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Part 1 of this manual provides information about access to AutoCAD® Electrical commands
and how to set up a project.
1
2
Introduction
1
AutoCAD® Electrical software extends the capabilities of AutoCAD® so that you can quickly
build and manage an electrical controls drawing set.
This manual provides concepts and exercises to help you get started with AutoCAD Electrical.
About Standards
AutoCAD Electrical currently supports the following industry standards: JIC
(US), IEC (Europe), JIS (Japan), GB (China) and AS (Australia). Although AutoCAD
Electrical supports many standards, the Getting Started manual follows the JIC
standard and sample drawing set.
Since the workflow for both JIC and IEC are nearly identical, you can perform
the following exercises using the IEC demo drawing set, however your
components and wire numbering will display differently.
Performing Exercises
All of the AutoCAD commands and features are available while working on
AutoCAD Electrical drawings. All intelligence is carried directly on the drawing
using AutoCAD blocks with attributes and XDATA. AutoCAD Electrical does
not require any underlying database.
Backup exercise files are found at Documents and Settings\{username}\My
Documents\Acade {version}\Aedata\Tutorial\Aegs or
Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\Aedata\Tutorial\Aegs on a Windows
Vista® installation. If you make a mistake while working through the exercises
in this manual, simply browse to and copy the demo file(s) to your project
folder.
3
NOTE The exercises in this manual must be performed in order. It is advised to
turn off the AutoCAD Dynamic Input feature (found on the status bar) before
starting the exercises.
The Getting Started manual uses two manufacturers: Allen Bradley and Siemens.
You must install both manufacturers in order to have the same results that
are shown here. If you need to install content from these manufacturers,
follow these steps.
1 Open the Add or Remove Programs tool in your Control Panel.
2 Select AutoCAD Electrical
3 Click Change/Remove.
4 Click Add/Remove Features.
5 Click Next on the first screen.
6 Select AB and Siemens on the Manufacturer Contents Selection screen.
7 Click Next on the Symbol Libraries screen.
8 Click Next to continue.
Prerequisites
It is assumed that you have a working knowledge of the AutoCAD interface
and tools. If you do not, review the AutoCAD online documentation.
It is recommended that you have a working knowledge of Microsoft
Windows® 2000 or Windows® XP, and a working knowledge of electrical
design and schematic ladder wiring diagrams.
®
Help
The AutoCAD Electrical Help system provides detailed concepts, procedures,
and reference information about every product feature. To access the Help
system:
■ Select the Help icon in the upper right to display a menu of help options.
■ Select Help ➤ Electrical Help Topics from the menu.
4 | Chapter 1 Introduction
■ Click the Help button or press F1 within a dialog box or at a command
prompt.
Be more productive with Autodesk® software. Get trained at an Autodesk
Authorized Training Center (ATC®) with hands-on, instructor-led classes to
help you get the most from your Autodesk products. Enhance your productivity
with proven training from over 1,400 ATC sites in more than 75 countries.
For more information about Autodesk Authorized Training Centers, contact
atc.program@autodesk.com or visit the online ATC locator at
www.autodesk.com/atc.
Command Summary
You can access commands in AutoCAD Electrical through the command line,
the ribbon, and toolbars.
AutoCAD Electrical provides three predefined workspaces.
■ ACADE & 2D Drafting & Annotation - ribbons that provide the AutoCAD
Electrical tools, and the AutoCAD 2D Drafting and Annotation tools.
■ ACADE & 3D Modeling - ribbons that provide the AutoCAD Electrical
tools, and the AutoCAD 3D Modeling tools.
■ AutoCAD Electrical Classic - toolbars and pull down menus that provide
the AutoCAD Electrical tools and AutoCAD tools.
You can switch to another workspace whenever you need to by selecting the
Workspace icon on the status bar.
It is recommended to use the ACADE & 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace
for these exercises.
Command Summary | 5
6
Projects
2
This chapter contains information about AutoCAD® Electrical projects and how to work with
them.
Working with Projects
AutoCAD Electrical is a project-based system. An ASCII text with a .wdp extension
defines each project. This project file contains a list of project information,
default project settings, drawing properties, and drawing file names. You can
have an unlimited number of projects; however, only one project can be active
at a time.
NOTE Install the JIC symbol library for these exercises to function properly.
Use the Project Manager to add new drawings, reorder drawing files, and change
project settings. You cannot have two projects open in the Project Manager
with the same project name. By default, the Project Manager is open and docked
on the left-hand side of your screen. You can dock the Project Manager into a
specific location on the screen or hide it until you want to use the project tools.
Right-click the properties icon to display options to move, size, close, dock,
hide, or set the transparency for the Project Manager.
2 In the Project Manager, click the New Project tool.
NOTE You can also use the Project Manager to open an existing project. In
the Project Manager, click the project selection arrow and select Open Project.
3 In the Create New Project dialog box, specify:
Name: AEGS
A name must be entered to define any of the project properties. The .wdp
extension is not required in the edit box.
4 Make sure wddemo.wdp is specified in the Copy Settings from Project File
edit box.
8 | Chapter 2 Projects
5 Click OK-Properties.
Your new project is added to the current projects list and automatically
becomes the active project.
The Project Properties dialog box displays, where you can modify your project
default settings. All information defined on these tabs are saved to the project
definition file as project defaults and settings.
Set project properties
1 In the Project Properties dialog box, click the Components tab.
2 In the Component Tag Format section, verify that Line Reference is
selected.
This selection creates unique reference-based tags when multiple
components of the same family are located at the same reference location.
When reference-based tagging is used, a suffix variable is required to keep
components of the same family type unique. For example, three push
buttons on line reference 101 could be labeled PB101, PB101A, and
PB101B. Click Suffix Setup to change the suffix variable.
3 Click the Wire Numbers tab.
4 In the Wire Number Format section, verify that Line Reference is selected.
This selection creates unique reference-based wire number tags for
multiple wire networks beginning at the same reference location. When
reference-based numbering is used, a suffix variable is required to keep
wires on the same reference line or in the same reference zone unique.
Click Suffix Setup to change the suffix variable.
Working with Projects | 9
5 Review the various options on the different tabs of the Project Properties
dialog box.
NOTE In the Project Properties dialog box, icons indicate whether the settings
apply to project settings or drawing defaults. Settings that apply to project
settings have the project icon next to them and are saved inside the project
definition file (*.wdp). Settings that are saved in the project file as drawing
defaults have the drawing icon next to them. Drawing related data to add
to the project when running the Add Drawing command is saved as Drawing
Custom Properties.
6 Click OK.
Working with Drawings
A single project file can have drawings located in many different directories.
There is no limit to the number of drawings in a project. You can add drawings
to your project at any time. When you create a drawing, using the New
Drawing tool, it is automatically added to the active project.
Many of the drawing settings used by AutoCAD Electrical are stored in a smart
block on the drawing named WD_M.dwg. Each AutoCAD Electrical drawing
should contain only one copy of the WD_M block. If multiple WD_M blocks
are present, the settings cannot be stored and read consistently.
10 | Chapter 2 Projects
Create a drawing
1 In the Project Manager, click the New Drawing tool.
2 In the Create New Drawing dialog box, specify:
Name: AEGS11
Description 1: Bill of Materials Report
3 Click Browse next to the Template edit box.
A set of templates (*.dwt files) installed with AutoCAD Electrical contain
settings for various kinds of drawings, such as acad.dwt and
ACAD_ELECTRICAL.dwt.
You can create your own templates, or use any drawing as a template.
You can save a drawing at any stage of completion as a template file.
When you use a drawing as a template, the settings in that drawing are
used in the new drawing. The changes you make to a drawing that is
based on a template do not affect the template file.
AutoCAD Electrical fully supports the use of AutoCAD template files. To
make an AutoCAD drawing compatible with AutoCAD Electrical, select
an AutoCAD Electrical command to modify the drawing.
4 In the Select template dialog box, select ACAD_ELECTRICAL.dwt, and
click Open.
5 In the Create New Drawing dialog box, click OK.
Working with Drawings | 11
NOTE You could click OK-Properties to display the Drawing Properties dialog
box. This dialog box has options like the options found in the Project
Properties dialog box. It defines drawing-specific settings that are maintained
inside the WD_M block of the drawing.
6 In the Project Manager, double-click the project name (AEGS) to display
the drawing files. AEGS11 should be the only file in the list.
Add drawings to the project
1 In the Project Manager, right-click AEGS, and select Add Drawings.
2 In the Select Files to Add dialog box, select drawings AEGS01.dwg to
AEGS10.dwg and click Add.
3 When asked whether to apply the project default values to the drawing
settings, click Yes.
The Project Manager lists the files under the AEGS folder. New drawings
that you add from this point on are added at the end of the drawing
order. You now have access to the files required for the exercises in this
book.
NOTE Two projects can reference the same drawing file. However it can lead
to conflicts if both projects try to modify the same drawing with a project-wide
tagging or cross-referencing function.
The drawing order in the Project Manager determines how AutoCAD
Electrical processes the drawings during project-wide operations such as
resequencing and wire numbering.
4 In the Project Manager, right-click the project name, and select Reorder
Drawings.
12 | Chapter 2 Projects
5 In the Reorder Drawings dialog box, select AEGS10.dwg and AEGS11.dwg
and click Move Down until the drawings are at the bottom of the list.
6 Click OK.
AEGS11.dwg is now at the bottom of the project drawing file list in the
Project Manager.
NOTE The active drawing displays in bold text in the project drawing list.
You can easily see which file you are working in.
You can add descriptions for each drawing to the project file. You can reuse
drawing descriptions in title block attributes and associate them with AutoCAD
Electrical reports.
Add the description of a drawing you add
1 In the Project Manager, right-click AEGS10.dwg, and select Properties ➤
Drawing Properties.
2 In the Drawing Properties ➤ Drawing Settings dialog box, Drawing File
section, specify:
Description 1: Connector Drawing
3 Click OK.
4 In the Project Manager, select AEGS10.dwg.
Working with Drawings | 13
5 In the Project Manager, Details section, review the drawing descriptions.
The drawing details update when you highlight a drawing file and remain
visible until a new drawing file is selected. Displayed information includes
the status, file name, file location, file size, last saved date, and the name
of the last user who modified the file.
Use the Project Manager to preview drawings easily. Moving among drawings
using the up and down keys does not open the drawing. It changes the preview
or details display in the Project Manager.
View drawings in a project
1 In the Project Manager, select AEGS04.dwg.
2 In the Project Manager, Details section, click Preview.
3 Continue to click the drawing name you want to preview or use the up
and down arrow keys to scroll through the drawing files.
4 When you finish viewing the drawings, click Details to return to the
drawing details view.
If a project drawing is currently open and you want to move to the previous
or next drawing in the list of the project, use the Previous Project Drawing
and Next Project Drawing tools. When you move among drawings, any
unsaved changes to the current drawing are saved, the drawing is closed, and
the requested drawing is opened.
View project drawings when a drawing is open
1 In the Project Manager, double-click AEGS04.dwg.
14 | Chapter 2 Projects
2 To view the drawings, Click Project tab ➤ Other Tools panel ➤ Previous
DWG.
or Click Project tab ➤ Other Tools panel ➤ Next DWG.
A new window opens and the original window closes when you click the
navigation tools unless you hold the Shift key while clicking the tools.
Working with Drawings | 15
16
Ladder Style Diagrams
Part 2 of this manual provides information about how to set up and work with ladder style
diagrams.
17
18
Wires
3
This chapter contains information about wires and how they are used in AutoCAD® Electrical.
About Wires
AutoCAD Electrical treats AutoCAD® line entities as wires when the lines are
placed on an AutoCAD Electrical defined wire layer. The number of wire layers
available in AutoCAD Electrical is unlimited. These lines get tagged with wire
numbers and show up in various wire connection reports.
Two wire segments connect if the end of one wire segment touches or falls
within a small trap distance of any part of the other wire segment. This
connection can be at the end of the other wire or anywhere along the length
of the other wire.
AutoCAD Electrical considers a wire connected to a component if the wire end
falls within a trap distance from the wire connection-point attribute of a
component.
The wire layer for a new wire segment is determined by:
■ Wires that begin or end in space, or begin and end at a component
connection point. They are put on the current layer (if it is a wire layer), or
on the first wire layer AutoCAD Electrical finds in a layer name search.
■ Wires that begin at an existing wire are put on the same layer as the
beginning wire.
■ Wires that begin in space or at a component and end at an existing wire
take on the layer of the ending wire.
19
Inserting Wires
You can start or end a wire segment in empty space, from an existing wire
segment, or from an existing component. If you start from a component, the
wire segment snaps to the wire connection terminal closest to your pick point
on that symbol. If the wire segment ends at another wire segment, a DOT
(block name wddot.dwg) is applied if appropriate. If it ends at another
component, the segment connects to the wire connection terminal closest to
your pick point on that symbol.
NOTE When inserting wires, if a wire already occupies a wire connection point,
the new wire is drawn as an angled wire connection.
Insert wiring
1 In the Project Manager, Project Drawing List, double-click AEGS04.dwg.
2 Zoom in on the upper left corner of the drawing. Make sure the hot and
Specify wire start or [wireType/X=show connections]:
Select the top wire at line reference 403(1)
Specify wire end or [V=start Vertical/H=start
Horizontal/Continue]: Select the lower wire at line reference 404 (2)
The color of temporary graphics changes for a new wire when AutoCAD
Electrical can connect the wire to an existing wire.
Each component wire connection point is displayed as a green x at the
wire connection when you enter X + ENTER during wire insertion. If you
pan or zoom, repeat the command to view the wire connection points.
3 Insert another wire to the right of the new wire.
4 Press ENTER to exit the command.
The inserted wires resemble the following image.
Trimming Wires
After you insert wires, you can trim them. The Trim Wire tool removes wire
segments. You can trim single or multiple wires.
Specify the wire segment at line reference 404 between the two vertical wires
(1), right-click
Wire segments are trimmed back to a connecting dot, a component, or
completely if neither is encountered along the segment. Any connection
dots that are no longer needed are removed.
The trimmed wire resembles the following image.
22 | Chapter 3 Wires
Schematic Components
4
This chapter contains information about schematic components in AutoCAD® Electrical and
inserting them into drawings.
About Schematic Components
An AutoCAD Electrical schematic component is an AutoCAD® block with certain
expected attributes. When inserting components, use AutoCAD Electrical tools
to break wires, assign unique component tags, cross reference related
components, and enter values for catalog information, component descriptions,
and location codes.
AutoCAD Electrical supplies a schematic symbol dialog box for finding and
inserting schematic components. It also triggers some additional features.
■ Automatic wire breaks
■ Component tagging
■ Real-time cross-referencing
■ Component annotation
Inserting Components
AutoCAD Electrical employs a parent/child relationship for schematic
components. A relay coil with a certain number of contacts is represented by
the parent coil symbol and the child contact symbols. When the parent coil
symbol is inserted, it is assigned a unique component tag. When the child
contact symbols are inserted, the child is related to the parent and the parent
tag is assigned to the child symbol.
23
In this exercise, you insert components on the wires previously defined in
AEGS04.dwg.
Insert a parent component
1 Zoom in on the upper left corner of the drawing.
3 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, click Relays/
Contacts.
4 In the JIC: Relays and Contacts dialog box, click Relay Coil.
5 Respond to the prompts as follows:
Specify insertion point:
Position the component on the wire at line reference 403 near the neutral wire
and click (1)
The coil symbol breaks the underlying ladder wire and reconnects if you
select directly on the wire or near to it. You did not select close enough
to the wire if the underlying wire did not break. To try again, click Cancel
on the Insert/Edit Component dialog box. Right-click or press ENTER to
repeat the command. Turning on Snap helps (0.125 is a good setting to
use).
This tool inserts components into alignment with underlying wires, it
does not align components side-to-side. If you want to insert components
in neat columns, you have three options: use AutoCAD Snap when
inserting components; use the Scoot command to move components and
connected wires in place; or use the Align Component tool.
6 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, verify that the Component
Tag is set to CR403.
24 | Chapter 4 Schematic Components
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