Importing in AutoCAD as an electrical engineer involves the following;
- Planning the work area,
- Creating, and
- Finalizing the electrical drawings.
Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
Step-1: Planning & Preparation
Step-2: Setting Up AutoCAD
Step-3: Creating Layers
Step-4: Drawing Electrical Components
Step-5: Using Blocks
Step-6: Dimensioning & Scaling
Step-7: Reviewing & Finalizing
Step-8: Saving & Sharing
Step-1: Planning & Preparation
Acquire all the information concerning the project such as project details, electrical codes, and the clients’ needs.
Before actually starting to sketch the electrical system it is advisable to draw a rough layout of the electrical system on paper in order to have a general idea of what one is to draw.
Step-2: Setting Up AutoCAD
Ensure AutoCAD is among the software applications that you have installed. Launch the utility program and turn on a blank design.
Specify that type of units you are going to use in a drawing. Print UNITS in the command line and select proper measurement (Ex: millimeters, inches, etc).
To define the drawing area, simply type LIMITS followed by the lower-left and upper-right coordinating of the drawing area.
Step-3: Creating Layers
Layers is another feature that makes easy to work with a drawing as it allows sorting different elements of the drawing. To make different components of the building such as lighting, power, and communication, use the LAYER command.
It is necessary to allow each layer to be easily recognizable and they should be painted in different colors and lined with different types of lines.
Step-4: Drawing Electrical Components
Draw circuit diagrams and use conventional symbols of switches, outlets , circuit breakers etc. One may use AutoCAD’s Design Center or tool palettes to do the insertion of these symbols.
Cross wires can be drawn by using the help of LINE or PLINE command. Join the symbols with these lines to represent electrical circuits.
Use the TEXT or MTEXT command to include Texts and Labels for the components and circuits.
Step-5: Using Blocks
For repetitions, use BLOCK command for creating blocks. This makes work easy in a way that retains order, hence eliminating complications that would be caused by inconsistency.
To organize drawings, insert the created blocks into your drawing as and when required.
Step-6: Dimensioning & Scaling
For adding dimensions, the DIM command is used and the position of all the components should be properly located.
Change the scale of your drawing if necessary to ensure it can fit into the drawing area before clicking on the draw button, besides ensuring that the scale is legible.
Step-7: Reviewing & Finalizing
It is also important that you verify that the facts and the details you have placed on your drawing are correct and that you have included all the relevant information. Ensure the correctness of all component’s location and labeling.
Run a design review with the help of the checked tools for electrical design that are integrated into AutoCAD or can be installed as the additions.
Plotters should be set up and the form of plot should also be selected. To print the drawing that you have created or generate a PDF, you need to use the PLOT command.
Step-8: Saving & Sharing
You should often backup your drawing with the help of SAVE or SAVEAS command.
Save the drawing in other file formats (Ex: DWG, PDF file format etc.) when need to send the same to the client or colleague.
Thus, by following the outlined above steps, it is possible to create easily and thoroughly to create the electrical drawings with the help of AutoCAD.