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AutoCAD® Electrical 2012

Fundamentals

CoverPage

Student Guide - JIC

Revision 1.0

August 2011

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ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

AutoCAD® Electrical 2012

Fundamentals - JICRevision 1.0

ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge is a division of RAND Worldwide Inc., providing

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Table of Contents

© 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® i

Table of Contents

Preface ..................................................................................................vii

Class Files .............................................................................................ix

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical ................................1-1

1.1 What is AutoCAD Electrical?................................................1-3

1.2 Drawing Files .........................................................................1-7

1.3 Electrical Components and Wires......................................1-10

1.4 Design Methodologies ........................................................1-13

Practice 1a Introduction Overview....................................... 1-14

Chapter 2 Project Files ......................................................................2-1

2.1 Project Files ...........................................................................2-32.2 Project Manager Interface.....................................................2-4

2.3 Accessing Project Files ........................................................2-7Practice 2a Open, Close, and Create Project Files ............. 2-13

2.4 Opening a Drawing..............................................................2-18

2.5 Creating a Drawing..............................................................2-19

2.6 Add a Drawing to a Project File..........................................2-22

2.7 Managing Drawings in Projects .........................................2-24

2.8 Project Manager Drawing List ............................................2-30Practice 2b Projects and Drawing Files .............................. 2-32Practice 2c Modifying an Existing Project File..................... 2-36

Chapter 3 Schematics I - Single Wires/Components......................3-1

3.1 Referencing ............................................................................3-3

3.2 Ladders...................................................................................3-6

Practice 3a Ladders............................................................. 3-11

3.3 Insert Wires ..........................................................................3-15

3.4 Edit Wires .............................................................................3-17

3.5 Add Rungs............................................................................3-19

3.6 Wire Setup............................................................................3-20

3.7 Wire Numbers ......................................................................3-24

3.8 Source & Destination Signal Arrows .................................3-31

Practice 3b Insert and Manage Wires.................................. 3-37Practice 3c Insert Source and Destination Arrows .............. 3-42

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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

ii © 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

3.9 Insert Component ................................................................3-47

3.10 Parent/Child Components...................................................3-55

Practice 3d Insert Component Symbols .............................. 3-57

Chapter 4 Schematics II - Multiwire and Circuits ............................4-1

4.1 Dashed Link Lines.................................................................4-3

Practice 4a Dashed Link Lines .............................................. 4-4

4.2 3-Phase Ladders ....................................................................4-8

4.3 Multiple Wire Bus.................................................................4-10

4.4 3-Phase Components ..........................................................4-13

4.5 3-Phase Wire Numbering ....................................................4-14

Practice 4b 3-Phase Circuit ................................................. 4-16

4.6 Cable Markers ......................................................................4-25

4.7 Fan In/Out.............................................................................4-30

Practice 4c Cables............................................................... 4-354.8 Insert Saved Circuits ...........................................................4-41

4.9 Save Circuits to Icon Menu.................................................4-44

4.10 Wblock Circuits....................................................................4-47

4.11 Copy Circuit .........................................................................4-49

4.12 Move Circuit .........................................................................4-51

4.13 Circuit Builder......................................................................4-52

Practice 4d Reuse Circuits .................................................. 4-57Practice 4e Circuit Builder ................................................... 4-64

Project Exercise 1 Schematic Drawings .....................................PR1-1

Schematic Drawings........................................................... PR1-3

Chapter 5 Editing Commands...........................................................5-1

5.1 Edit Component .....................................................................5-3

5.2 Project Task List ....................................................................5-6

5.3 Scoot ......................................................................................5-8

5.4 Move Component ..................................................................5-9

5.5 Copy Component ................................................................5-11

5.6 Align......................................................................................5-12

5.7 Delete Component ...............................................................5-13

Practice 5a Edit Components .............................................. 5-15

5.8 Surfer Command..................................................................5-21

Practice 5b Surfer................................................................ 5-24Practice 5c Additional Surfer Practice ................................. 5-28

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Table of Contents

© 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® iii

5.9 Copy Catalog Assignment ..................................................5-30

5.10 Copy Installation/Location Code Values ...........................5-33

5.11 Attribute Editing Commands ..............................................5-35

Practice 5d Copy AutoCAD Electrical Data ......................... 5-36Practice 5e Attribute Editing Tools....................................... 5-41

Project Exercise 2 Editing Commands .......................................PR2-1

Editing Commands ............................................................. PR2-3

Chapter 6 Panel Drawings.................................................................6-1

6.1 Insert Footprint (Icon Menu) .................................................6-3

6.2 Insert Footprint (Schematic List) .........................................6-8

6.3 Insert Component (Panel List)............................................6-14

6.4 Edit Footprint .......................................................................6-20

Practice 6a Insert Footprint (Icon Menu) ............................. 6-22

Practice 6b Insert Footprint (Schematic List)....................... 6-30Practice 6c Insert Component (Panel List) .......................... 6-36

6.5 Assign Item Numbers..........................................................6-41

6.6 Add Balloons........................................................................6-44

Practice 6d Item Numbers and Balloons ............................ 6-46

Project Exercise 3 Panel Drawings .............................................PR3-1

Panel Drawings .................................................................. PR3-3

Chapter 7 Terminals...........................................................................7-1

7.1 Insert Terminal Symbols.......................................................7-3

7.2 Multiple Level Terminals .......................................................7-6

7.3 Multiple Insert Component Command...............................7-10

7.4 Insert Jumpers .....................................................................7-12

Practice 7a Insert Terminal Symbols................................... 7-16

7.5 Terminal Strip Editor ...........................................................7-24

7.6 DIN Rail Command ..............................................................7-29

Practice 7b Insert Terminal Footprints................................. 7-31

Chapter 8 PLC Symbols ....................................................................8-1

8.1 Insert PLC (Parametric).........................................................8-3

8.2 Insert PLC (Full Units) ........................................................8-10

8.3 Insert Individual PLC I/O Points .........................................8-13

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iv © 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

8.4 PLC Based Tagging.............................................................8-16

Practice 8a Insert Parametric PLC Module.......................... 8-18Practice 8b Insert Full Units PLC Module............................ 8-27

8.5 Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Utility............................................8-31

Practice 8c Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Utility .......................... 8-36

Project Exercise 4 PLC Symbols .................................................PR4-1

PLC Symbols...................................................................... PR4-3

Chapter 9 Point-to-Point Wiring Drawings ......................................9-1

9.1 Insert Connectors ..................................................................9-3

9.2 Edit Connectors .....................................................................9-6

9.3 Insert Splices .........................................................................9-8

Practice 9a Insert and Modify Connectors............................. 9-9

9.4 Insert Multiple Wires............................................................9-14

9.5 Bend Wires ...........................................................................9-16Practice 9b Wiring Tools...................................................... 9-17

Project Exercise 5 Point-to-Point Wiring Drawings ...................PR5-1

Point-to-Point Wiring Drawings .......................................... PR5-3

Chapter 10 Symbol Creation ...........................................................10-1

10.1 Schematic Symbols.............................................................10-3

10.2 Naming Convention...........................................................10-12

Practice 10a Create Custom Symbol................................. 10-16

10.3 Icon Menu Wizard ..............................................................10-25

Practice 10b Customize the Icon Menu............................. 10-30

10.4 AutoCAD Electrical Databases.........................................10-36

10.5 Project Database................................................................10-37

10.6 Catalog Database...............................................................10-38

10.7 Footprint Lookup Database ..............................................10-44

10.8 PLC Database.....................................................................10-49

10.9 Pin List Database...............................................................10-55

10.10Terminal Properties Database .........................................10-58Practice 10c Catalog Database ......................................... 10-61Practice 10d Footprint Database....................................... 10-70Practice 10e Pin List Database.......................................... 10-76

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Table of Contents

© 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® v

Chapter 11 Titleblocks.....................................................................11-1

11.1 Update Titleblocks...............................................................11-3

Practice 11a Update Titleblocks .......................................... 11-6

11.2 Titleblock Setup.................................................................11-10

Practice 11b Titleblock Setup ............................................ 11-16

Chapter 12 Reporting Tools............................................................12-1

12.1 Create Reports .....................................................................12-3

12.2 Save to External File............................................................12-8

12.3 Put on Drawing ....................................................................12-9

Practice 12a Create Reports ............................................. 12-10

12.4 Configure Report Templates ............................................12-20

12.5 Running Automatic Reports .............................................12-23

Practice 12b Automatic Reports ........................................ 12-26

12.6 Electrical Audit...................................................................12-38Practice 12c Electrical Audit .............................................. 12-41

Chapter 13 Settings and Templates ...............................................13-1

13.1 Project Properties................................................................13-3

13.2 Drawing Properties............................................................13-10

13.3 Panel Drawing Configuration ...........................................13-18

Practice 13a Drawing and Project Properties .................... 13-20

13.4 Template Files....................................................................13-24

Practice 13b Template File................................................ 13-27

13.5 Sharing Symbol Libraries and Databases.......................13-34

Chapter 14 Drawing Update Tools..................................................14-1

14.1 Project-Wide Update/Retag.................................................14-3

14.2 Project-Wide Utilities...........................................................14-8

Practice 14a Project-Wide Update/Retag and Utilities ...... 14-10

14.3 Plot Project.........................................................................14-18

Practice 14b Plot Project ................................................... 14-21

14.4 Export to Spreadsheet ......................................................14-24

14.5 Update from Spreadsheet .................................................14-27

Practice 14c Export to and Update from Spreadsheet ...... 14-29

14.6 Copy Project.......................................................................14-35

Practice 14d Copy Project ................................................. 14-38

14.7 Swap/Update Block ...........................................................14-42Practice 14e Swap/Update Block Option A ...................... 14-48Practice 14f Swap/Update Block Option B ........................ 14-54

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vi © 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

14.8 Mark Drawings ...................................................................14-57

14.9 Verify Drawings..................................................................14-59

Practice 14g Mark and Verify Drawing .............................. 14-61

Appendix A Skills Assessment........................................................ A-1

A.1 Skills Assessment ................................................................A-3

Index............................................................................................. Index-1

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© 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® vii

Preface

Preface

AutoCAD® Electrical 2012 Fundamentals (three days) covers the

indispensable core topics for working with AutoCAD® Electrical. In thistraining guide, students learn how to use many of the powerful electrical

drawing creation tools in AutoCAD Electrical. Students create schematicdrawings (ladder logic and point to point), panel drawings, and PLC-I/Ocircuits using automated commands for symbol insertion, componenttagging, wire numbering, and drawing modification. In addition, studentsare introduced to methods of customizing AutoCAD Electrical symbols,circuits, and databases. Other topics covered include titleblock linking,reporting tools, templates, and project files.

The main topics covered in this training guide include:

Understanding project files.

Creating and editing schematic and panel drawings.

Working with PLC symbols.

Creating custom symbols.

Generating reports.

Pre-requisites:

A working knowledge of AutoCAD® .

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viii © 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®


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1–1

Chapter 1Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical

In this chapter you are introduced to the basic layout of the AutoCAD® Electricalinterface, how files are organized, what types of symbols are used, and the typicalworkflow.

This chapter introduces:

What is AutoCAD Electrical?

Drawing Files

Electrical Components and Wires

Design Methodologies

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Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical

© 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge® 1–3

1.1 What is AutoCAD Electrical?

The AutoCAD Electrical software is a purpose built controlsdesign tool that is used to automate the creation of electricalschematic and panel drawings. It also tracks component

information between drawings and can create reports containingthis information. Electrical symbols carry the intelligence of AutoCAD Electrical drawings and are the foundation of thefunctionality in AutoCAD Electrical software. Symbols are simply

AutoCAD® blocks with attributes. Several standard symbollibraries are installed with AutoCAD Electrical, including JIC,IEC, IEEE, JIS, and GB.

AutoCAD Electrical contains all of the standard AutoCADcommands and many automated commands for controls design.It is recommended that you use the AutoCAD Electrical

commands when possible rather than the AutoCAD commands.Typically, AutoCAD Electrical commands have additionalfunctionality that helps when designing. For example, the

AutoCAD Erase command versus the AutoCAD ElectricalDelete Component command. The Erase command erases thecomponent. The Delete Component command erases thecomponent, attempts to heal the wires, and updates anyreferences.

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1–4 © 2011, ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®

Interface The AutoCAD Electrical interface, as shown in Figure 1–1,contains three main areas in which to access commands.

Figure 1–1

1. Project Manager Palette

The Project Manager enables you to access project files,drawing files, and the settings for the active project. It enables

you to open, close, activate, and edit project files, as well asupdate and print drawing files.

2. Ribbon

In AutoCAD Electrical, you use the Ribbon to access thecommands. The Ribbon consists of a series of tabs and panelsthat contain a variety of tools grouped by function.

3. Right-click Menus

The AutoCAD Electrical interface contains context sensitiveright-click menus. When you right-click on different objects, themenus that open contain commands specific to the selectedobject. These menus are very effective when editing or adding toelectrical drawings.

1

2

3

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Getting Started

Launchpad

The Getting Started Launchpad, as shown in Figure 1–2,contains links to the AutoCAD Electrical help system and areasof Autodesk website. It is a good place to start for studentslearning AutoCAD Electrical and those more experienced whoare upgrading to the latest release.

Figure 1–2

The Getting Started Launchpad is displayed when AutoCADElectrical software is started. You can turn this option off inthe lower-right corner of the dialog box.

The launchpad can be opened at any time by expanding

(Help) and selecting Learning Tools>Launchpad.

The launchpad contains links to tutorials to help you learn thecommands.

Select the What’s New in AutoCAD Electrical 2012 link toopen the AutoCAD Electrical help system to the page thathighlights the new features in the current release, withadditional links to new features from previous releases.

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Electrical Help In addition to the AutoCAD help files, there are AutoCADElectrical help files. These can be accessed by expanding

(Help) and selecting Electrical Help Topics, as shown inFigure 1–3. The two help systems have the same interface, butcontain different information.

Figure 1–3

Information for AutoCAD software is contained in AutoCADHelp. Electrical Help Topics only contains information about

AutoCAD Electrical commands.

You can also press to open the AutoCAD help system.There is no shortcut key to launch the AutoCAD Electrical

help system.

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1.2 Drawing Files

AutoCAD Electrical software uses the DWG files. They can be

opened and modified in AutoCAD, AutoCAD® WS, AutoCAD

LT®, DWG TrueViewTM, or any software that supports DWG files.

AutoCAD Electrical has different types of drawing files. Theseinclude schematic drawings, panel drawings, and referencedrawings.

Schematic

Drawings

Schematic drawings, such as the example shown in Figure 1–4,contain ladder logic documentation. This includes schematicsymbols, wires, reports, and any other documentation requiredfor the design.

Figure 1–4

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Hint: Project Files

Project files organize all of your drawings for a single designand also contain settings for the active project. They aremanaged in the Project Manager palette, as shown inFigure 1–7.

Figure 1–7

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1.3 Electrical Components and

Wires

AutoCAD Electrical uses symbols to represent components andlines to represent wires. It contains several commands forinserting and maintaining them.

Schematic symbols are used to document the electrical logicof a system.

Also available are symbols and commands for building PLCdrawings.

Panel drawings represent the physical components in thepanel or elsewhere in the system.

Wires are line objects, and there are automated commandsfor creating and managing wires.

Schematic

Symbols

Schematic symbols, including push buttons, relays, andswitches, are shown in the example in Figure 1–8. They areused to represent components in the electrical logic drawings ofthis system. Schematic symbols are AutoCAD blocks withattributes. AutoCAD Electrical software has several differentlibraries of symbols that support different standards. Theseinclude JIC, IEC, IEEE, JIS, and GB, among others.

Figure 1–8

The Symbol Builder utility can be used to create customsymbols.

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PLC Modules AutoCAD Electrical contains a library of PLC modules fromdifferent manufacturers, and are displayed in a schematicdrawing, as shown in Figure 1–9. This library can be customizedto add manufacturers or modules. The modules are AutoCADblocks with attributes. AutoCAD Electrical has automatedcommands for inserting the modules into a drawing.

Figure 1–9

Panel

Footprints

Panel footprints are used to represent components in the design,and schematic symbols are used to document the electrical logicof the system. AutoCAD Electrical contains a library of panelfootprints based on manufacturer information, and are displayedin a panel drawing, as shown in Figure 1–10. The library iscustomizable to enable you to add new footprints.

Figure 1–10

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Wires Wires are an integral part of any electrical design, as shown inFigure 1–11. AutoCAD Electrical contains commands forinserting, trimming, and numbering wires, which are AutoCADline objects on special layers.

Figure 1–11

Cable Markers Wires can be linked to create cables using cable markersymbols, as shown in Figure 1–12. Cable markers carryinformation about the cable manufacturer, color, and otherattributes. AutoCAD Electrical software contains commands forinserting, deleting, and modifying cable markers as well ascreating reports containing information about the cables.

Figure 1–12

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1.4 Design Methodologies

AutoCAD Electrical software is a flexible and customizablesystem. A typical workflow includes:

1. Creating a new project file or copying an existing project file.

2. Configuring the settings for the project.

3. Building the schematic drawings.

4. Building panel drawings based on components in theschematic drawings.

5. Creating reports from the panel or schematic drawings.

AutoCAD Electrical enables you to have variations of theworkflow. You can create panel drawings first, and then create

schematic drawings based on components in the panel. Bothworkflows can be used: schematic to panel or panel toschematic.

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Practice 1a Introduction Overview

Estimated time forcompletion: 10 minutes.

In this practice you will open a schematic drawing as shown inFigure 1–13, and then edit two components to see theinformation attached to the symbols. You will then open a paneldrawing and edit a panel footprint to see its attached information.

Figure 1–13

1. In your class folder, in the Module 01 folder, open

Control.dwg.

2. Zoom to different areas of the drawing to investigate thedifferent symbols. This is a schematic drawing containing twomotor control circuits and two PLCs.

3. Zoom to the top half of the ladder on the right side of thedrawing. This is the input PLC for this design.

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4. Zoom to the lower half of the ladder on the right side of thedrawing. This is the output PLC for this design.

5. Zoom to the top portion of the ladder on the left side of thedrawing.

6. Right-click on the relay coil symbol labeled CR201 and select

Edit Component, as shown in Figure 1–14. The Insert/EditComponent dialog box opens, as shown in Figure 1–15. Thedata attached to the symbol includes its component tag,manufacturer, descriptions, and pin numbers.

Figure 1–14

Figure 1–15

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7. Click to close the dialog box.

8. Right-click on the push button symbol labeled PB201A andselect Edit Component, as shown in Figure 1–16. TheInsert/Edit Component dialog box opens, as shown inFigure 1–17. The same data fields are available, but they

contain values pertaining to the push button.

Figure 1–16

Figure 1–17

9. Click to close the dialog box.

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10.Close Control.dwg. When prompted to save changes, click

.

11. In the Module 01 folder, open Operator Station.dwg. Thedrawing represents the operator panel drawing and a bill ofmaterials for the panel drawings.

12.Zoom in to the three push buttons near the middle of thepanel, as shown in Figure 1–18. They are labeled PB201A,PB207 , and PB201.

Figure 1–18

Right-click on theoctagonal shape labeledPB201A, and not on thesquare labeled PB201ASTART FORWARD.

13.Right-click on the push button on the left, labeled PB201A and select Edit Footprint, as shown in Figure 1–19.

Figure 1–19

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14.The Panel Layout – Component Insert/Edit dialog box opens,as shown in Figure 1–20. The panel footprint symbolrepresents the push button that was edited in the schematicdrawing.

Figure 1–20

15.Click to close the dialog box.

16.Close Operator Station.dwg. When prompted to save

changes, click .

17. If time permits, open and investigate the other drawings in theModule 01 folder. Contents.dwg contains a list of thedrawings that are part of the project. BOM.dwg contains thebill of materials report for the project. Power.dwg containsthe schematic symbols for the power circuit for the project.Cabinet.dwg contains the panel footprints for the cabinetcomponents in the project.

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Chapter Review Questions

1. What are the three main components of the AutoCADElectrical interface?

2. How do you access the AutoCAD Electrical Help system?

3. AutoCAD Electrical symbols are composed of what objecttype(s)?

4. Where in the interface can you access AutoCAD Electricalcommands?

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