New to AutoCAD 2009, need help making electrical schematics

[shosh]

So I'm new to the autocad world. The companies seem to want a person that knows how to handle autocad. The company I interviewed with uses autocad vanilla to create their electrical schematics, not autocad electrical. So I want to learn how to make these schematics using the vanilla version, but don't know how. Can anyone advise me on where to get started? Where to find some of the symbols you need to do an electrical schematic?

[ReMark]

The first step would be either to make your own symbols, find (free) symbols or buy a library of premade symbols.

 

The next step would be to create your master template with all your layers, linestyles, text styles, etc.

 

Will you be drawing everything in model space including your title block and border or will you be using layouts and viewports?

 

Do you have a master title block available to you or will you have to create that as well?

[shosh]

they already have their own template with title blocks that includes company info. I'm just trying to figure out how you use vanilla to make schematics, as I'm use to Orcad. Seems to me they're similar, as they're both pick and place, then wire(?). Am I correct? I just didn't know where they get their symbols from. Anyone know where to get this library for autocad 2009?

 

Next phase is to figure out how to create a BOM.

[Tuns]

They don't already have all the symbols drawn out in a template file? If they don't you can make your own by opening their drawings and just copying them over to your personal template file. Ask them if they have a template file on the network drive. If they don't have shared files in the company then I welcome you to the 21'st century.

[mikekmx]

they already have their own template with title blocks that includes company info. I'm just trying to figure out how you use vanilla to make schematics, as I'm use to Orcad. Seems to me they're similar, as they're both pick and place, then wire(?). Am I correct? I just didn't know where they get their symbols from. Anyone know where to get this library for autocad 2009?

 

Next phase is to figure out how to create a BOM.

 

your parts will be blocks with attributes which you can then extract for your BOM.

 

unless the schematics are fairly basic (and you really mean simple schematics, rather than wiring diagrams?) i would really try and get ACE.

[shosh]

your parts will be blocks with attributes which you can then extract for your BOM.

 

unless the schematics are fairly basic (and you really mean simple schematics, rather than wiring diagrams?) i would really try and get ACE.

 

Basic is what I'm talking about, like NO/NC Push buttons and sensors for PLCs

[mikekmx]

i would suggest you look at dynamic blocks and attributes then.

dynamic blocks can be slightly tricky to set up, but are very handy for that type of work imo. even if it's only perhaps a rotate and a move function.

 

attributes for your BOM.

 

google it and you should find LOADS of basic electrical type blocks which you can then modify to your needs, either in bulk, or as and when needed. before long you will have a nice library.

i will try and post some of my fire alarm blocks up in the next couple of days for you if you would like some examples (i'm pretty busy on-site atm - and tired,so it will prob have to wait till the weekend)

[ReMark]

AutoCAD 2009 does not come with a symbol library. It does however have examples of dynamic blocks that can be found on the Tool Palettes.

 

I'd inquire as to what blocks the company already uses before searching for others.

 

Is there a CAD Manager? How many people doing CAD?

[tzframpton]

It sounds like some training needs to be involved. You're asking for the basics of fundamentals here in regards to a very specific method of creating electrical schematics.

[JD Mather]

I am surprised that no one did a simple Google search.

https://www.google.com/#q=autocad+blocks+electrical+symbols