Autocad LT ladder diagrams 1

[ischgl99]

I'm a relatively new user to Autocad and wanted to make some as-built ladder diagrams for some of the equipment in our plant, but have not had any luck finding any tutorials or anything like that on ways to set up the drawings. Everything I have come across is for Autocad Electrical and that did not look like it would be the same. I am hoping there is a step by step guide to get me started so I don't have to spend too much time experimenting on my own, too many projects going on and too little time as usual. Does anyone have any links to something I can use as a reference?

 

[tr1ntx]

Well, Autocad, or any CAD program for that matter, is not magical. It won't just automatically create drawings for you. . . .

That being said, people who know how can set up templates, attributes, etc., to greatly automate the process and pop out drawings quickly.

So for your case, you need to see if you can find a ladder diagram "template" which you can edit & add to by copying existing stuff. Autocad has drawing border templates you can use for your basic format, then if you can get a ladder diagram template or block, you can insert it in your drawing, then explode it so you can edit.

Or see if someone here will post a ladder diagram. I have one, but not on this computer, and it might even be on my old desktop sitting in storage. If I have it at home, I'll post it tonight.

 

[tr1ntx]

Oh, I see! AutoCAD Electrical has the built-in functionality to pop out ladder diagrams easily, you don't have to construct them yourself. I've never used AutoCAD Electrical, never even seen it. Or had a use for it, for that matter.

If you've got LT, you're going to have to create them yourself if you can't find a "go by" to modify.

 

[ischgl99]

I wasn't trying to find something that would automatically create drawings for me, just a tutorial that would get me pointed in the right direction. Autocad Electical would be great for this task, but my boss would never cough up $5k for it.

I will check with some colleagues from a former employer and see if they have a ladder diagram they can send that I can use as a template until I find or come up with a procedure for doing it from scratch.

 

[Civilpetro]

Do you need the OSHA ladder details? I do have some ladder details per OSHA requirements and made some dynamic blocks. But you can easily google OSHA Ladder Details in dwg.

 

[ischgl99]

Civilpetro, this is for electrical ladder drawings (schematics), are you talking about actual ladders? I don't need that, but thank you for your feedback.

 

[dbaird]

Useful Links:

http://engineeronadisk.com/V2/book_PLC/engineeronadisk.html

http://www.plcs.net/contents.shtml

http://we-r-here.com/cad/tutorials/index.htm

David Baird

Sr Controls Designer
EET degree.
Journeyman Electrician.

 

[dik]

Thanks for the excellent CAD tutorial link...

Dik