Autodesk Official Training Guide

Essentials

AutoCAD

Electrical 2010

Learning AutoCAD Electrical 2010, Volume 1

(JIC Standard)

Using hands-on exercises, new users learn the basic commands necessary for
creating professional electrical-controls production drawings.
225B1-050000-CM10A
May 2009

2009Autodesk,Inc.Allrightsreserved.

ExceptasotherwisepermittedbyAutodesk,Inc.,thispublication,orpartsthereof,maynotbereproducedin
anyform,byanymethod,foranypurpose.
Certainmaterialsincludedinthispublicationarereprintedwiththepermissionofthecopyrightholder.

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Disclaimer

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Contents

Introduction................................................................................................. ix

Chapter1:BasicWorkflow ........................................................................... 1
Lesson:NavigatingtheInterface......................................................................... 2
EnvironmentComparisons........................................................................ 3
AbouttheQuickAccessToolbar............................................................... 6
AbouttheRibbon......................................................................................6
ChangingRibbonSettingsandDisplayOptions........................................ 8
UsingtheApplicationMenu................................................................... 14
SearchingforInformationUsingInfoCenter........................................... 19
Exercise:NavigatetheInterface..............................................................23
Lesson:BasicWorkflow..................................................................................... 25
BasicCircuitWorkflow............................................................................ 26
Exercise:ExploretheBasicCircuitWorkflow.......................................... 29
ChapterSummary............................................................................................. 37

Chapter2:ProjectBasics............................................................................ 39
Lesson:ProjectManager................................................................................... 40
AboutProjectFiles.................................................................................. 41
AbouttheProjectManager.................................................................... 44
CreatingNewProjects.............................................................................50
Exercise:CreateaNewProject............................................................... 55
Lesson:ProjectDrawingList............................................................................. 57
AbouttheDrawingList........................................................................... 58
CreatingNewDrawings...........................................................................59
EditingtheProjectDrawingList.............................................................. 66
AboutDrawingDescriptionsandSections.............................................. 73
AddingDrawingDescriptionsandSections.............................................74
ChangingtheDrawingListDisplay.......................................................... 76
ProjectBatchPlotting............................................................................. 80
Exercise:EdittheProjectDrawingList....................................................84
Lesson:MovingThroughProjects..................................................................... 87
SelectingDrawingsUsingtheProjectManager...................................... 88
AboutOpeningthePreviousorNextProjectDrawing............................90
SearchingProjectDrawingsUsingtheSurferTool.................................. 92
Exercise:MoveThroughProjectDrawings..............................................98

iii

Lesson:ManagingProjects..........................................................................101
OpeningProjects............................................................................... 102
ActivatingandClosingProjects......................................................... 105
CopyingProjects............................................................................... 108
Exercise:CopyaProject.................................................................... 115
ChapterSummary....................................................................................... 118

Chapter3:SchematicWiring ................................................................ 119

Lesson:WiresandLadders......................................................................... 120
AboutWires...................................................................................... 121
InsertingWires.................................................................................. 124
LayerAssignments............................................................................ 128
TrimmingWires................................................................................. 128
AboutLaddersandRungs................................................................. 131
Referencing....................................................................................... 133
InsertingLaddersandRungs............................................................. 135
RevisingLadders................................................................................139
Exercise:InsertLaddersandWires................................................... 142
Lesson:PointtoPointWiring......................................................................147
PointtoPointStyleDrawings........................................................... 148
PointtoPointWiringTools............................................................... 149
UsingPointtoPointWiringTools..................................................... 153
Exercise:AddPointtoPointWiring.................................................. 158
Lesson:WireNumbersandLeaders............................................................163
AboutWireNumbersandLeaders....................................................164
SettingWireNumberandLeaderDefaults....................................... 169
AutomaticallyAddingWireNumbersandLeaders........................... 173
ManuallyAddingandEditingWireCopiesandLeaders....................176
Exercise:AddWireNumbers............................................................ 182
Lesson:SourceandDestinationSignals...................................................... 185
AboutSourceandDestinationSignals.............................................. 186
AddingSourceandDestinationSignals.............................................187
Exercise:AddSourceandDestinationSignalArrows........................ 194
ChapterSummary....................................................................................... 201

Chapter4:SchematicComponents ........................................................203
Lesson:InsertingSchematicSymbols..........................................................204
SchematicSymbolInsertionProcess.................................................205
AbouttheInsert/EditComponentDialogBox...................................209
SelectingExistingCatalogPartNumbers...........................................219
CreatingParentChildRelationships.................................................. 223
Exercise:InsertaRelayCoilandChildContact................................. 227
Lesson:InsertingSchematicComponentsfromLists.................................. 232
AboutEquipment,Panel,andCatalogLists...................................... 233
InsertingComponentsfromLists...................................................... 235
Exercise:InsertaSchematicComponentfromaPanelList...............250

iv

Contents

Lesson:Connectors..................................................................................... 254
InsertingConnectors......................................................................... 255
EditingConnectors............................................................................ 262
Exercise:AddConnectorsandWiring............................................... 268
Lesson:Terminals,MultipleLevelTerminalsandJumpers.......................... 275
AboutTerminalsandJumpers...........................................................276
AboutMultipleLevelTerminals........................................................ 279
InsertingTerminals,MultipleLevelTerminals,andJumpers............. 282
Exercise:CreateTerminalJumpersandAssociations........................ 299
Lesson:Circuits............................................................................................307
AboutCircuits....................................................................................308
MovingandCopyingCircuits............................................................ 309
InsertingWblockedCircuits.............................................................. 315
SavingCircuitstoanIconMenu....................................................... 317
InsertingSavedCircuits..................................................................... 323
Exercise:Copy,Save,andInsertaCircuit..........................................326
Lesson:MultiplePhaseCircuits...................................................................330
AddingMultiplePhaseWires........................................................... 331
AddingThreePhaseComponents.....................................................336
Exercise:CreateaThreePhaseCircuit..............................................339
ChapterSummary....................................................................................... 344

Contents

Contents

Chapter5:SchematicEditing ........................................................................1
Lesson:BasicUtilities.......................................................................................... 2
ChangingComponentLocationswithScoot............................................. 3
ChangingComponentLocationswithMoveComponent..........................6
AligningComponentsVerticallyandHorizontally..................................... 9
CopyingComponents............................................................................... 12
DeletingComponents.............................................................................. 14
TogglingBetweenNormallyOpenandNormallyClosedContacts.......... 17
Exercise:UseBasicEditingTools............................................................. 18
Lesson:CopyCatalogandLocationTools..........................................................22
CopyingCatalogAssignments................................................................. 23
CopyingInstallation/LocationValues...................................................... 26
Exercise:CopyCatalogandLocationValues........................................... 28
Lesson:SwappingandUpdatingBlocks............................................................ 31
AboutSwappingandUpdatingBlocks.................................................... 32
SwappingBlocks...................................................................................... 34
UpdatingBlocks...................................................................................... 38
MappingAttributes................................................................................. 45
Exercise:SwapandUpdateBlocks.......................................................... 46
Lesson:UsingtheAuditingTools...................................................................... 49
UsingElectricalAudit.............................................................................. 50
UsingDrawingAudit............................................................................... 55
Exercise:UseElectricalAuditandDrawingAudit................................... 57
Lesson:UpdateandRetagDrawings................................................................. 60
UpdatingandRetaggingDrawings.......................................................... 61
ChangingDrawingSequence...................................................................66
Exercise:UpdateandRetagtheSchematic_EditingProject.................... 68
ChapterSummary............................................................................................. 70

iii

Chapter6:SchematicReports ................................................................. 71
Lesson:SchematicReports............................................................................72
AboutReports..................................................................................... 73
CreatingSchematicReports................................................................ 76
UsingtheReportGenerator................................................................84
ChangingReportFormats................................................................... 87
PlacingReportsinDrawings................................................................89
SavingReportstoFiles........................................................................ 96
Exercise:GenerateSchematicReports................................................98
ChapterSummary....................................................................................... 103

Chapter7:PanelLayouts...................................................................... 105
Lesson:CreatingPanelLayouts................................................................... 106
InsertingPanelFootprintsfromaSchematicList..............................107
AssigningFootprintBlocks................................................................ 113
InsertingPanelFootprintsUsingthePanelIconMenu..................... 117
AboutNameplates............................................................................ 122
Exercise:CreateaPanelLayoutfromaSchematicList......................124
Lesson:UsingtheDINRailTool.................................................................. 130
AboutDINRails................................................................................. 131
InsertingDINRails.............................................................................133
Exercise:InsertaDINRail................................................................. 139
Lesson:UsingtheTerminalStripEditor...................................................... 143
TerminalStripEditor......................................................................... 144
EditingTools...................................................................................... 150
PreviewandInsertion....................................................................... 152
InsertingTerminalStrips................................................................... 160
Exercise:EditandInsertaTerminalStrip..........................................164
Lesson:PanelLayoutAnnotationandReports............................................173
AboutPanelDrawingConfiguration..................................................174
AboutFootprintLayerConfiguration................................................ 176
ConfiguringBalloons......................................................................... 178
AssigningItemNumbersandInsertingBalloons...............................181
CreatingPanelReports..................................................................... 186
Exercise:AnnotateaPanelLayout.................................................... 188
ChapterSummary....................................................................................... 194

Appendix.................................................................................................... 195

iv

Contents

vi

Contents

Acknowledgements
TheAutodeskLearningteamwishestothankeveryonewhoparticipatedinthedevelopmentofthis
project,withspecialacknowledgementtotheauthoringcontributionsandsubjectmatterexpertiseof
RandyBrunetteandBrunetteTechnologies,LLC.
BrunetteTechnologiesspecializesinprovidingtraining,consulting,customization,andimplementation
servicesforAutoCADElectricalsoftware.Thecompanyhasbeencreatingcoursewareandother
trainingmaterialforAutodesksince2004.
RandyJ.BrunetteistheownerofBrunetteTechnologies,LLC,andislocatedinChilton,Wisconsin.He
hascreatedcustomtrainingcurriculumandprofessionalpresentationsonavarietyofsubjectsandisa
topratedinstructoratAutodeskUniversity.

Acknowledgements

vii

viii

Acknowledgements

Introduction

WelcometotheLearningAutoCADElectrical2010(JICStandard)trainingguideforuseinAuthorized
TrainingCenter(ATC)locations,corporatetrainingsettings,andotherclassroomsettings.
Althoughthisguideisdesignedforinstructorledcourses,youcanalsouseitforselfpacedlearning.
TheguideencouragesselflearningthroughtheuseoftheAutoCADElectrical2010Helpsystem.
Thisintroductioncoversthefollowingtopics:

Courseobjectives

Prerequisites

Usingthisguide

CDcontents

Completingtheexercises

InstallingtheexercisedatafilesfromtheCD

Notes,tips,andwarnings

Feedback
Thisguideiscomplementarytothesoftwaredocumentation.Fordetailedexplanationsoffeaturesand
functionality,refertotheHelpinthesoftware.

CourseObjectives
Aftercompletingthisguide,youwillbeableto:

DescribetheAutoCADElectricaluserinterfaceandfollowthebasicelectricalprojectdesign
workflow.

Manageprojectsandthemultipledrawingandinterdrawingrelationshipscontainedinelectrical
projects.

Insertwires,addwirenumbers,managecircuits,andcreatepointtopointwiringdiagramsand
drawings.

Insertandannotateschematicsymbols.

Editdrawingsprojectwidewithcommandsthatarespecifictotheelectricaldesignenvironment.

ExtractinformationfromdrawingstocreateBillofMaterial,Wiring,andotherreports.

Createandannotatepanellayoutdrawingswithlistsofcomponentsthatareextractedfrom
schematicdrawingsandwithotherspecificpanellayouttools,suchastheTerminalStrip
Editor.

ix

Prerequisites
ThisguideisdesignedfornewAutoCADElectrical2010users.Itisrecommendedthatyouhave:

Abackgroundinelectricaldesign(draftinganddesignexperienceisaplus).

AworkingknowledgeofAutoCAD.

AworkingknowledgeofMicrosoftWindowsXP,orMicrosoftWindowsVista.

UsingThisGuide
Thelessonsareindependentofeachother.However,itisrecommendedthatyoucomplete
theselessonsintheorderthattheyarepresentedunlessyouarefamiliarwiththeconceptsand
functionalitydescribedinthoselessons.
Eachchaptercontains:

Lessons
Usuallytwoormorelessonsineachchapter.

Exercises
Practical,realworldexamplesforyoutopracticeusingthefunctionalityyouhavejustlearned.
Eachexercisecontainsstepbystepproceduresandgraphicstohelpyoucompletetheexercise
successfully.

CDContents

TheCDattachedtothebackcoverofthisbookcontainsallthedataanddrawingsyouneedto
completetheexercisesinthisguide.

CompletingtheExercises
Youcancompletetheexerciseintwoways:usingthebookoronscreen.

Usingthebook
Followthestepbystepexercisesinthebook.

Onscreen
ClicktheLearningAutoCADElectrical2010JICicononyourdesktop,installedfromtheCD,and
followthestepbystepexercisesonscreen.Theonscreenexercisesarethesameasthoseinthe
book.Theonscreenversionhastheadvantagethatyoucanconcentrateonthescreenwithout
havingtoglancedownatyourbook.

Introduction

Afterlaunchingtheonscreenexercises,youmightneedtoalterthesizeofyourapplicationwindowto
alignbothwindows.

InstallingtheExerciseDataFilesfromtheCD

Toinstallthedatafilesfortheexercises:
1. InserttheCD.
2. Doubleclicktheselfextractingarchivesetup.exe.

Unlessyouspecifyadifferentfolder,theexercisefilesareinstalledinthefollowingfolder:
C:\AutodeskLearning\AutoCADElectrical2010\LearningJIC
AfteryouinstallthedatafromtheCD,thisfoldercontainsallthefilesnecessarytocompleteeach
exerciseinthisguide.

Introduction

xi

Notes,Tips,andWarnings

Throughoutthisguide,notes,tips,andwarningsarecalledoutforspecialattention.
Notescontainguidelines,constraints,andotherexplanatoryinformation.
Tipsprovideinformationtoenhanceyourproductivity.

Warningsprovideinformationaboutactionsthatmightresultinthelossofdata,system
failures,orotherseriousconsequences.

Feedback

WealwayswelcomefeedbackonAutodeskOfficialTrainingGuides.Aftercompletingthiscourse,if
youhavesuggestionsforimprovementsorifyouwanttoreportanerrorinthebookorontheCD,
pleasesendyourcommentstolearningtools@autodesk.com.

DigitalPrototyping

Mostofyouprobablyrecognizetheenormityoftheissuesfacingmanufacturersandengineering
companiestoday.Manufacturinganddesignarechangingatthespeedofsound.Manufacturingis
beingperformedglobally,andcanchangelocationsatanytime.Designteamsarebecoming"virtual",
locatedinmanygeographiesandcompanies.Andcustomersarelocatedallovertheworld,each
demandinggreatercommunication,customization,shortertimelines,andcustomerservice.

Andifyouaremanufacturingwithsustainabilityinmind,youarelikelywrestlingwithissuessuchas
optimizingmaterialsuseandreducingwaste,avoidinghazardousorrestrictedmaterials,usingenergy
efficientlyinmanufacturing,designingenergyefficientproducts,minimizingwateruse,ormaintaining
compliancewithlawsandregulations.Addressingtheseissuescanbothimproveamanufacturers
environmentalperformanceandprovideadistinctcompetitiveadvantage.

xii

Introduction

Itiscriticalthatmanufacturersstarttoleverageourassetsacrosstheorganization,fromsalesand
marketing,topurchasing,manufacturing,technicaldocumentation,andfieldservice.Nottomention
plantengineeringandmaintenanceandofcourseourcustomers.
Throughouttheyearsofdesignandmanufacturing,industryhastalkedofafuture"nirvana"
wherethroughouttheproductorprojectdevelopmentcycleallknowledgewouldbecapturedand
communicated.Manyofyouhaveheardtheterms"ArttoPart","CradletoGrave"and"Conceptto
Obsolescence".Theconcepthasalwaysbeensimple;thepracticalimplementationhasbeencostly,
bothintimeandmoney.
Thefutureishere.Somuchso,thattheindustryhasgivenitaname.DigitalPrototyping.Theconcept
remainsthesame.Capturedatadigitallyatitssourceandpullandpushitthroughoutthelifecycleof
theproductorproject.
The"textbook"definitionofadigitalprototypeisadigitalsimulationofaproductthatcanbeusedto
testform,fit,andfunction.Thedigitalprototypebecomesmoreandmorecompleteasallassociated
conceptual,mechanical,andelectricaldesigndataareintegrated.Acompletedigitalprototypeisa
truedigitalsimulationoftheentireendproduct,andcanbeusedtovirtuallyoptimizeandvalidatea
producttoreducethenecessityofbuildingexpensivephysicalprototypes.
Technologyhascaughtuptothevision,buttechnologyisonlyaseffectiveastheimplementationof
thetoolsavailable.Processmustbeexaminedanddeterminedtobestmeetyourorganization's
business,andtheculturalchangeissohugethatwecouldspenddaysifnotweeksdiscussinghowto
bestgetthe'people'partoftheequationtounderstandandbelievethatitisnotonlythe"right"thing
todobutcriticaltotheirfuture.
ForyearsAutodeskhasdemocratizedtechnology,allowingforattainability,scalability,and
affordability.LikeAutoCAD25yearsago,Autodeskhasenabledorganizationsofanysizeto
practicallyimplementthetechnology;processesandinfrastructurerequiredintegratedigital
prototypingintoyourdevelopmentprocess.
DigitalPrototypingisnota"onesizefitsall"solution.Thesheerarrayofdesignprojectsis
overwhelming.Howcanaconsumerproductscompanythatmustappealtoconsumerswithacool
lookandfeelandsell1000sofunitsimplementthesamesolutionasacustomindustrialequipment
manufacturerthatneverdesignsorbuildsthesameunittwiceimplementthesamesolution?
DigitalPrototypingisaconceptthatcanbeadaptedtoanydesignprocess.Thetechnologyandprocess
willdiffer,butthephilosophyisthesame.
Inordertounderstandhowdigitalprototypingcanhelpmanufacturersofallsizesandmarketplaces,
itisimportanttounderstandthegeneralworkflowofadesignandfulfillmentofaproduct.While
eachofyoucomefromwithinthisworkflowitiseasytolosesightoftheoverarchingprocessand
thepeopleinvolved.Aswelookattheworkflow,youcanseethatmanydepartmentsandstepsare
involvedinthisdesignprojectandeachhasitsownsetofchallenges.
Productsaretypicallyconceptuallycreatedbystudyingmarketneedsandwants.Theseconceptscan
comefrommanysourcesincludingsalesandmarketing,industrialdesign,orconceptualengineering.
Nomatterwheretheycomefrom,theendgoalistomeetacustomer'sneedorwant.
Manufacturingisresponsibletobuildwhatengineeringhasdesigned,purchasingisresponsibleto
supportthoseeffortsandtrackcosts.Eachdepartmenthasdeadlinesandifmistakesaren'tcaught
untilthebuildphasetheycanbecostlyinbothtimeandmoney.
Inthemidstofthisprocess,documentsanddatamustbecontrolledandcommunicated.Depending
onthetypeofproductbeingcreated,regulationsmustbeadheredtoandchangesincorporated.This
responsibilityfallswithinvariousdepartments,butDocumentControland/orProjectManagementare
themostcommon.

Introduction

xiii

WithoutDigitalPrototyping,theseislandsofcompetencyarejustthat;islands.Thepipelinesof
communicationaremanualandhavetheabilitytobreakdown.Witheachhandoffofinformation,
knowledgeislostormisinterpreted.

DigitalPrototypingIndustrialEquipmentManufacturer

Designisnotaboutasinglepersonorcompany,butaboutthecollaborationofmany.Thiscompany
designs,builds,andsellspackagingsystemsforthefoodandbeverageindustry.Theircustomers
arelocatedinallpartsoftheworld,andtheyrecognizethatinordertogrowtheirpositioninthe
marketplacethattheyneedtoquicklybringnewproductstomarketandlistentotheircustomers
needs,andmeetthoseexpectations.

Thismanufacturerhasdeterminedthattomeettheirbusinessgoals,theywilltransitiontoDigital
Prototyping,orvirtuallybuildingtheentiremachine,communicatingtoalldepartmentsinvolvedas
thedesigndevelops.

xiv

Introduction

Beforethesystemwasmanufacturedorevenphysicallyprototyped,marketingandsaleswanted
toshowcustomerstheconceptandallowthosecustomerstogivefeedbackandvisualizevarious
options.ThosedepartmentsutilizedAutodeskShowcasetodynamicallyallowcustomerstointeract
withthevirtualprototype,seevariousoptionsandmakedecisionswithrespecttotheirneeded
configuration.

So,howdidtheprocesswork?Thefollowingshowstheworkflowandproductsusedtocompletethe
designanddelivertheequipmenttothecustomer.
Inordertokeepcontrolofallengineering,designandmanufacturingdata,VaultManufacturingwas
usedtovaultthatdataandmakeitaccessibletoallprojectmembersincludingmechanical,electrical,
manufacturing,purchasingandsalesandmarketing.VaultManufacturingallowedthisorganizationto
insurethatnoonewasworkingonthesamepartofthedesignatthesametime,thateveryonewas
workingonthesameversionofthedesign,andthatdownstreamdepartmentscouldviewthevarious
subsystemsandofferinputtokeepcostdownandallowforefficientmanufacturingandassembly.
ThemechanicaldesignteamutilizedAutodeskInventorProfessionaltocreatethevarious
mechanicalsubsystemsoftheproduct.Thesesubsystemsincludedtheframe,mechanisms,
sheetmetalenclosures,andmountinghardwarefortheelectricalsystems.Theyalsoagreedon
standardsandstucktothemincludingiproperties,templates,sheetmetalstyles,namingconventions,
dimensioningstyles,andhardware.
AnotherdifferencewiththisdesignisthattheyusedInventorProfessional'scapabilitiestosimulate
variousmechanismsandanalyzepartsforform,fitandfunctionaswellassafetyconsiderations.
Asissuesarose,electricaldesignandmanufacturingcouldreviewthedesignsthroughVault
ManufacturingandDesignReviewtohelpmakesuggestionsforimprovement.
TheelectricaldesignteamutilizedAutoCADElectricaltodesigntheelectricalsystems.Again,thisteam
agreeduponstandardstoinsureconsistentdevicetags,wirenumbersandreportformatsthat
manufacturingandpurchasingcoulduseelectronicallywithoutreenteringthedataintotheirown
systems.ByusingAutoCADElectrical,wiresanddevicetagswerentduplicated;componentssuchas
relaycontactswerentoverusedcausingmanufacturingandpurchasingtohavetoscrambleduringthe
buildphasetocorrectthoseissuesontheshopfloor.ByusingAutoCADElectricalsdatabase,accurate

Introduction

xv

partslistsweregenerated,wirelabelswerecreatedandimportedintotheirlabelprinter,anda
ToFromWirelistwassenttotheelectriciansmakingtheirwiringjobeasytounderstand.
Oneofthebiggestchangesinengineeringwastheabilitytocommunicatedesignintentbetween
theelectricalandmechanicalteams.Whileelectricalengineersdesigntheschematicsandlogic,it
istypicallyuptothemechanicalteamstomountandphysicallywireandplumbtheelectricaland
fluidpower(hydraulicandpneumatic)devices.Someofthesedevicescouldbelightcurtains,valves,
drives,motors,actuators,etc.Inthepastthiswastypicallydoneduringthephysicalprototyping
phaseorduringthebuildofacustompieceofequipment.Electricianswouldrunstringfrompointto
pointtoproduceaccuratelengthsofcablesorwires,mechanicaldesignwouldmaketheirbestguess
ontubeandpiperunsoftencausingcostlychangesinmanufacturinganddelaythetestinganddebug
cyclesbeforeaproductcouldshiptoacustomersite.
ByutilizingInventorProfessional'sroutingcapabilitiesandAutoCADElectrical'sexportcapabilities,the
teamscouldaccuratelycommunicatethedesignintent,producenailboarddrawingsforcables,and
simulatemotiontoinsurethatinterferenceswouldntoccur.
Oncethedigitalprototypewascreated,salesandmarketingusedAutodeskShowcasetowork
withcustomersinadynamicenvironmentthatallowedthecustomerstovirtuallyexperiencethe
equipment,testvariousoptionsandmakequickdecisionswhichshortenedthesalescycle.
Oncethefinalconfigurationoftheproductwasdetermined,themechanicalteamcouldcreate
detaileddrawingsinnativeDWGfileformatusingDWGTruConnect.TheycouldalsoexportDXFfiles
forsheetmetalmanufacturing,aswellascreateassemblyinstructionsusingInventorspresentation
capability.
ThesepresentationsanddetaileddesigndocumentationwereexportedtoDWFfilesforthe
customer.ThecustomerusesDesignReviewtoviewmodels,drawings,andanimationsandrequires
noCADsoftware.Itisafreedownloadandavailabletoanyone.
Theendresultwasthatthiscompanyreducedchangeorders,savedcostsbycommunicating
throughouttheprocesswithaccurate,accessibleinformation,beattimelinesandmetcustomer's
expectation.Thecompanymighthavealsomademoresustainablechoicesatkeypointsinthedesign,
engineeringandmanufacturingprocess,helpingtoreducethenumberofphysicalprototypesand
decreasewaste.
Byunderstandingthatprocessandstandardsmatter,capturingdesignintentfromthebeginning
andnotbreakingthedigitalpipelineasthedesignevolves,Autodesk'sDigitalPrototypingcanassist
anymanufacturertomeetandexceedbusinessgoals.

DigitalPrototypingConsumerProducts

Anyoneinvolvedinthedesignormanufacturingofconsumerproductsunderstandstheunique
challengesinvolved.Thesechallengesincludedifferentiatingyourbrandandproductfromother
competitors,innovatingnewproductsthatwillexcitecustomerstopurchase,conveyingyourproduct
throughsalesandmarketingmaterials,quickproductdevelopmentcycles,nottomentiondesigninga
productthatcanbemassproducedatareasonablecostandwithminimalenvironmentalimpact.

Ourmanufacturerdesignsandbuildsdesktopprintersbuthasfallenbehindtheircompetitionwith
respecttocostandthelookandfeeloftheirproduct.
Thismanufacturerhasdeterminedthatinordertokeepupwithcompetitionandgrowtheirmarket
share,theywilltransitiontoDigitalPrototyping,orvirtuallydevelopingandbuildingtheproduct,
collaboratingwithcustomersandcommunicatingtoalldepartmentsinvolvedasthedesigndevelops.

xvi

Introduction

Thisnew"AllinOne"printerhastoappealtoconsumersthataredemandingeaseofuse,reliability
andaunitthatlooksgoodontheirdesk,nottomentionisaffordableandenvironmentally
sustainable.
Beforethesystemwasmanufacturedorevenphysicallyprototyped,marketingandsaleswantedto
showcustomerstheconceptandallowthosecustomerstogivefeedbackandvisualizevarious
options.ThosedepartmentsutilizedAutodeskShowcasetodynamicallyallowcustomerstointeract
withthevirtualprototype,seevariousoptionsandmakedecisionswithrespecttotheirneeded
configuration.
So,howdidtheprocesswork?Thefollowingshowstheworkflowandproductsusedtocompletethe
designandmanufacturetheproductforretaildelivery.
Inordertokeepcontrolofallengineering,designandmanufacturingdata,VaultManufacturingwas
usedtovaultthatdataandmakeitaccessibletoallprojectmembersincludingindustrialdesign,
mechanical,electrical,manufacturing,purchasingandsalesandmarketing.VaultManufacturing
allowedthisorganizationtoinsurethatnoonewasworkingonthesamepartofthedesignatthe
sametime,thateveryonewasworkingonthesameversionofthedesign,andthatdownstream
departmentscouldviewthevarioussubsystemsandofferinputtokeepcostdownandallowfor
efficientmanufacturingandassembly.
Workingwithmarketresearch,theIndustrialDesignteamutilizedAliasDesigntobegintocreate
conceptualdesignsofthenewprinter.ThroughAliasDesign'sfreeformsketchingenvironment,
industrialdesignwasabletoworknaturallyasthoughsketchingonapadofpaper,andyetcapturing
thoseideasdigitally.Throughthenextweeks,thedesignteamproducedseveralconceptsthatcould
beshowntocustomerfocusgroupstogetfeedbackandmakedecisionsonthefinaldesign.
ThemarketingteamimportedtheAliasDesignmodelsintoAutodeskShowcaseandcreated
renderingsandanimationsofthevariousconceptstoallowfocusgroupstodynamicallyinteractwith
theprinterinatypicalhomeofficesetting.Becausethecustomerscouldseedifferentconfigurations
andideasdigitallytherewasnoneedtotakethetimeandmoneytoproducephysicalprototypes,
thereforeshorteningthedevelopmentcycle.
Thefocusgroupresultsshowedthattheconsumerslikeacombinationoftwoconceptsthatthey
hadbeenshownandalsochosefourcolorsfortheprinterthatuniversallyappealedtothem.The
marketingteamwasabletobringthatinformationbacktoindustrialdesign.Throughtheuseof
AliasDesign,designwasabletoincorporatethetwoconceptsintoasinglemodelandmakethe
adjustmentsthatthefocusgroupsrequested.
ThemechanicaldesignteamutilizedAutodeskInventorProfessionaltoimporttheAliasDesignmodels
tocreateadetaileddesignthatwasmanufacturable.ThroughInventorsmodelingenvironment
varioussubsystemsweredesignedincludingthemolds,mountingbracketsfortheelectroniccircuitry
andmechanisms.

Introduction

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AnotherdifferencewiththisdesignisthattheyusedInventorProfessional'scapabilitiestosimulate
variousmechanismsandanalyzepartsforform,fitandfunctionaswellassafetyconsiderations.
Asissuesarose,electricaldesignandmanufacturingcouldreviewthedesignsthroughVault
ManufacturingandDesignReviewtohelpmakesuggestionsforimprovement.
Theelectricaldesignteamutilizedaprintedcircuitboardpackageandwasabletoexportthephysical
modelintoInventorusingtheIDFfileformat.
Oneofthebiggestchangesinengineeringwastheabilitytocommunicatedesignintentbetween
theelectricalandmechanicalteams.Whileelectricalengineersdesigntheschematicsandlogic,itis
typicallyuptothemechanicalteamstomountandphysicallywiretheelectricalsystems.Inthepast
thiswastypicallydoneduringthephysicalprototypingphaseandaddedtimeandcosttotheproduct
developmentcycle.
Techniciansandengineerswouldrunstringfrompointtopointtoproduceaccuratelengthsofcables
orwiresandusethatstringtomakephysicalnailboardstoproduceprototypeharnesses.
ByutilizingInventorProfessional'sroutingcapabilitiestheteamscouldaccuratelycommunicate
thedesignintent,producenailboarddrawingsforcables,andsimulatemotiontoinsurethat
interferenceswouldn'toccur.
ThroughoutthedesignprocesstheengineeringteamusedAutodeskShowcasetoworkwithsalesand
marketingtomakequickdesigndecisionsthatallowedthedetaileddesigntocontinuewithouthaving
torenderthemodelsandholdformaldesignreviewmeetings.
Oncethefinalconfigurationoftheproductwasdetermined,themechanicalteamcouldcreate
detaileddrawingsinnativeDWGfileformatusingDWGTruConnect.Theycouldalsoexportfilesfor
manufacturing,aswellascreateassemblyinstructionsusingInventorspresentationcapability.
Priortothereleaseoftheproduct,salesandmarketingusedAutodeskShowcaseand3DSMaxto
producerenderingsandanimationsforcustomerfacingprintedmaterialandaninteractivewebsite.
Theendresultwasthatthiscompanyreducedchangeorders,savedcostsbycommunicating
throughouttheprocesswithaccurate,accessibleinformation,beattimelinesandproducedaproduct
thatconsumerswantedtopurchaseatapricepointthatwasprofitableforthecompanyandwithin
theconsumerspriceexpectation.Thecompanymighthavealsomademoresustainablechoicesat
keypointsinthedesign,engineeringandmanufacturingprocess,helpingtoreducethenumberof
physicalprototypesanddecreasewaste.
Byunderstandingthatprocessandstandardsmatter,capturingdesignintentfromthebeginning
andnotbreakingthedigitalpipelineasthedesignevolves,AutodesksDigitalPrototypingcanassist
anymanufacturertomeetandexceedbusinessgoals.

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Introduction