Panel Layout Software

[LarryF]

Hey guys, I'm sorry if this has been asked here before.  Whenever I search, I'm getting: Error code: EX144 no matter what I search for.  Anyway...  I wanted to find out if anyone had recommendations for software that I could use to layout a panel.  It doesn't have to meet any regulations, or be legally certified by a PE, I just need to mount a bunch of PLCs, DIN Rail, some sensors, VFDs, all of that fun stuff, and I was hoping maybe some software existed (...that I could afford--an important distinction I should include!) that would have all of the most common PLC racks, (AB, S7, GE, Ti, MOD) with all (or most) of the hardware to go along with it.  In a perfect world maybe even allow loading of .stp files.  If it tracked all my inter-module connections (Ethernet, DH+, DH485, RS485, MS/TP, Profi, and so on) that would just be the cherry on top!  I'm open to Open Source, or even Visio, if someone has created all the common PLC racks into module I could load and drag around.  The big thing is, I'd like to know how I can arrange the PLCs and all the DIN mounted devices to make the best of the space I have.  I'm talking about 23 different PLC racks, and at least twice that many DIN mounted gateway modules.  Then, a handful of VFDs; PF525, PF755, PF40, a PVP+, some NET-AICs and NET-ENIs along with power supplies breakers, some relays, IO-Link boards, and so on.  I'll figure out the wiring another way if I need to.  First, I need to arrange and organize the racks so I know where I can run the cable track, and maybe even figure out how much of I am going to need.

Many thanks a head of time, guys.  If software exists that is $10k…it is going to be out of the question.  But, if there are some that might cost a couple hundred bucks, or maybe even online sites where I can pay for a year or so to design these couple various racks I need to define, that would be wonderful.
 

[Chris Elston]

Most I think probably use AutoCAD Electrical it does schematics and layouts. I came from the "Via Wiring Diagram" days lol, which then became AutoCAD Electrical. I know you can download a free trial to try it out.

[Joe E.]

I've started using Autodesk Inventor to do my panel layouts. It helps to see things in 3D sometimes. Other than that, I just use plain old vanilla AutoCAD for everything. Well, actually our company switched us to BricsCAD. Works similarly enough.

If I had to pay for the software, I would not be using Inventor, but I was able to get a license through my company, so I use it.

[IO_Rack]

I'll 3rd the CAD option. By today's standards, you can download CAD files for just about any device. This would easy your search for something that would require a library of all the devices you require. 

As an inferior option, I was with a small company some time ago that used Excel for doing the layouts. Obviously, it's not very pretty but got the job done for sizing and arrangement.

[BE]

Pretty much as above, using 2D CAD for our layouts/general arrangements.

We use AutoCAD for the layouts, and Inventor for our sheet metal and any busbar/supports/large components (ie. VSDs) that need to be installed (we have our own in house sheet metal shop). What software to use will depend on your experience & preferences. I have never used BricsCAD, but it looks like it has a free trial & has perpetual license options available. On my personal computer I have a copy of NanoCAD (older version free for personal and non-profit use), which also works similarly to AutoCAD, but requires their current version & subscription licence for commercial use. That said, the license is reasonably priced. I would start by having a look at those 2, have a play around with them and see how you go. None of these options will do your layouts automatically, they require you to do it manually, but allow you complete and total flexibility with how you do it. The only "automatic" options I know of are programs like AutoCAD electrical & EPlan, both of which (to my knowledge) focus on creating the schematics first, and then creating the panel layout from those schematics. Neither option is budget friendly either 😐

Like @IO_Rack said, most devices and equipment have CAD files available to download from the manufacturers website or CAD hosting sites (Traceparts for example) which should work with the above programs. If you can't find something easily, best bet is to email the company and they are usually happy to share them. The best thing you can do with this is start your own library, adding parts to it as you download them, so next time you can just use the file you already downloaded. 

[Joe E.]

If you have experience with AutoCAD, BricsCAD won't be a huge stretch. There are few workflow things that annoyed the....stuff out of me until I figured out how to turn them off (like pop-up toolbars when you hover over an object....that dynamically changed which buttons were where based on your recent usage...), but overall it's not a bad program. At my last place, they switched us from ACAD to DraftSight, which was similar. I'd say that opening ACAD DWG files in BricsCAD generally went more smoothly than DraftSight, but that may be a function of the features of each we were using.

[Hati]

EPlan is really nice for panel designs. You can add features that you need, for extra cost. EPlan is the most supported design software in the world now. You can download ready made component macros from the component manufacturers web pages.

There's also ePULSE, the web portal where you can share the electric drawings to be viewed and redline markings can be made by the electricians if something needs to be modified and you get an email when someone has added redline markings to the drawings and can update the drawings and then the others using the portal get a notification that the drawings have been updated, please refresh your browser.