As usual its formarly a question of what you will have as result!
Can you attache a sample perhoups as an excel to see what you will get as your wishes?
PS: http://www.komaxgroup.com/en/Wire/Products-and-Solutions/Products/Software-Networking/TopWin/ is not good enough?
SubStationDesignGuy looks like he’s got the right approach but heres my approach to looking at cad systems hopes it helps you out
if you are going to purchase an electrical cad system follow these simple rules
1) If they have a trial version on there website download and play with it
2) Make a list of what you want the software to do
3) Get the representatives from the various cad vendors to come and give you their supper demo probably a webinar now days (remember the demo is to showcase what's good and hide what's not)
4) Have a serious think about what you have seen
does it do what you want? Is it easy to us? Do you need training? What the technical support like? What are the ongoing costs?
5) Get back the various vendors and force them to demonstrate what you want to see the product do
You do not give them advanced information if they cannot do what you want or end up doing something extremely complicated this tells you something about the product
if vendors software demonstrators have problems then you will definitely will have problems
6)But this may all be redundant as you may be forced to use the same cad products as you main clients are in an industry where only one particular cad product is used
7) remember its your or your companies money if they want some of it then they will have to earn it
and here is a list of electrical cad vendors to review its not all about a few vendors
| Product | Company | Format | WWW |
01 | Aveva electrical | Aveva | SQL Based | |
02 | Cadprofi | CADprofi |
| http://www.cadprofi.com/main/en/products/cadprofi-electrical |
15 | Cosmos | Siemens | SQL Based | http://w3.siemens.com/mcms/plant-engineering-software/en/comos-platform/Pages/Default.aspx |
03 | Ecscad | Man And Machine |
| Sold by Autodesk |
04 | Elecdes | Scada Systems | DWG + Database orientated | http://elecdes.com/electrical-cad-software/elecdes-electrical-cad-software |
05 | Eleckworks | Trace Software | DWG + Database orientated | |
06 | Electra E6 | Xetec Limited | Visio based electrical | |
07 | Elprocad | Procad Systems Ab | DWG + Database orientated | |
08 | Engineering base | Aucotec |
| |
09 | Eplan | Rittal | Sql Based | |
10 | Ige-Xao | Ige-Xao Group | SQL Database and cad Engine | http://www.ige-xao.com/software-editor/electrical-cad-software.html |
11 | PCschematic | Pc|Schematic A/S | Propriety cad format | |
12 | Promis e | Bentley Systems | DWG + Database orientated | |
13 | QC Cad | Ska Systems | DWG + Database orientated | |
14 | Schemelect | Ftz Informatique Industrielle |
| http://www.ftz.fr/v4/en/cad-software-design/electrical-drawing-schematic-diagram |
20 | Smartplant Electrical | Integraph | DWG + Database orientated | http://www.intergraph.com/products/ppm/smartplant/electrical/default.aspx |
16 | Solidworks Electrical | Dassault Systems | SQL Based | http://www.solidworks.co.uk/sw/products/electrical-design/solidworks-electrical.htm |
17 | Winrelay | Ingerea |
| |
18 | Wscad | Buhl Data Group | SQL Based | |
19 | Zuken e3 | Zuken | DWG + Database orientated |
03 ecscad by mum.de http://www.mum.de/DE_Elektrotechnik_CAE_Software_AutoCAD_ecscad.CAD
additional Info's tinline.ch/ecs
also a good decision guidance: https://www.cadspy.com/software-uebersicht/elektro-cad/elektro-cad-loesungen.html
sorry, i didnt find links in english
Yes i know about escad we are being told that an english version of the software will be released late this year or early next year i had the promis e aero version which was written by escad and ran on bricscad it dd the job pretty good but now its nearly 10 years later and technology has advanced it will be intresting to see what they produce and how it works
english Version of SW of corse it's avaible, but no english webpage, sorry for that!
RePao: I left out that I am using a Komax version on a komax machine that converts a Wirelist format into machine code. The requirements for the Wire processing are basic, wire gauge, wire color, pin terminal, strip lengths, pulloff length(insulation), and labeling on terminal ends and middle. I found that this format is not really a holdup as much as the schematic software that is usable and friendly to accept this information. For Length information we use Solid Edge as our mechanical group already uses them for 3D drawings. They offer 3D wire harness software that enables bundling and dimensioning, saving us time doing it in a digital world opposed to cut measure and produce. Early work flow is Schematic to Solid Edge for wirelengths etc. And Schematic and lengths to Komax formatter(macro).
We have looked at 3D panel layout tools but everyone stumbles on the files that are used in SolidEdge. They are not able to convert them properly and would require placing each and every piece of 100s in a panel that is all ready designed. (hence why it is important to stay with SolidEdge for the time being).
Incase you are curious here is WPCS format that is standard in wire cutting machines for one wire:
;******************************
;
; WPCS CODE FILE FOR ZETA 633
;
;******************************
;******************************
;******************************
[DeleteArticle]
ArticleKey = 403511 Test A1
Name = "403511 Test A1"
;******************************
;******************************
[NewArticle]
ArticleKey = 403511 Test A1
NumberOfLeadSets = 8
Name = "403511 Test A1"
BundlingInfo = 1
;******************************
[NewLeadSet1]
Name = "Wire-1"
WireKey = CWC F22021 YEL
WireLength = 438.3024
FontKey = 22 AWG STD
StrippingLength = 4.572,8.3058
PullOffLength = 1.27,1.27
WeldingLength = 0,0
TerminalKey = 2-87523-3,2-36154-2
CutBundling = 0
[NewMarkingTextWire1-2]
MarkingTextBegin = 25.4,"P101:1:8"
MarkingTextEndless = 40,"403511 Test A1 Wire-1"
MarkingTextEnd = 25.4,"P202:8"
;******************************
ccad2509: Awesome List this will save me some time, I have tried a few from here, Eplan, Promis-e and zuken. Is there a certain order to the numbering?
Eplan, I was told was out of the price range but want to look at compact versions.
Promise seemed very glitchy and was previously used by company. Extremely liked that database on Promise, able to select a generic symbol of a circuit breaker and apply any part number and atributes. (So requrie a different symbol for each instance).
Zuken, E3: It was alright seems built for building car harnesses. Feels like it is more than what we need.
the order to the list is alphabetical
As to zuken its good enough to be used by Boeing / Airbus and i used it when i worked for Lockheed Martin
The important thing that i would advise is get a plan together and get management and associated departments to buy into the requirements before shopping for the cad software
As for price for Eplan its the same old story here you need to work out the running costs and man hours saved
Some products may be cheaper but if it takes you twice as long to complete a project then you are wasting money in labour costs
Quite often the person that controls the budget doesn't see this issue as labour costs are somone elses responsability that's why you need to present your recommendation as a whole the cheapest option may cost you a fortune in labour costs the same also goes for training expensive training may make you extremley productive