AutoCAD Electrical

[ScottyUK]

We're about to start a major project replacing our LV switchgear. Our existing drawings are virtually all hand-drawn from the early 1970s, and we're going to be redrawing the whole lot, an estimated around 6000 - 7000 drawings between us and the vendors. AutoCAD Electrical looks tempting based on the promotional blurb, and if we achieve a fraction of Autodesk's claimed time-savings then it will likely pay for itself fairly quickly. The demonstrations we've seen look quite impressive, but they're obviously part of a sales pitch and when talking to salesmen I'm a skeptic at best and a cynic the rest of the time.

Does anyone have any positive or negative views on AutoCAD Electrical? We're competent enough CAD users, but before we spend a 5-digit sum on software licenses I'd appreciate some views from existing users. How easy did you find the migration from standard AutoCAD to Electrical, and what problems / limitations have you had with the automation?


----------------------------------

If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[francesca]

If you're dropping that much money on software, make sure to get some Autodesk expert employee time thrown in. I would wager that if you're recreating 7000 drawings, a lot of those will be multiple sections and building a 3D model will get them covered. Is there any way that laser scanning might be easier/cheaper for you?

http://www.asbuilt.com/services.asp?service=laserscanning

 

[xnuke]

I think the product should actually be called AutoCAD Controls, since it is best for producing controls diagrams such as ladder logic, motor elementary diagrams, and control panel layouts. It does pretty well with automating these types of drawings, though if the parts databases it comes with don't have the part descriptions you need preloaded in them, there can be a significant amount of data entry. I like the project manager and circuit builder tools, as well as the automated wire numbering, PLC I/O blocks, and bill of material extraction tools - but then, I do mostly controls work. I've even created a lot of drawings very quickly from Excel and the translator draws them correctly in CAD.

The controls is built on a full version of AutoCAD, so there wasn't a long ramp-up time for me when I learned to use it. I can still produce power one-lines and other types of power diagrams using the base AutoCAD methods I was used to using, but those types of drawings don't seem to be able to take advantage of the automated tools the same way as electrical controls diagrams can.

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[djs]

I agree with xnuke about the controls aspect. If a large protion of the drawings to be reproduced are control type ladder diagrams, then I believe that ACE will save you signaficant time.
Also the project manager aspect is very valuable. It will allow the user to keep the individual drawings organized and sorted. It also has a project wide plot function which is much nicer than the AutoCAD batch plot utility.
If most of the drawings are 3D layout drawings, then you are most likely out of luck. However you might check the supplied libraries of ACE for you existing equipment. It does have an extensive lineup of american switches, pilot lights contactors etc. This is valuable in of its self.

 

[ScottyUK]

Thanks folks. No 3D stuff for us, just boring 2D electrical schematics.

There will be some PLC or DCS I/O, motor starter schematics, interconnects, termination details, etc, etc. We expect to have a handful of fairly standard starter schematics so I think I can imagine using some of the automation to populate the starter shcmatic with drive-specific details. The ability to link through from the PLC I/O drawing right through to the motor starter has a certain appeal. Or maybe I'm listening to the marketing guys too much? It's no good if the automation costs us more time that a plain drawing!


----------------------------------

If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[xnuke]

ScottyUK,

It sounds like it would be helpful based on the types of drawings you mentioned, especially if you have standard drawings. I did a bunch of standard drawings for a project using the Excel import/export utility, and it worked great. I simply filled out a spreadsheet for each drawing I needed to make, and the software created the drawing for me. It was easy to create a bunch of spreadsheet files and not have to worry about the drawing. They all looked nice and uniform, too.

Before committing to buying, you can try it out for 30 days for free, with full functionality. I'd recommend you check out the demonstration version.

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[ScottyUK]

That sounds just what I had in mind - nice to hear it works in the real world as well as on the salesman's laptop. I'm trying very hard to standardise the starters and have only a few variants; most people are with me in this aim.

I'll have to give them a little nudge about the 30 day trial. That sounds very useful. Quite where I'm gonna find 30 days free to play with the software I simply can't imagine: a 30 minute trial would probably exceed my spare time right now. Still, can't complain - better busy than quiet!


----------------------------------

If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!