×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

AutoCAD compatible schematic editor

AutoCAD compatible schematic editor

AutoCAD compatible schematic editor

(OP)
After much searching and asking of numerous questions around the office, it has come to looking for new software packages that would allow us to automate some of the more tedious tasks for schematic editing, such as wire and part numbering and automated parts list generation.

Which brings me to my problem, options for schematic editing software. I'm familiar with Protel, and as such understand how easy it is to add components and generate parts lists, and auto update changes to components. Our drawings are currently done in a similar style. However, we don't need the circuit simulation or PCB layout capabilities as we generally manufacture switchboard layouts rather than circuit boards. We also need AutoCAD compatibility as Autocad is what we use currently, and we use it for more than electrical schematic and layout functions.

Switchboard layout capabilities would be nice, but not critical. More importantly is the ability to automatically change wire and part numbers, and change parts lists as schematic changes are made.

We're aware of AutoCAD Electrical, but we're not that keen on switching to the ladder diagram format. Does anyone have any other suggestions, or suggestions as to whether AutoCAD electrical has other capabilites that we're not aware of?

Your assistance in this matter would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Fred Nurk.

RE: AutoCAD compatible schematic editor

HAVE CHECKED OUT THE USE OF ATTRIBUTES AND ATTRIBUTED BLOCKS?

RE: AutoCAD compatible schematic editor

With some LISP programs/creation, you should be able to automate the majority of schematic work with your current AutoCAD software.

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: AutoCAD compatible schematic editor

I agree with chicopee's suggestion as long as there isn't a commercial program available.  In Autocad you could create blocks of your components with attributes that either show on the drawing or are invisible (or a mixture of both.) Alternaltely there is a way to "tag" objects which like blocks could be counted for the parts list.  This would require some programing in AutoLISP or VBA, but might also be found on the internet.

http://cadalog.com/
http://www.freecadapps.com/

Autocad Mechanical (not Mechanical Desktop) has a parts list and part counting function built-in based on the block and tag idea.  It is very similar to basic Autocad but has extra customization available for mechanical engineers.

Regards,
-Mike

RE: AutoCAD compatible schematic editor

I forgot to mention the Autocad forum here at eng-tips.  I've found interesting stuff there too.

forum555

-Mike

RE: AutoCAD compatible schematic editor

Autodesk makes an add-on package for AutoCad. I am currently looking for the same type of software. I have yet to get in touch with an AutoCad vendor. I also know that ECT has a product called Promis-E that can run in Autocad or you can get stand-alone version.

RE: AutoCAD compatible schematic editor

There are 3 packages for electrical work within AutoCad that I am aware of: AutoCad Electrical, E-Plan and Vesys.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli
Sr IS Technologist
L-3 Communications

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources