cpretty (Mechanical):
I find your question very basic and also very practical and utilitarian for all engineers. I have used the drawing capabilities of Excel for some time now - going on 7 years. I have learned to develop some pretty good process flow diagrams and have created some set and standard drawing symbols like heat exchangers, distillation towers, pumps, compressors, etc. - all using nothing more that the standard figures given in Excel. I can draw, for example just about every symbol that the ISA puts out - just as good (or better) than a class A electrical designer. I use the standard, given Excel shapes and form other shapes by merging, bringing to the front, formating shapes, grouping, erasing lines, overlaying, & other techniques.
If you are interested in seeing some samples (because this is the only way for you to learn), let me know your email address and I'll send you some sample workbooks.
This is something other engineers are presently doing (some of them are better than me, I'll bet) because of a number of reasons:
1) Excel is a common, available platform; everyone has it; no CAD or other special program has to be available to disseminate the information. And, after all, isn't the name of the engineering game "communicate efficiently"?
2) It is simple; no need for investing valuable time and effort in CAD training; keep the designers doing design - engineers have to communicate with sketches and other symbols as well. This resolves that need.
3) Engineers are given the tool of combining calculations and sketches in one document: a spreadsheet. This combines two strong, traditional ways of communicating and distributing engineering information.
This is a technique that no one, to my knowledge, has written a book or article on. It's a shame, because of the strong, communication impact it makes on your engineering applications.
Art Montemayor
Art Montemayor
Spring, TX
