Creating a custom component in AutoCAD Electrical

[csmale]

I was unable to find a guide to this anywhere on the internet, but I know it exists somewhere. Hopefully you lot can help me out.

I started work at a new company and am using past electrical drawings to learn the sorts of tools I am expected to use. In one of the drawings there is a component that has been added that does not exist in the library. There is nowhere to add this to the library either as this is a mil connector being displayed as a PLC, so it does not appear in the PLC library list. I assume the previous employee made this himself but I also noticed this same drawing has a block in it. When I try to edit the mil connector, it does so as a component. When I try to edit the block it does so as a block. These are separate things. But for the life of me I can't find any way to make a custom component that imitates the display of a PLC without making a block.

The name of the mil connector is the Omron XW2D-40G6. It is plugged into an Omron CJ1W-OD232. The former is displayed as a PLC would, with two columns of outputs, each going left or right (A set to the left, B set to the right). Then a wire connects the bottom of the mil connector to a small block representation of the PLC.

To make this even more challenging, the mil connector is split as a PLC can be when it runs so long as to run below the page limit. That is, half the mil connector is on the left side of the A3 sheet and the other half is on the other, with the standard component break.

I hope my description alone is enough to understand. Since this is company work I'm not sure on the rules of posting a screenshot of the drawings to this forum. Thanks for any help that can be provided!

[alds02]

Have you read the help files about parametric connectors and parametric PLC?

[csmale]

I've already fully explored both. Neither even come close. The parametric PLCs are the style I want, but the mil connector mentioned in the OP is not on the list as it is not an actual PLC but rather a connector to it. The parametric connectors are woefully inadequate compared to this thing that was created by my predecessor. I was able to create a screenshot of a file where all but the connector was involved. Note the difference between a bi-directional parametric connector and this other thing. First, the parametric connector exists in two separate objects once placed with a break. The custom thing is one unit, even when split. I like the alternative pins format in it as well. I can't find a way to accomplish this in parametric connectors. I know my first foray into parametric connectors may be minimal, but I've checked for ages to find options that even come close to this other thing my predecessor made (and he did it in 2016 no less!)

[arshdeepsingh404]

Can you create a custom block for Omron XW2D-40G6 (Fixed connector instead of parametric), showing all 20 Terminals, then save the Block as HCN1_XW2D-40G6
If you need the connector split into two parts, then the first one will be named HCN1_XW2D-40G6, and the second will be HCN2_XW2D-40G6

[arshdeepsingh404]

Is the block on the left side with A1-B20 Terminals supposed to represent a PLC card CJ1W-OD232 or the connector XW2D-40G6?
I see the IO address on it, so is this supposed to be a PLC card CJ1W-OD232?

You can create custom PLC cards without the Parametric PLC utility. It just needs some special attributes for the IO address to work and needs to be saved with a PLCIO_ Prefix.

Let me know if you want a sample of a custom PLC IO card; I can make one and post it here for you.

[csmale]

Thanks for your reply. The block on the left is the XW2D-40G6 mil connector. While it looks like a PLC, it is not the actual PLC. The line going from it to the labeled CJ1W-OD232 represents the cord that goes from the mil connector to the front of the PLC module.  Somehow, even that cord is included in the custom PLC module my predecessor made. When I hover over any part of the mil connector (whether the left half, the right half or the cord) it all highlights the entire thing as a singular object. My first instinct is that this is a self made complicated block. But there is a block on the sheet as well and the manner of updating its fields is completely different. This mil connector is imitating a component, not a block, somehow. Any guidance you have on making these custom components would be appreciated.

[arshdeepsingh404]

Here is how I would generate a split connector module.

I have attached the block drawings. The first module would be a parent that will generate the TAG and hold the Catalog Data; The second module would be a child that will connect to the parent module.

You can do a similar thing with parametric connectors, too, but there's no need; it's a fixed 40-terminal card with fixed labels A1-B10.

A custom connector block is simpler to generate. You can add the extra geometry to the second block that represents the cord and the mil connector.

About Symbol Naming Conventions

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACAD_E/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-426D2FCD-D82A-4FB7-A657-28D8B2EC336D

[csmale]

Is this using Symbol Builder or another feature of AutoCAD Electrical? If you know of any simple guide where to begin that would be great. Once I know which tool to use the design portion is pretty easy. AutoCAD drawings take nearly no time at all. It's just getting used to the advanced features of the program that I need.

When you assign the child to the parent and you try to edit the child, does it edit the parent as well? In the design my predecessor made it acts like a single component despite being split.

[arshdeepsingh404 · Accepted solution]

Yes, This is using the Symbol Builder. You can choose the Symbol Type when launching the symbol builder and it will give you the required attributes.

The first symbol was the Horizontal Parent, Draw the geometry you need and add the attributes from the Required section on the left.

The second symbol was the Horizontal Child, Draw the geometry you need and add the attributes from the Required section on the left.

There are plenty of tutorials online on how to use the symbol builder, Check out this YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VivLNwOb510

"When you assign the child to the parent and you try to edit the child, does it edit the parent as well?"

This depends on what properties you are talking about but generally speaking yes, editing a parent will prompt you to update the child/s as well.