Point to Point Diagram with Autocad
For what it's worth, here's my opinion...
ACADE is great at creating schematics and panel layouts. It's also possible to do the types of drawings you linked with a little bit of thought.
The standard workflow would be to start a new drawing using a pre-set template which has all the options already set.
Draw the various boxes for the valves and other solenoids or use the included pneumatic/hydraulic symbols.
Insert the various connectors using the 'Insert Connector' tool.
Draw the wires using the 'Insert Wire' tool and add any other schematic symbols as needed.
Number the wires using either the automatic method or the manual editing tool.
Finally you would add the dividing lines on the same layer used for location boxes.
Several things to note however...
The 'Insert Connector' tool allow you to insert Plugs, Jacks and Plugs/Jacks as one single component. You can specify the side the plug is on, the orientation, number of pins, numbering of pins, spacing between pins, connector dimensions and even if the connector is broken and how many pins are in each section.
The automatic wire numbering can be a bit limited in that it follows a set method for numbering wires. you can change some of the behaviour but it is still limited. The automatic numbering however can be set to number the wires with a specific system depending on the wire layer used. For example, you could have a layer set to a specific colour and then change the numbering setup to add a prefix or suffix to indicate the colour.
If you are doing a lot of these drawings and all the solenoids & connectors on them are identical, then it would be easier to spend some time to draw them complete with the shapes for the connector and save them as custom electrical blocks. for example, on the second jpg, I can see 3 differently shaped solenoids that can be made into blocks that would replace 8 solenoids. 4 solenoids with the connector on the right with 5 wire connections, 2 with the connectors on the bottom and 2 with the connector on the top both also with 5 wire connections. It would be faster to insert each one as a schematic block than drawing each square and then adding the connector.
ACADE makes great use of layers with different parts being on different layers. Wires go on special layers, symbols on another and so on. Some of these layers can be changed but most are set to a specific layer. You can add additional layers for the wires for specific functions and then add those layers to the list of wire layers. Layer colours and line types/weight can be set to whatever you like without worrying about any conflicts with layer functions.
Setting up a drawing title block can be tricky but once it's done, you don't have to worry about unless you need to change something in the title block.
Then you add the title block to the template and specify the various formats (Text, Dimension, Table and so on), measurement units and any other settings you need before saving the template. This means when you start a new dwg, everything comes in already set so you can start drawing with no problems.
ACADE uses specific tools to do just about everything. Using the plain ACAD tools is possible but will cause problems with the functionality of ACADE.
I would suggest that you talk to a local Autodesk reseller and ask for a live demo and time to play with a copy of ACADE to see if it will suit your needs. Also ask about training courses as you will need some training to be aware of the common ways to do things and also the common pitfalls and their solutions.
Regards Brad
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Brad Coleman, Electrical Draftsman
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One of your images appears to be from a schematic. The other is a wiring diagram (i.e., point-to-point diagram). The difference between the two is, you use a schematic to understand how a system works, electrically. A wiring diagram only shows you how to connect the different aspects of the system together. The two drawings are meant to convey different types of information to the end user. I would share a schematic with another technician, or an engineer or electrician. A low-level maintenance person would only get a wiring diagram.
You could create the wiring diagram in ACADE, it wouldn't be too hard for an experienced user working from a set of schematics (that are properly annotated with connector symbols). If all you had to do was make a digital version of the image you showed, this wouldn't be hard for any user with basic AutoCAD experience.
To answer your question about workflow: Assuming the easiest option (that you just need to recreate the wiring diagram without making schematics), here's how it would work in ACADE:
1. Start a new project, if necessary
2. Start a new drawing within that project
3. Start the 'Build Parametric Connector' command...use the dialog box to set up how many pins/pin list/etc. ACADE will draw the connector for you based on your parameters. Do this for all the connectors
4. Move the connectors around so you have room to draw the wires
5. Use the 'Draw Wire' command to draw the wires. There are no 'autorouting' features...you'll have to place each wire yourself and edit them later if they get in the way. *note, you can draw multiple wires at once using the 'Multiple Bus' command
6. Use normal text to add any other annotations that are needed
Hope this helps,
Jim
Jim Seefeldt
Electrical Engineering Technician
Dear Jim,
thank you for the rich answer. Actually, i'll need wiring diagram.
I did some testing now. I placed some connectors, used the layer (which are awesome!) and connected with Wires.
1. If i move an already connected "Connector, the wire won't move with me?
2. In the "Build Parametric Connector" dialog iam able to set some settings. Is there a option to get to the same dialog after placing the connector?
3. I always need both, "Plug/Receptacle Combination"? It's not logical/possible to connect a Receptacle to another Receptacle?
4. How would you get the labeling next to the pins?
Im so used and pleased with Simulink (MATLAB). I have already finished a simulink.mdl of my problem, but i have to do it in more professional manner..: 
ACADE comes with a special tool for inserting connectors.
This tool allows you to select various things, like if the Pin numbers are shown, whether or not they insert as a plug/jack combination or as a separate plug or jack and so on. Separate plug and jacks are used in various situations. One is if you have several standard circuits with a plug saved to be inserted into a custom dwg with a separate jack ready for it depending on customer requirements.
Have a play around with the Insert Connector tool and see what options do what. Also make sure to hit the Details Button to expand on the available options to make sure you get to know every part of the tool. For example, in the Details section, there is a subsection for what get's displayed. In this, there is a box for Pins. The starting default is for this to be set to Show but if someone has used it in the Hide setting previously, it will retain that setting.
Setting it back to show will again show the pin numbers in the plug/socket. It can also be used to set which side of the combined Plug/Socket the pin numbers show on.
As to moving the inserted connector, ACADE has special tools that do this. Whatever you do, don't use the standard ACAD tools as they will break some of the functionality of ACADE.
There is the SCOOT command which will allow you to move components along the wire and keeps any connections in place. It will also allow you to move wires up and down as long as any components have only two connections.
There is also a Move Component tool which is used to move components without moving any connected wires. It will fix any broken wires left behind as well as inserting the component properly in it's new location.
Regards Brad
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Brad Coleman, Electrical Draftsman
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I've never figured this one out either. We decided to just assume that a plug is always male and that a receptacle is always female, regardless of whether it's a field wireable, or a bulkhead connector. This, however, doesn't help with single-end cables, which we use frequently. So I find myself adding notation sometimes, simple little notes that point out whether a single-end cable has a male or female connector.
Like you, we couldn't find anything in the documentation that says it's one way or another.
Hope this helps,
Jim
Jim Seefeldt
Electrical Engineering Technician
Like you, we couldn't find anything in the documentation that says it's one way or another.
Hope this helps,
Jim
Jim Seefeldt
Electrical Engineering Technician
