SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic - Exercise #13

In this exercise, you will learn how to manage several types of symbols, such as wiring line diagram, or schematic symbols. You will create a PLC symbol from its manufacturer part.

 

If this is your first time, open the PDF file of the exercise to read through it. Printing it out is recommended.

 

Download file

• Line diagram symbol

• Schematic symbol

Line diagram symbol

Ensure that the Emergency stop symbol is compatible for insertion into a line diagram drawing.

1. Open the Symbol management.

Menu: Library > Symbol management

 

2. Click on the Filters tab and fill in the fields.

3. Select the symbol for the emergency stop and click on the Open icon (double-clicking on the symbol works as well).

Symbol management: Open

 

4. To make it compliant with line diagram symbol management, simply place a rectangle around the symbol.

Menu: Draw> Rectangle

 

Without this rectangle, the wires / cables cannot snap onto the symbol.

 

Schematic symbol

Create a new 3P thermal-magnetic circuit breaker-type symbol in compliance with Appendix 13a. This symbol must:

 

- Be named Training_Circuit_Breaker - Belong to the IEC library - Be drawn using Metric units - Be declared as a Parent in line symbol - Be automatically associated with the 21113 part from Schneider - Propagate the cross references, the current rating, and the magnetic current setting

 

1. Go into the Circuit breakers / Thermal-magnetic class in the Classification tab in the Symbol management.

2. Then click on the Filters tab and select the criteria below.

3. You can also select a symbol in the right-hand part of the dialog box.

4. Then click on the New icon.

Symbol management: New

 

5. Enter the properties as shown below.

 

 

6. Click on the OK button to create the symbol.

 

An empty thumbnail is automatically added in the right-hand part of the dialog box.

 

7. Select it and click on the Open icon.

Symbol management: Open

 

The Training_Circuit_Breaker is open in the graphical interface. Here is some advice to help you create the graphic using free tools.

 

8. Insert a rectangle where the first point is at coordinates (0,0) and the second at coordinates (10,15).  

Menu: Draw > Rectangle

 

9. Draw the first pole of the circuit breaker, using the rectangle to help you.

Menu: Draw > Line

Menu: Draw > Arc

 

Next, set the snap spacing so the connection points are placed at the same intervals as the distance between the wires (5mm by default).

 

10. Right-click in the lock bar (the bottom right of the screen) to open the drawing support dialog box.

11. Set the snap and grid settings as shown opposite.

 

 

12. Then delete the rectangle.

13. Create poles 2 and 3 of the circuit breaker by copying the first pole. With the snap spacing locked, the poles will be equidistant at 5mm. Add the axis line. 

Menu: Modify > Multiple copy

Menu: Draw > Line

Menu: Modify > Properties

 

14. Move the assembly so that the connection highest and furthest to the left is on the axis marker (double green arrow on coordinates (0,0)).

Menu: Modify > Move

  

15. Add 3 disconnectable Circuit breaker/Switch type circuits.

Menu: Edit symbol > New circuit

 

16. To insert the connection points, select circuit 0 and click on the Connection point icon in the Edit symbol menu.

Menu: Edit symbol > Connection point

 

The connection point block is attached to the cursor. It is composed of a line and two circles.

 

17. Press [Space] to rotate the connection point.

18. Insert the connection point so that the white circle coincides with the point the wire will connect to.  

19. Insert the five other connection points, selecting the corresponding circuits beforehand.

  

The dockable panel displays the properties of the connection points, allowing any allocation errors to be corrected. In each circuit, the number of the point in the upper part must be less than the one in the lower part.

 

20. To insert the attributes, click on the Attribute insertion icon in the Edit symbol menu.  

Menu: Edit symbol > Insert attribute

 

21. In the Attributes management dialog box, check the boxes for the attributes to be inserted on the symbols.

 

Identification / #TAG Descriptive data / Cross references / #CROSS_REF Descriptive data / Manufacturer data / #TD_1 Descriptive data / Manufacturer data / #TD_4

 

22. Insert the attributes near the symbol.

 

The Properties command of the attribute allows you to modify its font, height, and justification.

 

23. Close and save the symbol file.

24. Check the result by inserting the symbol in a scheme drawing.