Parametric PLC in AutoCAD Electrical

AutoCAD Electrical supplies hundreds of PLC modules if you install every manufacturer (maybe thousands - I've never actually counted). But, if you look at the drawings in the library folder you won't see many PLC modules. That is because AutoCAD Electrical builds most of the PLC modules on-the-fly. The end result is a block with attributes, but it is actually built from a small set of building blocks. This method has some advantages over supplying all those PLC module blocks (besides taking up less disk space).

• Module adapts to the rung spacing
• I/O style can be selected at insertion time
• Breaks and spacers can be added as needed

Of course AutoCAD Electrical can't supply every possible PLC module. So, that means there are times when you need to add a module. Or you might want to change how an existing module is built. But, with this parametric method it is a little more complicated than just opening a library symbol and making the changes. All the information to build a module is stored in the PLC database file, ace_plc.mdb. But, you don't have to edit that file directly. The PLC Database Editor should be used to make all modifications.

Watch this video for an overview of the Parametric PLC feature and using the PLC Database Editor.

 

-Pat Murnen

Comments

[140NOE77111]

Please share me the features of Parametric PLC. Is it the latest technique?

[Pat Murnen]

Parametric PLC is the method AutoCAD Electrical uses to build a PLC module as explained in the blog posting. It is simply a way to build many different PLC modules without having to supply a fully built library symbol for each one. AutoCAD Electrical supports inserting a full PLC module if you create your own, we just don't supply many that way. If that does not answer your question please be more specific in what you are looking for.

[Dan Margulius]

Hello Pat,
You say that acade supports inserting full units.
What is the workflow? What i am doing now is building trough Symbol Builder add terminals fixed PLC with description as wire connection and save the block with PLCIO prefix. Is there an easier way?
Thanks

[Pat Murnen]

Dan,

I always start with an existing unit that is similar. I might even build it using the parametric build if it is similar enough, then explode it, make any necessary changes, then save it as a .dwg to be isnerted as a full unit. The main things to remember are the "PLCIO" block name prefix which you mention and following the attribute naming rules (which I get from the existing one I start with).

Pat