topic Re: Wireway (Block Stretch) in AutoCAD Electrical Forum

Wireway (Block Stretch)

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 22:53:23 GMT

I would like to make a wireway block to use with the Panel Assembly. I've made a block with the correct dimensions with a wipeout behind and I've tried using the Dynamic block setup but couldn't get it to work. Can anyone give me some steps in the right direction?

Using ACADE 2018

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

TRLitsey — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 23:48:24 GMT

Hi there,

Not sure if this will help but I am glad to share and hopefully it will. First, if you have not already learned to use the Din Rail tool take a few minutes to read the help section for it and give it a few spins around the block. Note that during insertion if you select the Pick Rail Information you can then click on a start and end point and ACE will draw the din rail for you. Once you are comfortable with that, search your workstation for a file wddinrl.xls. This is the file ACE uses for the din rail specification it draws. You probably have more than one copy of this file on you work station so be sure you select the wddinrl.xls file you are currently using. Rename the file to something like wddinrl_[original].xls. Now copy the file I have attached to this post into that same folder. Now when you use the Din Rail tool and open the drop down you will see the din and a bunch of wire and wire way covers. If you are careful, you can add just about any wire way / wire duct to this file. The wire way and covers will insert the same as the din rail.

The wipe out can be added after the fact but since the wire way and din are usually mounted to the back panel they don't need to hide anything most of the time.

Hope this helps

Good luck

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 00:27:52 GMT

I did finally get the block stretch to work right before I left for the day. I will try what you said tomorrow. I noticed a ton of wireway in the catalog but nothing in the cad files.
Thanks for the response.

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

jseefdrumr — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 12:20:54 GMT

There are no real block files for wireway or DIN rail. These are built parametrically by ACADE at insertion time. The parameters it uses are based on the wddinrl.xls file, along with the selections you make in the dialog.

Using the Stretch PLC tool works fine on wireway, but it *technically* fails on DIN rail. The command doesn't know how to handle the interior graphics there, and things get jumbled up and overlaid with one another. However, I don't let this bother me since there's always a footprint with a wipeout hiding the DIN rail. So, I do confess to using this tool anyway, though it wasn't meant for the purpose.

Also, a general note about dynamic blocks and ACADE: not supported. I mean, you can sometimes find situations where you can make use of dynamic blocks, but they can't be used for any symbol or footprint that contain attribute data. This comes out to probably 99.99% of all the symbols we use. Here's a link to a forum post where Trond chimes in, at the end, with a pretty concise explanation as to why:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-electrical-forum/dynamic-blocks-in-acade/m-p/6796489/highlight/true#M48446

Hope this helps,

Jim

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 19:54:57 GMT

I tried doing what you said, re-named the original .xls file, copied yours into the same folder. Made my wireway/dinrail additions but now when I go to insert a component, the DIN category isn't there. Do you have to search for that specific .xls file?

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

TRLitsey — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 20:04:37 GMT

Hi there,

What exactly do you mean by "din category"? Do you mean the Icon is not on the menu? Do mean when you click on the Icon the Din Rail window does not open? ACE automatically looks for the file name when you click on the din rail icon. If you added data to fields in the xls file were you careful about following the format. ACE will look in specific columns/cells for specific values to parametrically draw your symbol. If it runs into values it is not expecting unexpected results will occur. Did you try using the new xls file before modifying it? I'm heading to lunch but should be back in and hour or so.

Good luck

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 20:24:10 GMT

It took a screen shot for me to realize what I had done. I freaked out when I didn't see it so I didn't realize I was in the schematic tab and not the panel tab.

Well on another note. I was able to create the dinrail we use, it's Omron PFP-100N but after inserting it doesn't quite look right. it's the right dimensions but the arc on each side of a slot is not perfect. It's a little pointed.

Is there a specific dimension that can fix this or is it due to me rounding some numbers up? example being SLOTCEN2CEN, I put 1.37 but 35mm should be about 1.37795 inches.

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

TRLitsey — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 21:12:46 GMT

Hi there,

Well I am glad to see it worked for you. I can only suggest that you play with the values for the arc and see what happens. Honesty I have never been that particular with the appearance. I just try to make it close enough for our assembly folks to build from. My biggest use of this is to get the mfg information into the assembly so I can pull it out in a BOM.

Good job and good luck, your on your way.

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

TRLitsey — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 21:17:51 GMT

by the way, you may find this helpful ...

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 21:20:38 GMT

That's the page I've been using but I don't see a specific value for the ARC. I know it's not that big of a deal, Just after figuring out this much I was wanting to know what I did wrong to have it look that way.

Really appreciate all your help. It seemed pretty confusing before today.

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

TRLitsey — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 21:27:15 GMT

took a quick peek, you may want to take a look at the din rail listed at the top of the spread sheet, column Y has what I believe is a drawing name, In the HELP file scroll down to NCHOLE, that may be what you are looking for

Good luck

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 00:06:33 GMT

I must admit, I just came across the same problem.

I was trying to create a Unistrut template using the DIN rail command. The longer the slot hole is, the worse the "pointing" of the slot arc gets. Did you find a solution? I cannot figure out what NCHOLE reference file even does, it's just a circle.

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

Icemanau — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 01:47:57 GMT

The NC Hole block shows in the slots where a screw goes. That is all it does.

The determination of what slot to place the screw hole into is done in the additional worksheets in WDDINRL.XLS.

Regards Brad

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 13:30:28 GMT

Sorry. Yes I figured that out after posting. Example attached of how the arc is affected on different length slots.

Not sure if this can be fixed. Maybe a bug?

Also, how can the slot color be made to match the rail color?

Re: Wireway (Block Stretch)

spartan_vng — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 21:14:54 GMT

old onenew one

Here's an old dynamic block I made awhile back that I can share. shows fastener placement, hole array yada..yada.

My newer version was simplified plus addressed issues on the slots and fasteners on incremental stretch if that makes sense. Sorry can't share that one.

The old one will give you an idea on how to array the slots based on your stretch length.