Molly Ayala
AutoCAD Electrical is a powerful tool that enables users to connect symbols representing electrical components like relays, establishing parent-child relationships. Creating custom symbols involves using blocks with attributes that define their behaviour. To begin, users must draw the desired geometry and select the 'Symbol Builder' icon. The 'Symbol Builder Attribute Editor' panel allows for the placement of 'Required' and 'Optional' attributes, as well as 'Wire' and 'Link' connections. The first letter of the symbol's filename denotes its orientation, with 'V' for vertical and 'H' for horizontal. Subsequent letters indicate the symbol's family, such as 'CR' for a control relay. The number '1' represents a parent symbol, like a relay coil, while '2' denotes a child symbol, such as a relay contact. These symbols can be inserted into the Icon Menu and Catalog Browser, facilitating easy insertion and editing. With AutoCAD Electrical, users can create, share, and link symbols, enhancing efficiency in electrical design and documentation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First letter of the filename | V or H, for Vertical or Horizontal |
| Next couple of letters | Denote the family the symbol is part of |
| Next number | 1 or 2, where 1 is a parent symbol and 2 is a child symbol |
| Additional number (optional) | 1 or 2, where 1 is Normally Open and 2 is Normally Closed |
| Base Point | Should be in a logical place |
| Symbol Builder tab | Allows symbols to link to each other and carry Device ID and BoM information |
| AutoCAD Block Editor | Allows you to create blocks with attributes that determine the type of symbol and its behaviour |
| Attributes | Tag, Prompt and Value |
| Inserting symbols | Open the Icon Menu, Schematic tab > Insert Components pane > Icon Menu |
| Importing | AML files can be imported and terminal blocks can be scripted with IO point types |
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What You'll Learn
Creating symbols in AutoCAD Electrical
AutoCAD Electrical uses blocks with attributes for its symbols. These attributes determine the type of symbol and, consequently, the block's behaviour. Each text entity in the symbol image has a Tag, Prompt, and Value. The Tag is visible in the block editor, while the Value is seen in a normal drawing.
To create a symbol block, you first need to draw the desired geometry and select the ‘Symbol Builder’ icon. In the subsequent window, you specify the type of symbol. Once the Block Editor is open, you can access the 'Symbol Builder Attribute Editor' on the left-hand side. This panel allows you to add Required' and 'Optional' attributes, as well as 'Wire' and 'Link' connections.
When naming your symbol file, start with 'V' or 'H' to indicate if it's designed for a vertical or horizontal wire line. The following letters denote the symbol's family. For instance, a control relay symbol would use 'CR'. The next number denotes if it's a parent symbol (1) or a child symbol (2). An additional number can be added to indicate if the symbol is Normally Open (1) or Normally Closed (2).
After completing the symbol, select the option to place it and perform a final test. You can then use this symbol on any project and even share it with colleagues on a shared network drive.
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Using symbols in projects
Symbols are a crucial aspect of any AutoCAD Electrical project, enabling users to represent components like relays and establish parent-child relationships between them. The ability to create custom symbols and use them across various projects enhances the versatility and functionality of the software. Here's a comprehensive guide on using symbols in your AutoCAD Electrical projects:
Creating Symbols:
To create a symbol, open AutoCAD and select the Symbol Builder icon. Start by drawing the required geometry, which can be a simple shape or a complex design. Once you have the basic structure, decide on the type of symbol it will be—for instance, a relay coil or a control relay. The type of symbol determines the block's attributes and behaviour.
Naming Symbols:
When naming your symbol files, follow a clear and consistent convention. The first letter of the filename indicates whether the symbol is designed for a vertical or horizontal wire line, denoted by 'V' or 'H'. The next few letters specify the symbol's family, such as 'CR' for a control relay. The number that follows indicates whether it's a parent or child symbol, with '1' representing the parent and '2' the child. You can also add another number to specify if the symbol is Normally Open or Normally Closed.
Inserting Symbols:
Once you've created and named your symbols, you can insert them into your projects. Open the Icon Menu and go to the Schematic tab. From there, select the "Insert Components" pane and choose the "Icon Menu" option. Locate and select your desired symbol, which will attach to your cursor for easy insertion. Select the desired location, and the Insert/Edit dialog will open. The Tag will be automatically assigned based on your Drawing Properties settings. Click "Lookup" and assign any additional catalog values as needed before clicking "OK."
Connecting Symbols:
Symbols in AutoCAD Electrical can be connected to represent parent/child relationships. These connections allow for cross-referencing between components. Through these cross-references, you can easily navigate between different components and establish "family" relationships. This functionality enhances the ability to manage complex electrical systems and ensures that your projects are accurately represented.
By following these steps, you can effectively utilize symbols in your AutoCAD Electrical projects. Remember that symbols can be shared with colleagues, promoting collaboration and consistency in your electrical designs.
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Sharing symbols with colleagues
When creating symbols in AutoCAD Electrical, it's important to understand that these symbols can be shared with colleagues on a shared network drive. This allows for collaboration and consistency in projects. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create and share symbols effectively:
Creating Symbols in AutoCAD Electrical:
Start by opening the Symbol Builder tab in AutoCAD Electrical. Here, you can create custom symbols by drawing the required geometry and selecting the 'Symbol Builder' icon. Decide on the type of symbol you want to create, such as a relay coil or a relay contact. You can also define whether the symbol is normally open or normally closed. Ensure that the base point of the symbol is in a logical place.
Naming Symbols:
Follow a consistent naming convention for your symbols. The first letter of the filename indicates whether the symbol is designed for a vertical or horizontal wire line, using 'V' or 'H'. The next few letters denote the symbol's family, such as 'CR' for a control relay. The number that follows indicates whether it's a parent or child symbol. For example, '1' for a parent symbol and '2' for a child symbol.
Setting Up Symbol Relationships:
Symbols in AutoCAD Electrical can have parent/child relationships. This allows for symbols to be linked to each other, carrying Device ID and BoM information. Through cross-references, you can easily navigate between components. This is especially useful when you need to show the same component in multiple drawings.
Once you've created and tested your symbols, you can share them with your colleagues through a shared network drive. This enables your team to use the same symbols across different projects, ensuring consistency and compatibility in your work. It's important to establish a clear folder structure and naming convention so that colleagues can easily locate and utilise the shared symbols.
By following these steps, you can effectively create, organise, and share symbols in AutoCAD Electrical, facilitating collaboration and standardisation in your electrical design projects.
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Connecting symbols
AutoCAD Electrical allows users to link symbols together, creating "families" of symbols. This feature is particularly useful when the same component is represented in multiple drawings. For example, a relay with its coil and associated contacts shown on multiple pages of a schematic package can be connected using "parent/child" symbols.
To create a "parent/child" relationship between symbols, follow these steps:
- Go to the Schematic Tab and select the Symbol Builder command.
- Select the objects and choose an insertion point.
- Choose either the PARENT or CHILD category, depending on the type of symbol you are creating, and select OK.
- Add the required attributes for the symbol.
- Specify the path to your custom library/folder for the block and image file.
- Repeat the process for the other category (PARENT or CHILD) to complete the pair.
Another way to connect symbols is by using the "Sibling" relationship. This is useful for tying symbols across different drawings, such as a switch in a P&ID drawing to an input on a PLC. By setting up these relationships, any changes made to one symbol will automatically update the linked symbol, saving time and effort in the design and debugging phases.
Additionally, when creating custom symbols, it is important to ensure proper wire connections and attribute placements. The Symbol Builder Attribute Editor panel, accessible from the Symbol Builder tab, simplifies the insertion of attributes and wire connection locations. Once the symbol is complete, use the Done button to finalise it.
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Inserting symbols
To insert symbols in AutoCAD Electrical, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Icon Menu by selecting the Schematic tab, then go to the Insert Components pane and choose Icon Menu. Here, you will be able to locate and select the symbol you want to insert.
- Once you have selected your symbol, it will attach to your cursor, allowing you to easily insert it. Simply select the desired location, and the Insert/Edit dialog box will open.
- The Tag for the symbol will be automatically assigned based on your Drawing Properties settings. You can then click Lookup and assign the catalog value as required.
- Click OK to finalise the insertion. If everything has been done correctly, any wires will break as needed.
Additionally, if you are using the Catalog Browser to insert symbols, there are a few extra steps. After selecting your symbol and location, the Insert/Edit dialog box will open. Here, you can add any necessary values before clicking OK. If the Catalog Browser is not open, you can access it by going to the Schematic tab, selecting the Insert Components panel, and choosing Catalog Browser.
It is worth noting that AutoCAD Electrical comes with some basic electrical symbols included in the tool palette, which can be accessed by using Ctrl+3. However, if you require additional symbols, you may need to download and install extra libraries.
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Frequently asked questions
First, draw the required geometry and select the ‘Symbol Builder’ icon. Decide what type of symbol it is and open the Block Editor. On the left-hand side, you will see the ‘Symbol Builder Attribute Editor’. This panel allows you to place ‘Required’ and ‘Optional’ attributes, as well as ‘Wire’ and ‘Link’ connections.
The first letter of the filename will be either V or H, for Vertical or Horizontal. The next couple of letters will denote the family the symbol is part of. For example, if it is a control relay, the next two letters will be ‘CR’. The next number will be either 1 or 2, with 1 being a parent symbol and 2 being a child symbol.
Open the Icon Menu, Schematic tab > Insert Components pane > Icon Menu. Locate and select your symbol. Your symbol will be attached to your cursor, making it easy to insert. Once you select the location, the appropriate Insert/Edit dialog will open.
Once you have created your symbols, you can link them by selecting a path pointing to your custom library/folder for the block and image file. Your symbols will then be set up to link to each other.
