Electrical CAD software is bang up to date

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 14, 2006

Aceri is taking full advantage of the new functionality in the latest AutoCAD Electrical 2007 to broaden the sales base in the UK.

Aceri, the sole Autodesk UK distribution partner for AutoCAD Electrical, is taking full advantage of the new functionality in the latest AutoCAD Electrical 2007 to broaden the sales base in the UK.

"In addition to its existing comprehensive electrical symbols libraries", confirms Aceri Technical Manager, Miles Nicholson, "AutoCAD Electrical now includes symbol libraries for creating pneumatic, hydraulic and process and instrumentation diagram (P and ID) drawings".

"As a result, the new libraries enable AutoCAD Electrical customers to quickly develop intelligent schematics for a machine's entire control system".

The hydraulic symbol library includes filters, valves, cylinders, pressure switches, motors, pumps, meters, restrictors, quick disconnects and flow arrows etc, all adhering to the NFPA/T3.10.4RI-1990 and AS1101.1-1993 standards.

The pneumatic symbol library includes operators, valves, flow paths, filters, regulators, cylinders, meters, motors, quick disconnects, mufflers, manifolds and flow arrows etc, all adhering to ISI1219.

And the P and ID symbol library includes equipment, tanks, nozzles, pumps fittings, valves, actuators, logic functions, instrumentation, flow and flow arrows, all adhering to the ANSI/ISA's S5.1 instrumentation standard.

"Using AutoCAD Electrical guarantees you are always working with the latest symbols and to the latest standards", says Nicholson.

"This benefits the whole company, by providing faster, error-free design information which integrates with the rest of the business".

AutoCAD Electrical 2007 monitors and alerts users to potential design errors as they occur, so avoiding potentially costly redesign or reworking later in the process.

Users can locate the problem component automatically, by using the Surf command.

Further, by using the improved electrical audit tool, it is possible to identify and clean up problems that might affect an AutoCAD Electrical drawing.

This displays a report of detected problems for the active project: the user can then save the file for reference or surf the file to quickly view and correct the errors.

Other functionality enhancements designed to make AutoCAD Electrical 2007 easier to use include multiple wire bus, user-defined attributes, table-style cross-referencing and cross reference updates.

Better integration with Autodesk ProductStream and Vault also ensures improved data management and version control of all electrical design information throughout each project.

AutoCAD Electrical 2007's simplified dialogues and increased out-of-the-box functionality makes it much easier for new users to learn and live with", says Nicholson.

"At the same time, the new libraries increase its appeal to a wider engineering audience".

"AutoCAD Electrical is designed by engineers for engineers", he concludes.

"Previously, in order to use AutoCAD software effectively, you had to be a CAD specialist".

"Today, by contrast, with AutoCAD Electrical 2007 you simply need to understand electrical engineering".