replace Drawing from Project.

4. Select the Replace button.

Figure 2-14. Drawing for Replacement.

5. Select the Sample4 drawing and click on the Open button.

Student Workbook

77

Figure 2-15. Sample2.dwg Replaced with Sample4.dwg.

6. Click OK Proj to exit the Project dialog.

The Replace function is helpful to add drawings while maintaining the order the drawings appear in the list. This is important because the AutoCAD Electrical project-wide functions process the drawings in the order they appear in the drawing list.

Select Existing Project

In the previous exercises, you created a new project file, NEWPROJ.WDP. We now have access to at least two project files, the AutoCAD Electrical Demo Project and your new project. In this exercise, you will re-activate the AutoCAD Electrical Demo Project.



78

2. Select the Pick Proj button.

Figure 2-16. Recent Projects List.

3. Select the AE2004_Training.WDP sample project file.

4. Select OK.

5. Select OK Proj.

When you select a project, you are activating the drawing set for any project-wide functions (covered later). In addition, there are a number of settings carried in the project file.

Student Workbook

79

EXERCISE 2-2 PROJECT WIDE TAGGING

A number of the AutoCAD Electrical tagging and formatting routines may be run project wide. This means that with a few selections you could add wire numbers, add cross-referencing text, retag components, or re-sequence your ladders across all the drawings in the project. In this exercise you will cover wire numbers and cross-referencing. In a later exercise you will cover re-sequencing the ladders and retagging components.


a. Insert Wire Signals from one drawing to another.

b. Add wire numbers across the project.

c. Cross-reference the project.

Wire Signals

AutoCAD Electrical fully supports wire number "signals" that can carry a wire number over from one location to another. For example, a wire number can jump from one column to the next, from one drawing to the next, or from drawing 35 back to drawings 2, 10, and 25 and forward to drawing 44.

In this section you will add wire signal arrows to take a wire from drawing DEMO03 to DEMO02, through a motor starter contact, then to drawing DEMO04 to energize a pilot light.

1. Select the PROJECT tool, select DEMO03, and the Open

button to open the DEMO03 drawing.

2. Zoom up on the bottom of the right-hand ladder.


80

Figure 2-17. Existing Source Arrow.

In the first part of this exercise, you will add another destination to the existing Motors Connected source signal shown on line reference 330.

3. Select the Prev Dwg toolbar button to open DEMO02.

4. Zoom up on the bottom of the left-hand ladder.

Figure 2-18. Existing Motor Circuit.

Your first task will be to add a motor aux. contact along with some short wire segments on each side.

5. Select the Motor Control icon from the Insert Icon

Menu.

6. Select the N.O. Motor Starter contact.

Student Workbook

81

7. Select a location on line 217 aligned with the 3-pole contact.

8. Select the Parent/Sibling button and click on one of the contacts of the 3-pole contact to relate this new contact and click OK to exit the Insert/Edit dialog.

Figure 2-19. Contact Added.

Now you want to connect the contacts with dashed link lines.

9. Select the Dashed Link Lines toolbar button.

You are prompted to select the component to link from.

10. Select anywhere on the bottom contact of the 3-pole contact.

You are prompted to select the component to link to.

11. Select anywhere on the aux. contact just added and press ENTER.


82

Figure 2-20. Dashed Link Lines Added.

Now you need to add short wire segments off each side of the contact.

12. Select Insert Wire toolbar button.

13. Select about an inch to the left of the contact and pull the cursor over to the right, about an inch past the contact, and click.

Figure 2-21. Wire Segments Added.

The wire is broken automatically across the contact to create two wire segments.

Student Workbook

83

Destination Arrow

Since there is already an existing source wire signal you are now ready to add the destination arrow directing the wire from the Motors Connected breaker on drawing DEMO03.

1. Select the Destination button on the Source/Destination

flyout.

2. Pick on the unconnected end of the left wire.

Figure 2-22. Signal Destination.

To match this destination arrow with the correct source arrow you need to know the source "code" assigned to the source signal on drawing DEMO03.

3. Select on the Project button. QSAVE if prompted to do so.


84

Figure 2-23. Project Signal Source Codes.

4. Select on the Motors Connected entry and OK.

5. Select OK+ update SRC on the Destination dialog.

Figure 2-24. Destination Signal Added.

The line reference information is added. This was pulled directly from the source signal wire on drawing DEMO03. The wire number may appear as “???” until you add wire numbers across the project.

Student Workbook

85

Source Arrow

The next part of this exercise will carry this signal through the motor contact to a pilot light on drawing DEMO04.

1. Select the Source Arrow button on the

Source/Destination flyout.

2. Select on the end of the right-hand wire.

Figure 2-25. Adding Source Signal.

You need to assign a "source code" to this wire. The source code can be any text string including spaces.

3. Enter M425 AUX N.O. as the Source CODE and OK.

Figure 2-26. Destination Prompt.

Since the destination arrow will be on drawing DEMO04, you will answer No to this prompt. If the destination arrow was on the same drawing you could respond OK and insert the destination arrow right away.


86

4. Select No.

Figure 2-27. Source Signal Added.

The signal arrow is added without any reference. At this point the wire may show “???” until you add wire numbers across the project Now you will add the destination for this source signal.

5. To open DEMO04, select the PROJECT tool, select

DEMO04 from the drawing list, and click on the Open button. Make sure you Save the drawing when prompted.

6. Zoom up on line reference 405.

7. Insert a short piece of wire starting at the right side of the bus

and extend it to the left.

Figure 2-28. Wire Segment Added.

Student Workbook

87

You want a pilot light just like the one right above it on line 404.

8. Select the Insert Like toolbar button.

You are prompted to pick the "just like" component.

9. Select anywhere on pilot light LT404.

10. Select the location on the wire segment.

11. Enter INDEXING MOTOR as Desc 1.

12. Enter RUNNING as Desc 2.

13. Enter MCAB5 as LOC.

14. Click OK.

Figure 2-29. Pilot Light Added.

15. Select the Destination button.

16. Select the left end of the left wire segment.


88

Figure 2-30. Add Destination Code.

17. Select the Recent button.

Figure 2-31. Recent Source Codes.

18. Select the M425 AUX N.O. entry and OK.

19. Select the OK+update SRC button.

Student Workbook

89

Figure 2-32. Destination Arrow Added.

Notice the "from 217" reference automatically added. The "???" is added since no wire number was added to the source wire yet. You will add wire numbers project-wide in the next exercise. This source/destination pair will receive the same wire number then.

Add Wire Numbers to the Project

Previously, you added wire numbers to just the active drawing. In this exercise you will add/update wire numbers to all the schematic drawings in the AutoCAD Electrical Demo project.

1. Select the Auto Wire Nums toolbar button.

Figure 2-33. Assign Wire Numbers.

2. Select Proj-wide.


90

Figure 2-34. Project-wide Wire Numbers.

3. Select Reference-based tags.

4. Select Tag/re-tag ALL.

5. Toggle on Crossref SIGs.

6. Click OK.

Figure 2-35. Select drawings to process.

Student Workbook

91

7. Select Do all to process all the drawings in the project.

8. Click OK.

You will be asked if you want to create a back-up ZIP file of the project. This allows you to create a back-up set of drawings prior to running this project wide operation. You must supply a suitable "zip" program, and configure AutoCAD Electrical to "call" it.

9. Click No backup.

10. Click OK to save.

You will be returned to drawing DEMO04 when the wire numbering is complete.

11. Zoom up on the upper portion of the left-hand ladder.

Figure 2-36. Wire Numbers Added.

Notice the wire number assigned to the wire coming into pilot light, LT405. This wire number comes directly from the motor aux. contact on drawing DEMO02.


92

Cross-Reference Project

When you cross-reference a drawing or project, AutoCAD Electrical inserts the cross-reference text on to each parent device (ex: coil, timer coil, first contact of multi-contact switch) and on each contact pointing back at the parent device.

1. Select the Cross-Reference toolbar button.

Figure 2-37. Cross-Reference Dialog.

2. Select Project (batch run) and click OK.

3. Select Do all to process all the drawings in the project and click OK.

Each drawing will be activated and processed to add the cross-reference text. Two reports are generated during this process. When the cross-referencing is complete, the first report, the Error/Exception report, is displayed.

Student Workbook

93

Figure 2-38. Cross-Reference Exception Report.

4. Select the Xref button to display the Cross-Reference report.

Figure 2-39. Cross-Reference Report.

5. Select Close.


94

EXERCISE 2-3 PROJECT WIDE REPORTS AND PLOTTING

AutoCAD Electrical provides a number of project-wide reporting functions and the ability to plot your project drawings.


a. Extract a project-wide component report.

b. "Surf" through the project on a specific component tag.

c. Extract a project-wide wire from/to report.

d. Step through the process to plot the entire project.

Component Report

AutoCAD Electrical can perform a project-wide extract of all components found on your wiring diagram set. This data includes component tags, location codes, location reference, description text, ratings, catalog information, and block names.

1. Select the Component Report button on the Report

toolbar flyout.

Student Workbook

95

Figure 2-40. Component Report Options.

2. Select Project and click OK.

3. Select to Do all from the project drawing list and click OK.

Note: AutoCAD Electrical maintains a "scratch" database for a project, stored in Microsoft Access format, to speed up certain project-wide operations. This file is for scratch use only, it is not part of the intelligence stored in an AutoCAD Electrical project. All intelligence is derived straight from the AutoCAD ".dwg" files themselves.

AutoCAD Electrical may ask permission to "freshen" the database when it senses that one or more drawings in the current project’s drawing list has changed.


96

Figure 2-41. Component Report.

4. Select Close to exit the report.

Surf

The Surf utility allows you to quickly move from reference to reference across the project drawing set.

1. Open drawing DEMO04 from the AE2004_Training project.

2. Zoom up on the upper left-hand portion of first ladder column.

3. Select the Electrical Surfer toolbar button.

4. Pick anywhere on relay coil CR407.

Student Workbook

97

Figure 2-42. Surf on CR407.

All instances of CR407 appear in the dialog.

5. Select the reference on sheet 6 (3rd entry down).

6. Select Go to.

Figure 2-43. Surfed to Contact.

7. Select the reference on sheet 9 (4th entry down).

8. Select Go to.


98

Figure 2-44. Surfed to Panel Component.

Notice that you could edit the component using the Ed button and even erase the component using the Del button.

9. Select Close.

Wire From/To Report

If you have marked components and/or terminals with location codes, you can make good use of the wire "From/To" reporting feature.

1. Select the Wire Report button on the Report toolbar

flyout.

Figure 2-45. Wire Connection Reports.

Student Workbook

99

2. Select the Wire From/To Report and click OK.

3. Select to run it for the Project and click OK.

4. Select Do all and click OK.

AutoCAD Electrical extracts component, terminal, location code, and wire connection information from every drawing in the project set. Then it displays a location list dialog allowing you to make your report’s "from" and "to" location selections. All of the location codes found on the drawing set are listed on each side of this dialog. Location "(??)" is also included in the list if AutoCAD Electrical found any component or stand-alone terminal that didn’t have an assigned location code.

The idea here is to build a report by selecting wire "from" location code(s) from the left-hand list and "to" location code(s) from the right-hand list.

Figure 2-46. Locations for Wire From/To Report.


100

5. Select All>> for the From locations.

6. Select <<All for the To locations and click OK.

Figure 2-47. Wire From/To Report.

7. Click Close to exit the report and Cancel to exit the From/To dialog.

Plotting Project

AutoCAD Electrical can batch plot your full drawing set or a selected subsection of it. In this section you will step through the process to plot your project.

1. Select the PROJECT toolbar button.

2. Select the PLOT button.

Student Workbook

101

Figure 2-48. What to Plot.

3. Select the Do All button.

4. Click OK.


102

Figure 2-49. Plot Options.

5. Select the Model tab to plot.

6. AutoCAD Electrical gives an option to run a script file before and/or after AutoCAD Electrical issues the plot command. For example, you might want to freeze some layers or insert a plotting border, plot, and then remove the border.

7. Select the output device. If you have already created a plot configuration file, .pc3, and want to use it, enter its name or use the Browse button to select it.

8. Use the Detailed Plot Config Mode to turn on/off the options set within this sub-dialog.

Student Workbook

103

Figure 2-50. Detailed Plot Configuration.

9. If you use Page Setup names, you can enter this name to define the plotting options.

10. If you wish to plot to a file, select this toggle on the main dialog and define the path for storage of the plot files.

11. OK will plot the selected drawings or OK-Reverse to plot the drawings in reverse order.

12. Click Cancel to exit without plotting.


104

Module 3

EXERCISE 3-1 PLC I/O

AutoCAD Electrical builds a PLC I/O module as it is inserted. A PLC module is selected, the location is picked, and AutoCAD Electrical constructs the module using a small set of library symbols. This exercise provides practice at selecting and inserting PLC modules.


a. Examine the process for selecting PLC modules.

b. Select and insert PLC modules.

c. Examine how AutoCAD Electrical builds the modules using the underlying run spacing.

Add a Ladder

In this section you will open DEMO05.DWG from the AE2004_Training project and add a new ladder to get ready to insert a new PLC module.


2. Select DEMO05.DWG.

3. Select Open.

Student Workbook

105

Figure 3-1. DEMO05.DWG.

4. Turn Snap and Grid on at 0.25 spacing.

5. Select the Insert Ladder toolbar button.

Figure 3-2. Insert New Ladder.


106

You’re going to insert a new ladder on the fly with a 0.75 inch rung spacing.

6. Enter 0.75 for the rung spacing.

7. Enter 9.0 for the ladder width.

8. Click OK.

You are prompted to pick the start position of the first rung.

9. Click the upper left corner of the right-hand column.

Figure 3-3. Ladder Start Point.

10. Pull your mouse down and watch the ladder dynamically build. Click the lower left corner to define the ladder length.

Student Workbook

107

Inserting a PLC Module

You now have a new empty ladder for a PLC module.

1. Select the Insert PLC toolbar button.

Figure 3-4. PLC Module Selection.

To select a PLC module, you select the specific module from the list in the lower portion of the dialog. You filter this list by selecting a Manufacturer, Series, and Type.

2. Select Allen-Bradley from the Manufacturer list.

3. Select 1771 series.

4. Select Discrete Input as the type.


108

5. Select standard 8-point input module.

Figure 3-5. Standard 8-Point Input Module.

6. Select OK.

You will be prompted for the module's insertion point.

Student Workbook

109

Figure 3-6. Module Insertion Point.

AutoCAD Electrical displays the outline of the module with an "X" at the wire connection point of the top-most I/O point. The underlying rung spacing is used to calculate the module outline.

7. Place your cursor over the rung at line reference 520 and click.

Figure 3-7. Module Layout.


110

Since AutoCAD Electrical builds the module at insertion time, you have the option of adding spacers or breaking the module as it is built. For this module, you will insert all I/O points without spacers or breaks.

8. Select Insert all.

Notice there is an option to Include unused/extra connections. Some PLC modules have terminals that are not used but can be displayed with this option. Try clicking that choice on and watch the module outline grow to accommodate the extra connections. Click to turn it off and the box shrinks showing only the "used" connections.

9. Click OK.

AutoCAD Electrical asks for some information about the module.

Figure 3-8. Module Prompts.

10. Enter 01 for the rack number and 4 for the slot number.

11. Click OK.

Figure 3-9. First I/O Address.

Student Workbook

111

12. Enter 01400 as the beginning address.

13. Click OK.

Figure 3-10. Module Inserted.

14. Select the Trim Wire toolbar button and remove the wire at

line reference 519.

The resulting PLC module is one AutoCAD block. You can edit the attributes with the AutoCAD attribute edit or with the AutoCAD Electrical Edit Device routine.

15. Select the Edit Device toolbar button and select anywhere on

the module.


112

Figure 3-11. Edit Module.

From this one dialog you could edit all information related to this module.

16. Click OK.

Student Workbook

113

EXERCISE 3-2 MODULE APPEARANCE

Modules can be built using a different style or look. AutoCAD Electrical provides five pre-defined styles and provision for up to four user-defined styles. In addition to style, spacers and breaks can be built into a module at insertion time.


a. Examine the different styles available for PLC modules.

b. Select and insert a PLC module using style 2.

c. Insert a PLC module with a spacer and a break.

PLC Styles

In this section you will examine the different PLC styles and insert the same module as in the previous exercise, with a different style.

1. Open DEMO05.DWG.

2. Use the AutoCAD Erase command to erase the ladder and PLC module inserted earlier in the right-hand column.

3. Insert a new ladder with 0.75 rung spacing and 9.0 width.



114

Figure 3-12. Module Selection.

Notice the area in the upper right of the dialog, Graphics Style to use. It shows the current style selection and a small example of what it looks like (for an output module).

5. Select style 2.

Figure 3-13. Style 2 - square with a screw terminal.

Student Workbook

115

6. Select style 3.

Figure 3-14. Style 3 – generic circle.

7. Select style 4.

Figure 3-15. Style 4 – round I\O points with screw terminals.

8. Select style 5.

Figure 3-16. Style 5 – round I\O points with square terminals.


116

9. Go back to style 2.

10. Select the Allen-Bradley, 1771, Discrete Input, standard 8-point module and click OK.

11. Select the insertion point.

12. Select to Insert All and click OK.

13. Enter 01 for rack, 4 for slot, click OK, and enter 01400 as the first address.

14. Click OK.

Figure 3-17. Same Module – Different Style.

Student Workbook

117

Inserting a PLC Module with Spacers and Breaks

You can break an I\O module into as many pieces as you want at insertion time. You can also add extra space between adjacent I\O points. This feature lets you leave extra room when you know, ahead of time, that certain I\O points will have two or more components wired in parallel and tied to a single I\O point.

1. Use AutoCAD Erase to delete the ladder and PLC module inserted in the previous exercise.

2. Re-Insert a ladder on the right-hand side of the drawing, with

1.0 rung spacing and a width of 9.0.


4. Select Style 1.

5. Select the Allen-Bradley, 1771, Discrete Input, standard 8-point module and click OK.

6. Pick the module insertion point as in the previous exercise.

Figure 3-18. Allow Spacers/Breaks.

7. Select Allow spacers/breaks.

8. Click OK.


118

9. Enter 1 for the rack and 0 for the slot and click OK.

10. Enter 10010 as the beginning address and click OK.

Figure 3-19. Pause to Allow Spacers/Breaks.

On this dialog you choose whether to insert the next I/O point, add a blank space, or break the module at this point.

11. Choose Insert NEXT I/O point.

Figure 3-20. Second Point Inserted.

Student Workbook

119

12. Choose Add SPACER.

13. Choose Insert NEXT I/O point.

Figure 3-21. Spacer Added.

14. Select BREAK module now.

Figure 3-22. Module Broken.


120

15. Skip a rung and select an insertion point for the remaining I/O points on the module.

16. Select Insert all to insert the remaining I/O points without pausing and click OK.

17. Use the Trim Wire tool to remove shorting wires.

Figure 3-23. Module Completed.

Student Workbook

121

EXERCISE 3-3 I/O ADDRESS-BASED TAGGING

AutoCAD Electrical provides a way to override the default wire numbering and component tagging with I/O address-based tagging.


a. Select I/O address-based component tagging in the configuration settings.

b. Use "fence" insert to insert devices and examine the wire numbers and tags assigned.

c. Select I/O address-based wire numbering in the configuration settings.

d. Add wire numbers to specific wires.

Component Tag Format

In this section you will update your component tagging settings to select I/O address-based tagging.

1. Open DEMO05.DWG.

2. Select the Config Drawing toolbar button.


122

Figure 3-24. Drawing Configuration.

Notice the Component Tagging section.

Figure 3-25. Component Tagging Settings.

3. Select Srch for I/O addr on insert.

4. Select OK.

AutoCAD Electrical will search for a connected PLC I/O module's I/O point. If found, the I/O address value will be substituted for the "%N" part of the default component tag.

Student Workbook

123

Note: This option will trigger AutoCAD Electrical to search for a connected PLC I/O module every time a component is inserted and therefore has some impact upon the INS COMPONENT command’s performance.

Fence Insert

Now that you have set your component settings to use I/O address-based tagging, you will insert some components into the PLC module inserted earlier on DEMO05.DWG.

1. Zoom in on the PLC module inserted on DEMO05 in the right hand ladder.

2. Select Insert button on the Fence Insert flyout.

3. Select Limit Switch.

Figure 3-26. Limit Switch Menu.

4. Select N.O. Limit Switch (1st column, 1st row).


124

AutoCAD Electrical prompts you to draw a fence.

5. Draw a vertical fence line down through the connecting wires as shown and press ENTER.

Figure 3-27. Fence Insert.

AutoCAD Electrical finds the first wire intersection and temporarily inserts your selected component, the N.O. Limit Switch, at this intersection point.

Figure 3-28. Keep or Skip.

Student Workbook

125

6. Select KEEP this one.

7. Toggle "on" Show edit dialog after each.

8. Toggle "on" Force component tag to FIXED.

9. Click OK.

Figure 3-29. Address-based Tag.

Notice the component tag based on the I/O address.

10. Enter GAS VALVE for Desc 1.

11. Enter SV-001 OPEN for Desc 2.

12. Enter FIELD for LOC.

13. Click OK.

AutoCAD Electrical moves on to the next component.


126

Figure 3-30. Next Component.

14. Click OK to KEEP this one.

Notice that AutoCAD Electrical pre-fills the two lines of description text with the same value that you entered for the previous limit switch.

Figure 3-31. Pre-Filled Description.

15. Change the word OPEN to CLOSED in Desc 2.

16. Click OK.

17. Insert the third component changing Desc 2 to SV-002 OPEN and click OK.

Student Workbook

127

Figure 3-32. Components Inserted.

Wire Number Format

In this section you will update your wire numbering settings to select I/O address-based wire numbers.

1. Select the Config Drawing toolbar button.

Figure 3-33. Drawing Configuration.


128

Notice the Wire Numbering section.

Figure 3-34. Wire Numbering Settings.

2. Select Use I/O addr wire nums.

3. Select OK.

AutoCAD Electrical will use PLC I/O address values for wires that connect to an addressed I/O point. This overrides both Sequential and Reference-based tagging.

Wire Numbers

Now that you have set your drawing up to use address-based wire numbering where applicable, you need to add some wire numbers.

1. Select the Insert Wire Numbers toolbar button.

Figure 3-35. Add Wire Numbers.

Student Workbook

129

2. Select Pick individual wires.

3. Select the wires connecting the limit switches to the PLC module and press ENTER.

Figure 3-36. Address-Based Wire Numbers.


130

EXERCISE 3-4 SPREADSHEET TO PLC I/O

A project’s PLC I/O requirements, in spreadsheet or database format, can drive automatic generation of the I/O schematic drawings. The spreadsheet or database file includes the PLC I/O requirements, including I/O catalog numbers, I/O address assignments, I/O descriptions, and connected component information. AutoCAD Electrical then constructs a set of PLC I/O wiring diagrams directly from your data.


a. Using the AutoCAD Electrical Spreadsheet PLC I/O utility, examine the sample spreadsheet, DEMOPLC.XLS.

b. Edit the ladder settings.

c. Step through how to save your settings.

d. Generate the PLC drawings.

Spreadsheet Format

In this section you generate PLC drawings from the sample spreadsheet, DEMOPLC.XLS.

1. Open a New drawing.

Note: Do not use a template with ladders. The Spreadsheet PLC utility will draw in ladders.

2. Save your drawing as DEMOPLC1.DWG to the Essentials\Student_Files folder, by default installed under the Program Files\Autodesk\AcadE 2004 folder.

Student Workbook

131

3. Select the Spreadsheet to PLC toolbar button on the PLC

flyout.

Figure 3-37. Select Spreadsheet.

4. Select the DEMOPLC.XLS file and click OPEN.

Figure 3-38. Select Settings.


132

5. Select Default Settings.

AutoCAD Electrical uses the default settings for ladder configuration and spreadsheet column format.

6. Select Spreadsheet/Table columns.

Figure 3-39. Spreadsheet Format.

The DEMOPLC.XLS spreadsheet is set up to match the default column assignments for this utility. If you had a spreadsheet which used a different column format, you would assign the columns to a specific data category. All columns are optional except the module part number.

7. Select the More button to see the column settings for in-line connected devices.

Student Workbook

133

Figure 3-40. In-Line Connected Devices.

AutoCAD Electrical allows up to nine in-line connected devices per IO point. Components for Input modules are inserted left to right, while components for output modules are inserted right to left. The spacing between devices (examined later) is maintained even if no component is defined for a particular column.

8. Click OK and OK to return to the Settings dialog.


134

Ladder Settings

In this section you will examine and adjust the ladder settings that will be used to generate the PLC drawings.

1. Click Ladder/Config setup.

Figure 3-41. Ladder Settings.

Everything related to the ladder columns is customizable. In addition to your ladder settings, you also can select PLC graphical style, and spacing for in-line connected devices.

2. Select 2 as the PLC graphical style.

3. Enter 8.0 as the Ladder width.

4. Click OK.

Since you changed a few settings, you may want to save these settings for future use.

Student Workbook

135

5. Select Save Settings.

Figure 3-42. Settings File Name.

6. Enter mysettings for the PLC settings file name and click Save.

Once saved, these can be restored any time you use the Spreadsheet PLC utility, by using the Read Settings button.

7. Click OK to move on to the next step.


136

Generate the PLC I/O Drawings

You are now ready to generate the drawings. AutoCAD Electrical has read your spreadsheet, assigned the columns to specific data categories, and has all the general ladder information.

Figure 3-43. Ready to Generate.

1. Enter 900 as the 1st line reference number.

2. Leave Use next sequential ref for Column to Column.

3. Leave Use next sequential ref for first ladder for 2nd drawing and beyond.

4. Leave Always start at top of ladder for Module Placement.

5. Select Free run, meaning that AutoCAD Electrical will generate all the drawings without pausing.

Student Workbook

137

6. Select Start.

AutoCAD Electrical will generate three PLC drawings from the spreadsheet information. The second drawing name will be DEMOPLC2 (incremented from DEMOPLC1), and the third drawing, DEMOPLC3.

Figure 3-44. First PLC Drawing Generated.


138

Module 4

EXERCISE 4-1 SCHEMATIC SYMBOLS AND PARTS CATALOGS

AutoCAD Electrical component symbols are in standard AutoCAD ".dwg" file format. They are referenced by AutoCAD Electrical and its icon menuing system and are inserted as standard AutoCAD blocks with attributes. The AutoCAD Electrical intelligence is derived from reading the values of attributes it expects to find.


a. Gain an understanding of the different categories of AutoCAD Electrical schematic symbols.

b. Examine the AutoCAD Electrical symbol naming convention.

c. Create an AutoCAD Electrical schematic parent symbol.

Symbol Naming Convention

In this section you will open DEMO04.DWG and examine the AutoCAD Electrical symbol naming convention. Then you will flip a normally closed contact to a normally open contact.


2. Select DEMO04.DWG.

3. Select Open.

4. Zoom up on the upper left-hand corner of the left-hand ladder to your master control circuit.

Student Workbook

139

Figure 4-1. Master Control Circuit.

5. Use the AutoCAD DDATTE command and select the Master Control Relay, CR403.

Figure 4-2. DDATTE on CR403 Relay.


140

Schematic components such as relays, switches, pilot lights, and discrete motor control devices (but not PLC I/O symbols) follow this naming convention:

• The first character is either "H" or "V" for horizontal or vertical wire insertion.

• The next two characters are reserved for family type (ex: PB for push buttons, CR for control relays, LS for limit switches).

• The fourth character is generally a 1or a 2: a "2" for "child" contacts and a "1" for everything else (parent or stand-alone component).

• If the symbol is a contact then the 5th character is a 1 for normally open, 2 for normally closed.

• The remaining characters are not specified. They are used to keep names unique.

Note: The naming convention examined above is for general components. There are different naming conventions for PLC, terminal, arrow, cable marker, and wire number symbols.

Notice the selected block's name, HCR1. AutoCAD Electrical sees this as a horizontal, control relay family, parent symbol.

6. Cancel out of the dialog.

7. Use the AutoCAD DDATTE again and select the contact, CR403 on line reference 404.

Student Workbook

141

Figure 4-3. DDATTE on CR403 Contact.

The block name for this symbol is HCR21, meaning horizontal, control relay family, child, normally open.


9. Use the AutoCAD DDATTE one more time and select the contact, CR403 on line reference 405 and press ENTER.

Figure 4-4. DDATTE on CR403 Contact.


142

The block name is VCR22, vertical, control relay, child, normally closed. Next, you will flip this normally closed contact to a normally open.


11. Select the Toggle NO/NC toolbar button.

12. Select the normally closed contact, CR403, on line 405. Press ENTER to exit the command.

Figure 4-5. Contact Flipped to Normally Open.

This feature works if the symbols follow the expected naming convention.

Create a Parent Symbol

AutoCAD Electrical provides a utility to make it easier to create an AutoCAD Electrical symbol. In this section you will use the Black Box Builder to create a simple parent schematic symbol.

1. Start a New drawing.

2. Draw the graphics for a simple component as shown.

Figure 4-6. Symbol Graphics.

Student Workbook

143

3. Select the Black Box Builder button on the Misc toolbar

flyout.

4. Select the graphics drawn above and press ENTER.

Note: If at any time you exit completely out of the Black Box Builder, restart it and select any graphics and attributes you've added so far. You will then be able to pick up right where you left off.

Figure 4-7. Black Box Builder.

5. Select Parent.


144

Figure 4-8. Parent Symbol.

6. Select the Std button.

Figure 4-9. Parent Standard Attributes.

Student Workbook

145

7. Select TAG1, 0.125 height, and Center justification.

8. Select the INSERT Attribute button.

9. Click to select the location.

Figure 4-10. TAG1 Default.

10. Enter MY as the TAG1 default and click OK.

The TAG1 attribute is required for a parent schematic symbol and indicates to AutoCAD Electrical that this symbol should be treated as a parent symbol.

Figure 4-11. TAG1 Attribute Inserted.


146

Notice the TAG1 button is now disabled. AutoCAD Electrical expects the symbol to have one TAG1 attribute and no more.

11. Insert the MFG, CAT, and ASSYCODE attributes.

These attributes are set as invisible and may come in using a very small text height.

12. Insert DESC1, DESC2, and LOC attributes.

13. Insert the FAMILY attribute.

Figure 4-12. Family Code.

14. Enter MY and select OK.

15. Select the More button.

Student Workbook

147

Figure 4-13. Additional AutoCAD Electrical Attributes.

16. Insert the XREFNO and XREFNC attributes.

Figure 4-14. Standard Attributes Inserted.

17. Select Back to MAIN Menu.

18. Select the WIRE Conn button.


148

Figure 4-15. Wire Connection Options.

This will allow you to define wire connection points on the library symbol.

19. Select 0=None (wire conn only) as the terminal style.

The next step is to decide the direction that the wire will attach to the component. You will insert a wire connection attribute at the left and right side of the symbol.

20. Select the button with the wire coming in from the left.

21. Insert the wire connection attribute right at the corner of your symbol. Use the ENDPOINT snap if necessary.

The wire connection attribute is the very small attribute located right at the corner of the symbol. This provides AutoCAD Electrical a "snap to" location when you insert wires.

Student Workbook

149

Figure 4-16. Wire Connection Attribute.

The TERM01 attribute is an optional terminal pin number attribute.

22. Select the Move button to reposition the TERM01 attribute to the desired location.

23. Click OK.

Figure 4-17. Default Terminal Pin Number.

24. Leave the default value blank and click OK.


150

25. Repeat for the wire connection on the right.

Figure 4-18. Symbol with Connection Attributes.


AutoCAD Electrical allows you to draw dashed lines between a parent symbol and its related child contact. This method requires special attributes at the point where the dashed line "connects" to the symbol.

27. Select the Dashed button.

28. Select the bottom corner of your symbol.

Figure 4-19. Link Attribute Direction.

29. Select from below.

You are now ready to save your custom symbol.

Student Workbook

151

30. Select the Wblock button.

Figure 4-20. Save Library Symbol.

The default folder should be your AutoCAD Electrical User folder.

31. Enter HMY1 as the symbol name.

32. Click Save.

Figure 4-21. Symbol Insertion Point.

33. Select Specify On-screen and select OK.

34. Click the center of the circle as the insertion base point.


152

35. Select No when prompted if you want to insert an instance of the block.

Your symbol is wblocked and deleted.

36. To get ready for the next exercise, Undo to bring your symbol back.

37. Erase all of the attributes on your library symbol, leaving only the graphics.

38. Zoom up on the symbol, making it fill the drawing area as much as possible.

Note: This utility can also be used to convert existing non-AutoCAD Electrical symbols.

Student Workbook

153

EXERCISE 4-2 CUSTOMIZE THE ICON MENUING SYSTEM

The AutoCAD Electrical icon menu system, used to insert a symbol, is driven by a text file that can be customized to meet your needs. Symbols may be added to existing menu pages, or new menu pages may be added.


a. Add a symbol to an existing icon menu page.

b. Add a new menu page to the icon menu.

c. Test the icon menu changes.

Icon Menu Wizard

In this section you will add your custom symbol to the schematic symbol icon menu.

1. Select the Icon Menu Wizard button under the Misc

flyout.

Figure 4-22. Menu File Name.

2. Leave wd_menu.dat and select OK.


154

Figure 4-23. Opening Icon Menu Page.

3. Select the blank icon, bottom row, last column.

Figure 4-24. Icon Options.

4. Select Ins Component and OK.

Student Workbook

155

Figure 4-25. Icon Button Information

5. Enter HMY1 as the Block Name to Insert.

6. Enter HMY1 for the Slide Name.

7. Select the Create slide from current screen image check box.

8. Enter My Symbol for the text to appear in the select list bar.

9. Select OK.


156

Figure 4-26. Symbol Added to Icon Menu.

AutoCAD Electrical creates a slide from the graphics on the screen and updates the button.

10. Select OK.

You are now ready to test both your new symbol and the modified icon menu.

11. Open the DEMO04 drawing.

12. Zoom up to line reference 417.

13. Add a ladder rung on line reference 417.

14. Select the Insert Component toolbar button.

Student Workbook

157

Figure 4-27. Icon Menu with New Symbol.

15. Select the added symbol.

16. Click on the rung at line reference 417 for the insertion point.

Your symbol inserts just like any other AutoCAD Electrical symbol and the Insert/Edit dialog appears.

Figure 4-28. Insert/Edit Component.


158

17. Click OK.

Figure 4-29. Symbol Inserted, Wire Broken.

Adding an Icon Menu Page

You may have a whole family of "MY" symbols you would like to add to the icon menu. In this section you will use the Icon Menu Wizard to add a new menu page to the schematic icon menu.


flyout.


Figure 4-30. Icon Menu, Main Page.

Student Workbook

159

3. Select the blank icon to the left of your custom symbol.

Figure 4-31. Menu Function.

4. Select Sub-Menu Trigger and click OK.

Figure 4-32. Sub-Menu Trigger Information.


160

On this dialog you need to define some information for both the button that triggers the sub-menu and the new sub-menu page itself. Since this menu page is for our new "MY" family of symbols, you can use the same slide as before.

5. Enter HMY1 as the slide name.

6. Enter MY Family as the text to appear in the select list bar.

For AutoCAD Electrical to find your new sub-menu, it must be assigned a unique menu number. AutoCAD Electrical has reserved numbers 1-99 for internal use. This means that your new menu number must be unused and 100 or above. To make sure that you assign a unique number, display a list of the menus that are already assigned.

7. Pick the List Existing button next to the edit box.

Figure 4-33. Used Sub-Menu Numbers.

8. Scroll down to see the highest used menu page number.

9. Select Cancel.

10. Enter 100 as the menu number. It should be available.

Student Workbook

161

AutoCAD Electrical supports a number of menu page styles or templates. The template simply defines how many icon buttons you wish your new page to have.

11. Select the List Avail button to the right of the template edit box.

Figure 4-34. Available Templates.

12. Select the D2, 4W x 2H option and OK.

13. Enter MY CUSTOM SYMBOLS as the menu title.

14. Click OK.

Figure 4-35. New Sub-Menu Page.

Your new sub-menu page appears. Notice it has two rows with four icons in each row.

15. Click Cancel to return to the main icon menu page.

16. Click OK to exit the icon menu wizard.


162

Cut and Paste Icon Function

You now have an icon page for your custom symbols. In this exercise, still using the Icon Menu Wizard, you will move the button for your custom parent symbol to your new sub-menu page.


flyout.


Figure 4-36. Main Icon Menu Page.

Remember, the fourth icon in the last row is the button that inserts the symbol. This is the one we want to move to the new sub-menu page.

3. Select the fourth icon in the last row.

Student Workbook

163

Figure 4-37. What To Do.

4. Select Cut Contents and OK.

Figure 4-38. Contents Removed from Button.

5. Select the third button in the bottom row that triggers the new sub-menu page.


164

Figure 4-39. Sub-Menu Trigger Options.

6. Select Display.

Figure 4-40. Sub-Menu Page.

7. Select the first button in the first row.

Figure 4-41. Paste Now Available.

8. Select Paste Previous "Cut" and OK.

Student Workbook

165

Figure 4-42. Symbol Added to Sub-Menu Page.

9. Select Cancel to return to main menu page.

10. Select OK to save changes to the icon menu.

It is time to test the new sub-menu page.

11. Select Insert Component toolbar button.

12. Select the Custom Symbol button.

Figure 4-43. Custom Symbols Sub-Menu Page.

13. Select the MY Symbol button.

14. Select a location for the symbol on your drawing.

15. Click Cancel from the Insert/Edit dialog to remove the symbol.


166

EXERCISE 4-3 SYMBOL LIBRARIES

AutoCAD Electrical supplies multiple library sets. In addition you may add your own library sets. When AutoCAD Electrical inserts a symbol, it searches a specified path or paths to locate the symbol.


a. Assign a different library search path to the AE2004_Training project.

b. Use the Swap Component command.

c. Gain an understanding of the library search path order.

Library Search Path

Each AutoCAD Electrical project has its own library search path. Each time you activate a project, the project's search path is restored. The search path is defined in the project dialog.

1. Select the PROJECT toolbar button.

2. Select the AE2004_Training project if it is not active.

3. Select the Symbol LIB button.

Student Workbook

167

Figure 4-44. Symbol Library Path.

AutoCAD Electrical supports multiple library paths for a project. Each path name should be separated with a semi-colon.

4. Change the "jic125" path to "jic1" and click OK.

This will cause AutoCAD Electrical to use the symbols in the jic1 directory, with the smaller attribute sizes.

Note: If a drawing already contains the block definition for a symbol, any additional copies of this same block will match the first occurrence.

To test the library path, you will use the AutoCAD Electrical Swap Block utility to change the limit switches on drawing DEMO04 to proximity switches.

5. Open drawing DEMO04.DWG.

6. Zoom up on line references 405 through 409.


168

Figure 4-45. Limit Switches.

7. Select the Swap Component button on the Insert

Component flyout.

Figure 4-46. Swap Block.

8. Select SWAP a block – ONE at a time.

Student Workbook

169

9. Select Pick new block from icon menu.

10. Turn "off" the check box Retain old ATTRIBUTE locations.

11. Turn "on" the check box Auto re-tag if parent swap causes FAMILY change and select OK.

12. Select the Other Switches button on the icon menu.

13. Select the N.O. Proximity switch, 1st row, 1st column.

14. Select each limit switch and press ENTER.

Figure 4-47. Proximity Switches.

Notice the smaller description attribute text. These library symbols were inserted from the JIC1 library set.


170

EXERCISE 4-4 PARTS CATALOG DATABASE

Sample catalog information is furnished with AutoCAD Electrical. The information is held in tables in an Access Database file (".mdb") which are populated with sample vendor data. These tables must be expanded and modified to meet your specific Bill of Materials reporting needs.


a. Assign a catalog parts number to a component.

b. Add a new catalog entry.

c. Extract a BOM report.

d. Add a catalog entry with subassembly items.

Catalog Filtering

In this section you will examine how to use the sort criteria in the catalog lookup, to selectively display catalog numbers for a component type. Then, you will add a new record to the database.

1. Open drawing DEMO04.DWG.

2. Zoom up on LT404 on line reference 404.

3. Select the Edit Component toolbar button.

4. Select on LT404.

Student Workbook

171

Figure 4-48. Edit LT404.

5. Select the Cat lookup button.

Figure 4-49. Catalog for LT404.


172

There are three pull-down lists across the top. Each time you make a selection from one of these lists, AutoCAD Electrical filters the catalog selection.

6. Select SQD from the MFG list.

Figure 4-50. MFG Filter.

7. Change the selections under the TYPE and VOLTAGE lists.

Figure 4-51. Filtered List.

Examine the catalog list each time.

8. Set the MFG to AB, Type to 30.5mm, Voltage to 120 AC XFMR, and change the catalog assignment back to AB 800H-PR16R and click OK.

Student Workbook

173

9. Click OK to exit the Insert/Edit dialog and Skip the project scan since the light is a stand alone component.

Adding a Catalog Entry

In this exercise, you will add a new catalog entry. Using the built-in database editor you will add a new entry, MFG ACME, catalog number ACME-123R, right from within AutoCAD Electrical. You will add a new MFG, called ACME, with a catalog number ACME-123R.


2. Select on LT404.

3. Select the Catalog lookup button.

4. From the Catalog lookup dialog, select the Add button.

Figure 4-52. Add Catalog Entry.


174

The entries are pre-filled with the information for the currently assigned catalog parts number. This makes it easy to add a new entry with similar information.

5. Enter ACME-123R as the CAT entry.

6. Change the MFG entry to ACME.

AutoCAD Electrical catalog lookups work most efficiently when field values that are meant to be the same are exactly the same, both in spelling and capitalization. The list box beside each field helps you maintain consistency as you add new catalog items.

7. Select the list button next to the DESC field.

Figure 4-53. DESC Values Used So Far.

8. Select the RED PILOT LIGHT – Small, NEMA 13 entry and click OK.

9. Select the list button for the TYPE field.

Student Workbook

175

Figure 4-54. TYPE Values Used So Far.

10. Select the 18mm entry and click OK.

11. Enter GLASS LENS as the MISC entry.

12. Clear any value in the MISC2 entry.

AutoCAD Electrical provides three blank user fields for your own internal use. Each can be a maximum of 24 characters wide and are extracted into BOM reports along with all of the other fields. For this example, you will use the USER1 field for an intra-company stores code number.

13. Enter STORES #B1-123R.001 into the USER1 field’s edit box.


176

Figure 4-55. New Entry Values.

14. Click OK.

15. Select the MFG pull-down list to see the available entries.

Figure 4-56. ACME MFG Added.

Student Workbook

177

16. Select the ACME entry.

17. Select the 18mm TYPE entry.

Figure 4-57. ACME Entry.

18. Select the ACME-123R entry and OK.


Figure 4-58. Related Components?

20. Select Skip since our pilot light is a stand-alone component.

Now, you will extract a quick BOM report to test this new catalog entry.


178

21. Select the BOM button on the Report flyout.

Figure 4-59. BOM Report.

22. Select Current Drawing.

23. Select OK.

24. Scroll through the report looking for the ACME entry.

Student Workbook

179

Figure 4-60. BOM Report with ACME Entry.

25. Click Close to exit the report.

Add Catalog Entry with Subassembly

In this section you will add another ACME red pilot light entry to the catalog database. This one will be just like the previous one but will include a protective shroud subassembly that consists of a shroud item and four gaskets. For any red pilot light assigned this catalog number, AutoCAD Electrical will include in the BOM report the main ACME pilot light item plus the shroud and gasket sub-items.


2. Select on LT404.



5. Enter ACME-123R-S as CAT entry.


180

6. Enter GLASS LENS with SHROUD ASSEMBLY under MISC.

7. Select the As main->sub check box.

8. Enter 123-SHRD-ASSY as the ASSYCODE entry.

The ASSYCODE entry needs to be a unique code. This code is used by AutoCAD Electrical to link this main catalog item with other subassembly items.

Figure 4-61. New Main Catalog Entry.

9. Click OK.

10. Click the Add new record button again.

11. Enter ACME123SH as CAT.

Student Workbook

181

12. Enter SUBASSEMBLY ITEM as DESC.

13. Enter ACME as the MFG.

14. Enter 18mm HALF SHROUD as TYPE.

15. Select the As sub check box.

16. Enter 123-SHRD-ASSY in the ASSYLIST field.

Figure 4-62. Shroud Subassembly Item.

17. Click OK.

Now you will add the gasket subassembly item.



182

19. Enter ACME123GSKT as the CAT entry.

20. Enter 4 in the CNT field.

21. Enter SUBASSEMBLY ITEM as the DESC entry.

22. Enter ACME as the MFG.

23. Enter 18mm GASKET as the TYPE.

24. Select the As sub check box.

25. Enter 123-SHRD-ASSY in the ASSYLIST field.

Figure 4-63. Gasket Subassembly Item.

26. Click OK.

Student Workbook

183

27. Assign the new ACME-123R-S catalog entry to LT404.

Figure 4-64. ACME-123R-S Entry.


29. Select Skip to bypass the check for related components.

Now run another BOM report to verify this new entry with subassembly.

30. Select the BOM button on the Report flyout.

31. Select Current Drawing.

32. Select OK.

33. Scroll through the report looking for the ACME entry with subassembly items.


184

Figure 4-65. ACME Entry with Subassembly Entries.

If the SUB or QTY fields are not visible in the report, use the Change report format button to add this field. Notice the quantity of 4 for the gasket.


BOM Copy

To get ready for a later exercise you will need to assign a legitimate catalog number to this light. You will use the BOM Copy utility to do this.

1. Select the BOM Copy button on the Report flyout.

You are directed to pick the "Master" component. This is the component that carries the catalog information you want to copy to LT404. You will use LT411.

2. Select on pilot light, LT411.

Student Workbook

185

Figure 4-66. BOM Copy.

The catalog fields are pre-filled with the component's catalog information.

3. Select OK.

You are instructed to pick the "Target" components. These are the devices you want to carry the same catalog information. You will select the pilot light, LT404.

4. Select on pilot light, LT404, and press ENTER.

Figure 4-67. Overwrite Existing Catalog Information.

5. Select Overwrite.

6. Save the drawing.


186

Module 5

EXERCISE 5-1 EXTRACT REPORTS

AutoCAD Electrical provides a number of schematic reports. Each report is driven by information contained in the drawings themselves. AutoCAD Electrical provides great flexibility in each report format.


a. Gain an understanding of the process of extracting various reports.

b. Extract a Component Wire Connection report.

c. Extract a PLC I/O report.

d. Extract a project-wide, location specific Bill-of-Materials report.

e. Change the report format.

Component Wire Connection Report

In this section you will extract a Component Wire Connection report for drawing DEMO04. This will create a report of all component connections, one entry for every wire connection to a component. Each entry includes the wire number assigned to the connecting wire, the wire connection’s terminal pin number (if present), the component’s tag name and location code (if present), and the layer name of the connected wire.


2. Select the AE2004_Training project if it is not the active project.

3. Select DEMO04.DWG and Open.

Student Workbook

187

4. Select the Wire RPT button on the Report flyout.


5. Select Component connection report and click OK.

Figure 5-2. Component Wire Connection Report Options.

6. Select Current drawing (ALL).


188

7. Select OK.

Figure 5-3. Component Wire Connection Report.


Note: The wire layer names on these tutorial drawings have been named to convey color, gauge, and wire type information.

PLC I/O Connection Report

The PLC I/O Connection report scans your drawing set and returns all individual I/O connection points it finds. This includes up to five lines of description text and the connected wire number for each I/O point.

1. Select the PLC RPT button on the RPT flyout.

Student Workbook

189

Figure 5-4. PLC I/O Reports.

2. Select the PLC I/O and connected component report and OK.

Figure 5-5. PLC I/O Connection Report Options.

3. Select Project and OK.


190

Figure 5-6. Drawings to Process.

4. Select Do all and OK.

Figure 5-7. PLC I/O Connection Report.

Student Workbook

191


Bill of Materials Report

You can extract a BOM report at any time. It can be for a single drawing or for an entire drawing set or sub-set listed in the current AutoCAD Electrical project. AutoCAD Electrical extracts component data directly from the AutoCAD ".dwg" files, matches it with standard entries in the on-line catalog data files, pulls additional fields from these catalog files, and then outputs the report to your screen. In this exercise, you will extract a project wide, location specific BOM report.

1. Select the BOM RPT button on the RPT flyout.

Figure 5-8. BOM Report Options.

For this report, you want to extract a report across the project set but only for items identified as located in "MCAB5".


192

2. Select the Project button.

3. Pick the Named LOC button.

Figure 5-9. Location Specific.

4. Click the List: Dwg button.

Figure 5-10. Locations Used.

5. Select MCAB5 and OK.

Note: If you wanted to create a report from multiple Location codes, you can do this easily by selecting multiple codes from this dialog. AutoCAD Electrical automatically creates a comma-delimited list for the named LOC search.

Student Workbook

193

6. Select OK from the main dialog.

7. Select Do all to process the complete drawing set and click OK.

Figure 5-11. Project Wide, Location Specific BOM.

Leave the report on your screen for the next exercise.

Change the Report Format

Each AutoCAD Electrical report is customizable, from which data fields are reported and the order in which they appear, to the justification of any column and the column labels.

1. Select the Change report format button (lower right hand corner of BOM report).


194

Figure 5-12. Change Report Format.

The idea is to create a listing of Fields to Report. You add by selecting from the Available fields list on the left. The selected fields appear in the Fields to Report listing.

2. Select the TAGS field and the <<Remove button.

3. Select OK.

Figure 5-13. TAGS Field Removed.

Student Workbook

195

4. Select the Change report format button again.

The Description field is handled a little differently than the other fields. This field can be a multi-line field which is actually made up of multiple fields. If you include the Description field in your report, you choose which lines make up this field. Just toggle on and off the specific fields to define the Description. A field will not be shown in the Description field if it is shown separately as a field to report.

Figure 5-14. Description Lines.

5. Select the MISC1 and MISC2 check boxes to remove these fields from the Description lines.

6. Select OK.


196

Figure 5-15. Description Lines Changed.

7. Select the Change report format button one last time.

8. Select the CATALOG field under Fields to Report.

Figure 5-16. Fields to Report.

9. Change the field name to CAT.

10. Select the Move Dn button once to move the CAT field below the MFG field.

Student Workbook

197

Figure 5-17. Field Name and Order Modified.

11. Select OK.

Figure 5-18. BOM Format Modified.


Note: This new format becomes the default the next time you extract that report.


198

EXERCISE 5-2 EXPORT REPORT DATA

AutoCAD Electrical provides an option to export an extracted report to a file. AutoCAD Electrical supports a number of file formats, such as an Excel spreadsheet, an Access database, or a text file. This exported data file can provide a link between your drawings and other software packages.


a. Extract a Terminal report.

b. Export the report to an Excel Spreadsheet format.

c. Redisplay the Component Wire Connection Report.

d. Export the report to a text file.

e. Examine the exported files.

Save Report as Excel Spreadsheet

In this section you will extract a project-wide Terminal Number Report. Once the report is extracted, you will export the report to an Excel spreadsheet.

1. Select the Terminal Report button on the Report flyout.

Figure 5-19. Terminal Report Type.

2. Select the Terminal Numbers Report and OK.

Student Workbook

199

Figure 5-20. Terminal Numbers Report Options.

3. Select Project and OK.

4. Select Do all and OK.

Figure 5-21. Terminal Numbers Report.


200

5. Select the SAVE TO FILE button.

Figure 5-22. Save Report to File Options.

6. Select the Excel spreadsheet format and click OK.

Figure 5-23. Excel File Name.

7. Enter the name TERM (if not already there) and select Save.

8. Select CLOSE – no script.

The report is saved as TERM.XLS in the My Documents folder (by default, C:\Documents and Settings\<current user>\My Documents).

Student Workbook

201

9. Enter Excel and open the TERM.XLS file.

Figure 5-24. TERM Report Saved as Spreadsheet.

Save Report as Text File

You can also save a report as a simple text file. In this exercise you will redisplay the Component Wire Connection report extracted earlier, reformat it to save only the Wire Number column, and save to a text file. This simple text file could be used to feed a wire marker machine.

1. Select the Wire RPT button on the Report flyout.



202

2. Select Component connection report and click OK.

Figure 5-26. Component Wire Connection Report.

3. Select the Redisplay last run button.

4. Select to Change report format.

Student Workbook

203

Figure 5-27. Change Report Format.

5. Select to <<Remove all.

6. Select the WIRENO field as the only field to report and OK.

7. Select the Sort button.

Figure 5-28. Sort Fields.

8. Select WIRENO as the Primary sort field and click OK.


204

Figure 5-29. Sorted Report.

9. Select SAVE TO FILE.

Figure 5-30. Save to Text File.

10. Select ASCII report output (as shown) and click OK.

11. Enter WIRECON.REP, Save, select Close- no script, and Close.

You now have a list of wire numbers to feed to a wire marker machine. You can use any text editor, such as Notepad, to examine the file.

Student Workbook

205

EXERCISE 5-3 UPDATE SCHEMATICS FROM SPREADSHEET

You can edit component tags, descriptions, catalog assignments, wire numbers, or PLC I/O descriptions from the comfort of a spreadsheet and then have your edits update your drawings. For example, you can set up standard drawing samples. From a spreadsheet, manipulate the component tags, catalog numbers, and ratings to match a customer’s requirements. Then export the data out to the wiring diagram samples and watch them update to match your spreadsheet data.


a. Export DEMO04.DWG component data to an Excel spreadsheet.

b. Modify the component data in the spreadsheet.

c. Update the drawing from the spreadsheet data.

Export Data

In this section you will export the data contained on drawing DEMO04, to an Excel spreadsheet. You will then modify the data in Excel. This data will then be imported back into DEMO04, updating component's attribute values as necessary.

1. Open drawing DEMO04.

2. Select the To Spreadsheet button on the Report flyout.


206

Figure 5-31. Data Type to Export.

3. Select Components and OK.

Figure 5-32. Data Export Options.

4. Select Current drawing.

5. Select Excel file format.

Student Workbook

207

6. Click OK.

7. Leave the default name, DEMO04.XLS, and Save.

8. Open the file DEMO04.XLS in Microsoft Excel. Click to Enable Macros if prompted.

Figure 5-33. Data Export Spreadsheet.

9. Locate PB403A, labeled Emergency Stop.

10. Change the DESC1 field to E-STOP.

11. Change the DESC2 field to NO. 1.

12. Enter OPSTA3 as the LOC field.

13. Locate PB403B, labeled Emergency Stop No. 2.

14. Change the DESC1 field to E-STOP.

15. Change the DESC2 field to NO. 2.


208

16. Enter MCAB5 as the LOC field.

17. Locate CR403, labeled Master Control Relay. Make sure you find the "parent" record which will have a "1" in the PAR1_CHLD2 field

18. Enter OPSTA3 as the LOC field.

19. Save your Excel data and close the file.

Note: Do not edit the HDL and DWGNAME fields. These are used to link your edits back to the correct drawing and correct block insert on that drawing.

Update Drawing from Spreadsheet

You now are ready to update drawing DEMO04 with the changes you made in the spreadsheet.


2. Select the From Spreadsheet button on the Report flyout.

Figure 5-34. Spreadsheet Name.

Student Workbook

209

3. Select the DEMO04.XLS file name and click OPEN.

Figure 5-35. Update Drawing.

4. Select Current drawing and OK.

5. Zoom up on the upper left-hand of the drawing.

Figure 5-36. Drawing Modified.

Notice the changed description values for the pushbuttons, and the added location values for the pushbuttons and relay.


210

EXERCISE 5-4 RE-USE, RE-TAG, RE-SEQUENCE DRAWINGS

There may be times when you want to re-use an entire project. However, you need to change the ladder format, component tagging options, wire numbering format, and cross-referencing format. AutoCAD Electrical provides a way to re-sequence and re-tag an entire project within one utility.


a. Examine the AutoCAD Electrical project-wide update utility.

b. Select tagging, ladder, wire numbering, and cross-referencing options.

c. Update the drawing set.

Project-Wide Update

In this section you will use the AutoCAD Electrical utility to re-tag an entire project set. The re-tag can include ladder references, component tags, wire numbers, cross reference text, and some drawing configuration settings.

1. Select the Re-Sequence button on the Project flyout.

Figure 5-37. Project Re-Sequence Options.

Student Workbook

211

2. Select the Component Re-tag check box.

3. Select the Component Cross-Reference update check box.

4. Select the Ladder References check box.

Figure 5-38. Ladder Update.

5. Select to Resequence the ladders.

6. Select the Ladder related Setup button.

Figure 5-39. Ladder Reference.

7. Enter 1001 as the 1st number.

8. Select Skip, dwg to dwg count.

9. Enter 1000 as the Skip number and OK.

10. Select the Sheet (CFG %S value) check box.


212

Figure 5-40. Sheet Value.

11. Select to Resequence.

12. Enter 001 as the Start number.

13. Select the Other CFG Settings check box.

14. Select the CFG related Setup button.

Figure 5-41. Other CFG Settings.

Student Workbook

213

These settings change the Configuration settings of the drawings. The settings will be used for the drawing update and saved as the drawing defaults.

15. Select the Component tagging settings check box.

16. Select Sequential tagging and 1 to start.

17. Select the Inter-drawing Cross-references check box.

18. Enter %S-%N as the format.

This setting will direct AutoCAD Electrical to use an alternate cross-reference format, one with a Sheet prefix, on child contacts and signal arrows when the annotation involves a reference from a drawing other than the current drawing.

Figure 5-42. CFG Settings Modified.

19. Select OK and OK from the main dialog.

20. Select to Do all the project drawings and click OK. QSave if prompted and select No Backup when prompted to create a ZIP backup.


214

You may notice AutoCAD Electrical activating each drawing multiple times. AutoCAD Electrical will make sure the Config settings are updated and parent components retagged on all drawings before proceeding with updating child contacts and cross-referencing.

21. Re-open DEMO04 if necessary.

22. Zoom in on the upper left-hand side of the first ladder to examine the updates.

Figure 5-43. Drawing Re-Tagged.

Student Workbook

215

Module 6

EXERCISE 6-1 "SMART" PANEL LAYOUTS FROM SCHEMATICS

The project set of schematic wiring diagrams can drive the panel layout task. Component catalog number information pulled directly from mfg/catalog data carried on each electrical component lets AutoCAD Electrical match up and insert the correct footprint block.


a. Extract the schematic data for use in panel component insertion.

b. Examine the schematic data list.

c. Gain an understanding of how AutoCAD Electrical matches a schematic component to a specific panel symbol.

d. Insert panel symbols from the schematic list.

Project-Wide Update

At the end of the previous exercise you ran a project-wide update changing the tagging and wire numbering. Before you proceed with the Panel exercises you should run the project-wide update again to change back to the original tagging and wire numbering.

1. Make sure the AE2004_Training project is active.

2. Select the Re-Sequence button on the Project flyout.

3. Select Component Retag.

4. Select Component Cross-Reference update.


216

5. Select Ladder References Re-Sequence and its Setup button.

6. Enter 201 as the 1st ladder number.

7. Select Skip dwg to dwg count = 100 and OK.

8. Select Other CFG settings and its Setup button.

9. Select Component tagging settings and Reference-based.

10. Set the Inter-Drawing Cross-Reference format back to %N.

11. Select OK and OK again.

12. Select Do all and OK. Select No Backup when prompted to create a ZIP backup.

Extract Schematic List for Panel Insertion

In this section you will extract a list of schematic components from the AE2004_Training project set, for use in inserting panel components.

1. Make sure the AE2004_Training project is active.

2. Select DEMO08.DWG and Open.

3. Zoom up on the Operator Station front panel.

Student Workbook

217

Figure 6-1. Operator Station.

4. If the Panel toolbar is not visible, select Toolbars → Main Electrical toolbar from the Electrical pull down menu.

Figure 6-2. Panel Toolbar.

5. Select the Component button on the Electrical → Panel

flyout.


218

Figure 6-3. Schematic Extract for Panel Insert.

6. Select Project.

7. Select OK.

8. Select Do all to process all drawings and click OK.

Figure 6-4. Schematic List.

Student Workbook

219

AutoCAD Electrical presents a list of all parent components (plus any child components that carry non-blank MFG/CAT values) extracted from the project’s schematic wiring diagrams.

9. Select Sort list.

10. Select TAGNAME as the Primary sort field and click OK.

Figure 6-5. Sort Fields.

Some of these components may already be on the panel drawings that are part of this project. You want the list to reflect this so you do not duplicate a component.

11. Select Mark existing.

Figure 6-6. Existing Components Marked.


220

AutoCAD Electrical places a small "x" next to any components that have already been inserted. An "o" next to a component in the list indicates that AutoCAD Electrical found a Panel component with a matching component tag, but the catalog information did not match.

Inserting a Component From List

You will insert pilot light, LT404, which is part of the master control circuit.

1. Locate LT404 in the list and select it.

Figure 6-7. Component Selected.

Notice that as soon as you select LT404 from the list, a number of buttons become active. If the component carries catalog information, the INSERT button is active.

2. Enter 0 in the Rotate edit box.

3. Select the INSERT button.

Student Workbook

221

This causes AutoCAD Electrical to search for a panel footprint symbol based on the catalog information. You are prompted to select a location for the symbol.

4. Click a location on the drawing.

Figure 6-8. Pilot Light Inserted.

Notice the fields that are pre-filled for the panel component. These values are pulled directly from the schematic symbol.

5. If no Item number is assigned, select the Item Num Dwg:Find button.

If AutoCAD Electrical finds a panel component with the same catalog information, it will automatically assign the same item number to this new component. This item or detail number will be used later for BOM and component reporting and can be referenced by optional balloon labels tied to this footprint.


222

6. Click OK.

Figure 6-9. Light Marked as "Inserted".

Notice the small "x" next to the light (LT404) we just inserted. With this "x" in place, AutoCAD Electrical won’t allow the same component to be inserted multiple times. Try it, note that the INSERT button fuzzes out when an "x" line is highlighted.

Insert Multiple Components

You can select multiple components from the list and then insert them without going back to the extract list each time.

1. Locate PB403 and PB403A in the list and select them.

Student Workbook

223

Figure 6-10. Multiple Components Selected.

2. Select the INSERT button.

Figure 6-11. Multiple Component Options.


224

3. Select to Use Uniform Spacing.

4. Enter -2.50 for the Y-dist value.

5. Select the Suppress edit dialog and prompts check box.

6. Click OK.

7. Select a location for the first component.

Figure 6-12. Components Inserted.

8. Click Close to exit the dialog.

Student Workbook

225

Exception Report

AutoCAD Electrical provides some error checking between the schematics and panel layout drawings through the Exception Report. Some of the exceptions that are reported are multiple instances of a component, an attribute value mismatch, components found on panels but not on schematics and vice versa.

1. Select the Exception Report button on the Panel Report

flyout.

Figure 6-13. Exception Check.

2. Select the Project button.

3. Select the Schematic Item not on PNLs check box to deselect this check and click OK.

4. Select Do all and OK to process all drawings. Click OK to QSave if prompted.


226

Figure 6-14. Exception Report.

As you can see, a number of problems are built into the sample panel drawings. If you select the Surf button, you can jump to any of these exception instances.

5. Click Close to exit the dialog.

Student Workbook

227

EXERCISE 6-2 BI-DIRECTIONAL UPDATES BETWEEN SCHEMATICS AND PANEL LAYOUTS

AutoCAD Electrical allows for bi-directional updating between schematic components and the associated footprint blocks. The link is through the common "tag" identifier. If a change is made to a component, AutoCAD Electrical looks for any related components, both schematic and panel, and provides an option to update the components to match.


a. Make a few changes on the panel layout and allow the schematic update.

b. Add a nameplate to components.

c. Make a few changes on schematic, DEMO04, and allow the panel update.

d. Examine changes made to panel layout.

Panel Component Catalog Change

In this section you will edit some of the panel components, making changes to catalog information, LOC codes, and DESC values.

1. Select the Edit Component button on the Panel toolbar.

2. Select the pilot light, LT404, inserted earlier.


228

Figure 6-15. Edit LT404.

You will change the catalog part assignment to be that for a miniature pilot light.


Student Workbook

229

Figure 6-16. Catalog Lookup.

4. Select *ALL* from the TYPE pull down.

5. Select the 800T-PS16R 18mm pilot light.

6. Click OK.

Figure 6-17. Item Number Mismatch.

7. Click OK.

8. Select the Next>> button to assign the next available Item number to this component.


230

9. Enter OPSTA3 as LOC.

10. Modify Desc 2 to ENABLED.

Figure 6-18. LT404 Modified.

11. Click OK.

Figure 6-19. Catalog - Footprint Mismatch.

This light is a different physical size, making the current footprint invalid. AutoCAD Electrical searches for the correct footprint based on this new catalog number and allows you to decide if you would like to change to the new footprint.

Student Workbook

231

12. Select YES, change it.

To maintain consistency between any related components you are prompted to allow project scan.

Figure 6-20. Project Update.

13. Select Scan Project.

Figure 6-21. Related Components.

You can batch process your changes later or select to do them now.

14. Select Now.

Drawing DEMO04 is activated and LT404 is modified.


232

Add a Name Plate

Name plates can be inserted and associated with a panel component.

1. Select the Insert Device button from the Panel toolbar.

Figure 6-22. Panel Menu.

2. Select the Name Plate button from the menu.

Figure 6-23. Name Plate Menu.

3. Select the Name Plate cat lookup icon.

Student Workbook

233

Figure 6-24. Name Plate Menu.


Figure 6-25. Name Plate Catalog Lookup.


234

5. Select AB for the MFG.

6. Select 800T Half Round for the TYPE.

Figure 6-26. Name Plate Catalog Selection.

7. Select 800T-X59E and OK.

8. Click OK from main dialog.

You are prompted to select a component for the name plate.

9. Select the pilot light, LT404 and press ENTER.

Student Workbook

235

Figure 6-27. Name Plate Insert/Edit.

The pre-filled values are taken directly from the associated panel component. In addition, an Item number is assigned because this name plate matches a previously inserted name plate.

10. Select OK.

Figure 6-28. Name Plate Inserted.

Note: The name plate is automatically inserted at the same location as the selected component.


236

Schematic Changes

In this section you will go back to the schematic drawing, DEMO04, examine the update made to LT404 based on your panel changes. You will then make a change to the schematic light, LT404, and allow the panel update.

1. Open drawing DEMO04 from the Project dialog. Make sure

you Save the changes to DEMO08 when prompted.

2. Zoom up on the upper left-hand corner of the first ladder.

Figure 6-29. Master Control Circuit.

Locate LT404 and notice the location code, OPSTA3 that was updated, and the updated Desc 2 value, ENABLED.

3. Edit the device to verify the catalog change.

Figure 6-30. Updated Catalog Number.

Student Workbook

237

To illustrate the bi-directional powers of AutoCAD Electrical, you will make another change to the light's description values.

4. Change the Desc 1 value to MASTER CONTROL.

5. Change the Desc 2 value to POWER ON.

6. Select OK.

Figure 6-31. Related Component Update.

7. Select Scan Project.

Figure 6-32. Found Related Components.

8. Select Now.

Drawing DEMO08 is opened and the related components are updated.


238

9. Open drawing DEMO08 from the Project dialog.

10. Zoom up on the Operator Station front panel.

Figure 6-33. Updated Panel Components.

You can tell right away that the name plate has been updated because the description lines match the new schematic values.

11. Select the Edit Device button on the Panel toolbar.

12. Select the pilot light, LT404.

Figure 6-34. Updated Description Values.

13. Select Cancel.

Student Workbook

239

EXERCISE 6-3 PANEL SYMBOLS

Panel symbols do not have to carry any specific AutoCAD Electrical attributes. AutoCAD Electrical looks for specific attributes to use for the component's information. If an attribute is not found, the information is saved as standard AutoCAD "extended entity data" (Xdata). This means that you can use any footprint library for your panel drawings including vendor supplied library symbols.


a. Use the AutoCAD Electrical Symbol Builder to create a Panel control relay symbol.

b. Add your symbol to the AutoCAD Electrical footprint database.

c. Insert the symbol on the panel layout.

d. Modify the footprint database to "draw" a component at insertion time.

Create Panel Symbol

In this section you will use the Symbol Builder to create a simple panel footprint symbol for the master control relay.

1. Open a new drawing.

2. Select the Symbol Builder button on the Misc flyout.

3. Press Enter to bypass selecting objects.


240

Figure 6-35. Symbol Builder.

4. Select Footprint within the Panel Layout Symbol section.

Figure 6-36. Panel Symbol Builder.

Student Workbook

241

You want to represent the relay with a simple rectangle, with dimensions 2.25 x 3.5.

5. Select the RECT button.

You are prompted to enter the rectangle's two corners.

6. Enter -1.125,1.75 as the first corner.

7. Enter 1.125,-1.75 as the second corner.

It is not required that you insert any attributes on the panel footprint symbol. All information can be added as Xdata. However, Xdata is not visible on the drawing. Any information that you want visible should have an attribute.

8. Select STD.

Figure 6-37. Panel Footprint Attributes.


242

9. Select the P_TAG1 button.

10. Select the associated height pull down menu.

Figure 6-38. Attribute Height.

11. Select the -add- option.

Figure 6-39. Add New Height.

12. Enter 0.325 as the attribute height and click OK.

13. Select INSERT attribute.

14. Select an insertion point within the rectangle inserted earlier.

Student Workbook

243

Figure 6-40. Insert Attributes.

15. Select the DESC1 button.

16. Select 0.2 as the Ins Hgt.

17. Select Center as the Ins Just.

18. Select INSERT Attribute.

19. Select a location for the attribute.

20. Repeat for DESC2 and DESC3.

Figure 6-41. New Panel Symbol.


244


22. Select WBlock.

Figure 6-42. Symbol Name.

23. Enter SQD_MCR4 as the block name.

24. Click Save.

Figure 6-43. Symbol Insertion Point.

25. Click to turn off the Specify On-screen check box.

26. Click OK.

27. Click No when prompted to insert an instance of the block.

You now have a panel symbol. The next step is to build a link between a catalog number and this footprint symbol.

Student Workbook

245

Footprint Database Editor – Add Symbol

The Footprint lookup file maps catalog information from a schematic component to a specific Panel footprint library symbol. When you select a component from an AutoCAD Electrical extract file or select a component from a catalog lookup file, AutoCAD Electrical takes the MFG code, looks for a matching table name in the footprint lookup database and tries to find a match on the CAT catalog number (plus ASSYCODE if non-blank). If a match is found, AutoCAD Electrical retrieves the footprint block path/name (or optional geometry definition) from the matching record and inserts the footprint representation into the drawing.

In this exercise, you will edit the footprint database file to relate the symbol you just created, to catalog SQD, 8501XM040V02, the catalog number used on the master control relay.

1. Select the Footprint Editor button on the Panel Misc

flyout.

Figure 6-44. Edit or Create Table.

2. Select to Edit Existing Table.


246

Figure 6-45. Existing Tables.

3. Select SQD and OK.

Figure 6-46. Footprint Database Editor.

The existing links between catalog number and footprint block name are displayed.

Student Workbook

247

4. Select Add New.

Figure 6-47. Add New Link.

5. Enter 8501XMO40* as the CAT Part No.

The wild card symbol, "*", indicates any catalog part number that start with 8501XMO40 will use the associated footprint symbol. You need to provide the symbol name for this catalog number.

6. Enter SQD_MCR4 as the footprint name.

7. Click OK.


248

Figure 6-48. Entry Added.

8. Select OK / Save / Exit.

9. Open drawing DEMO09 from the Project dialog.

10. Zoom up on the upper left portion of the inside view of the panel cabinet.

Figure 6-49. Drawing DEMO09.

11. Select the Component button on the Electrical → Panel

flyout.

Student Workbook

249

Figure 6-50. Insert from Extract List.

12. Locate and select CR403, Master Control Relay.

13. Enter 0 for Rotate and select INSERT.

14. Select a location near the existing relays.


250

Figure 6-51. CR403 Added.

15. Enter an Item number.

16. Click OK.

17. Select Close from the Insert list.

18. Trim back the rack.

Figure 6-52. Symbol Added.

Student Workbook

251

Footprint Database Editor – "Draw" Symbol

You can encode a simple geometry definition in place of a footprint path/block name in the look-up file. For example, say that a footprint shape for a given part number is just a 3x4 rectangle. Instead of creating and saving a 3x4 rectangle as a Wblocked ".dwg" file, you can encode the instructions for drawing this rectangle right in the look-up file.

1. Select the Footprint Editor button on the Panel Misc

flyout.

2. Select to Edit Existing Table.

Figure 6-53. Existing Tables.

3. Select SQD.

4. Select Add New.


252

Figure 6-54. Add New Entry.

5. Enter 8501XMO20* as the CAT Part No.

6. Select the Geometry button.

Figure 6-55. Select Footprint Shape.

7. Select Rectangle.

Student Workbook

253

Figure 6-56. Rectangle Options.

8. Select Center.

9. Enter 3.50 as the Height.

10. Enter 2.25 as the Width.

11. Select OK.

Figure 6-57. Geometry Definition.


254

The syntax above basically follows the command sequence you'd type to create the footprint outline. When AutoCAD Electrical comes across this instead of a path/block name in the look-up, the command sequence is executed and the objects are blocked on the fly.

12. Select OK.

13. Select OK / Save / Exit.

Student Workbook

255

EXERCISE 6-4 ITEMS NUMBERS, BALLOONS, AND BOM REPORT

An item or detail number can be assigned to a component’s footprint through the insert/edit dialog. This is stored as a data value on the footprint block itself. AutoCAD Electrical provides a balloon utility to bring this item number out to a visible label.


a. Add an Item number to a component.

b. Examine the Panel configuration utility for Item number and Balloon setup.

c. Use the AutoCAD Electrical balloon utility to add labels to your panel items.

d. Extract a Panel BOM report.

Item Numbers

In this section you will go back to one of the push buttons inserted earlier and add an Item number.


2. Zoom up on the front view of the Operator Station.

3. Select the Edit Footprint button on the Panel toolbar.

4. Select the push button, PB403.


256

Figure 6-58. Edit PB403.

Notice that no item number was assigned automatically when the component was inserted.

5. Select the Item Num Dwg : Find button.

Figure 6-59. No Match Found on Drawing.

Student Workbook

257

6. No match is found so from this dialog select the Find : Proj button.

Figure 6-60. No Match Found in Project.

7. Still no match was found, so select the Use Next>> button to use the next available number.

8. Select OK.

Panel Configuration

In this section you will examine the Panel configuration. The Panel configuration allows you to define your next Item number and examine the different balloon options.

1. Select the Panel Config button on the Panel toolbar.


258

Figure 6-61. Panel Configuration.

Notice the edit box for the Item number. AutoCAD Electrical also accepts alpha characters for Item numbering.

2. Select the Balloon Setup button.

Figure 6-62. Balloon Setup.

Student Workbook

259

Notice the different Balloon types, Circle, Ellipse, Polygon, or None. If you select the Polygon, there are a number of shapes to select from.

3. Select Polygon button.

4. Select on the picture of the current polygon.

Figure 6-63. Polygon Shapes.

5. Select Cancel.

6. Re-select the Circle shape.

7. Select OK and OK again to exit the dialog.

Balloon Insert

You are now ready to insert balloons on some components.

1. Select the Balloon button on the Panel toolbar.

You are prompted to select the component for the balloon.

2. Select right on pilot light, LT404.

You are prompted to select the leader start point, or the balloon insert point. AutoCAD Electrical allows balloons with or without leaders. If you want a leader, the first click should be on the footprint. If you do not want a leader then your first (and only) click will be the center of the balloon.


260

3. Select right on pilot light, LT404 for the leader start point.

4. Select your pick points for the rest of the leader.

5. Press Enter.

Figure 6-64. Balloon Inserted.

AutoCAD Electrical reads the Item number on the pilot light, and adds a balloon with that Item number. Now you will open drawing DEMO09 and add a balloon without a leader to the relay coil.

6. Select the Next Dwg button on the main toolbar.

Selecting the Next Dwg button saves the current drawing and activates the next drawing in the project, DEMO09.

7. Zoom up on the upper left portion of the inside panel view.

8. Select the Balloon button on the Panel toolbar.

9. Select right on the relay graphics for CR403.

10. Select a point right above the relay for the balloon insertion point.

11. Press Enter.

Figure 6-65. Balloon without Leader.

Student Workbook

261

Panel Bill of Materials

Extracting a Panel Bill of Materials report is very similar to extracting the schematic Bill of Materials. However, only panel components are considered for the report.

1. Select the BOM button on the Panel Report flyout.

Figure 6-66. Panel BOM Options.

2. Select the Project button and OK.

3. Highlight drawings DEMO08 and DEMO09.

4. Select the Process v button and OK.

5. Save the drawing if you are prompted.

6. Allow the scratch database to Freshen if you are prompted to do so.


262

Figure 6-67. Panel Bill of Materials.


Student Workbook

263

EXERCISE 6-5 MERGE SCHEMATIC WIRE CONNECTIONS

AutoCAD Electrical supports a transfer of schematic wire numbers to panel footprint representations. There are two ways that this information can be assigned to the panel footprint, MTEXT or attributes. If the footprint does not carry certain target attributes then AutoCAD Electrical will generate MTEXT to display the wire connection information.


a. Define a wire sequence on a wire network on drawing DEMO04.

b. Extract all wire information from the schematics.

c. Add wire connection information to a footprint.

d. Format wire connection data as a report.

Define Wire Sequence

You can predefine a wire network's connection sequence. This sequence is taken into account by the AutoCAD Electrical wire and cable from/to reporting and wire connection annotation that is merged from the schematics to panel layout footprint symbols.


2. Zoom up on the circuit on line references 406-409.


264

Figure 6-68. Circuit.

3. Select the Wire Sequence button on the Spool of Wire

flyout.

You are prompted to pick on a wire network to process.

4. Select on one of the wires connecting CR408, LT409, and the selector switch contact.

Figure 6-69. Define Wire Connection Sequence.

Student Workbook

265

You want to pre-define the wire sequence for this small network to run starting at SS406, connecting to LT409, and finally running to CR408.

5. Select CR408 in the list.

6. Click on Move Dn twice to move CR408 to the bottom of the list.

Figure 6-70. Sequence Defined.

7. Select OK-new.

To verify the sequence you can use the Show Sequence utility.

8. Select the Show Sequence button on the Spool of Wire

flyout.

You are prompted to pick on a wire on the network.

9. Select on one of the wires on the network.

Figure 6-71. First Run Sequence Displayed.


266

AutoCAD Electrical draws an arrow with temporary graphics to illustrate the first wire sequence.

10. Press the Space bar to show the next path the wire sequence takes.

Figure 6-72. Next Run Sequence Displayed.

11. Press the Space bar to finish.

12. Save the changes to the drawing.

Extract Wire Information

Before you can insert the wire connection information on to your panel layout, you must extract the wire information from the schematics.


2. Zoom up on the front view of the panel.

3. Select the Wire Extract button on the Electrical → Panel

flyout on the Panel toolbar.

Figure 6-73. Extract Wire Connection Data.

Student Workbook

267

4. Select the Project button and OK.

5. Select Do all and OK to process all of the drawings in the project.

Note: You only need to extract the wire data one time (unless your wiring changes). Any time after that when you want to insert the wire data, select the Wire Panel button on the Electrical →Panel flyout.

Figure 6-74. Panel Components to Process.

6. Select Current drawing (pick) and OK.


268

Figure 6-75. Data Format.

There are two format edit boxes on the dialog. The "Full" format will be used if AutoCAD Electrical does not find the target attributes and inserts MTEXT. The "Partial" format is used if AutoCAD Electrical finds the target attributes (described later). Each format uses parameters that are then replaced with the specific wire information.

7. Select the WireNo (TAGID) format and click OK.

8. Select right on the pilot light labeled SAFETY OKAY, and the selector switch labeled RAM MODE and press ENTER.

Student Workbook

269

Figure 6-76. Data Added.

Note: You can pre-define the Mtext origin, height, width, etc. by adding an invisible attribute named WXREF to the symbol, with its origin point where you want the MTEXT.

Notice the wire connections listed for the SAFETY OKAY light. Among those listed are the connections for both CR408 and SS406. This is because the light was defined in the wire sequence between the switch and the relay. However, notice the wire connections for the selector switch, RAM MODE. There is a connection to LT409 but none for CR408. That is due to the wire sequence defined, which went from the selector switch, to the light, then to the relay .

Wire Connection as Report

Wire connection data, extracted from the schematic wiring diagrams, can be extracted as a report.

1. Select the Wire Panel button on Electrical →Panel

flyout.


270

Figure 6-77. Wire Connection Report.

2. Select the Report only (no dwg update) check box.

3. Select Current drawing (ALL).

4. Select OK.

5. Select WireNo only format and OK.

Figure 6-78. Wire Connection Report.


Student Workbook

271

Date post:	20-Jul-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	bmihaiela
View:	40 times
Download:	1 times