PerformanceDescription EPLAN Pro Panel · Contents: EPLAN Pro Panel Version 2.6 Status: 09/2016 The...

Performance Description Contents: EPLAN Pro Panel Version 2.6

Status: 09/2016

Performance Description Contents: EPLAN Pro Panel Version 2.6 Status: 09/2016

2

Copyright © 2016 EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG

EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG assumes no liability for either technical or printing errors, or for deficiencies in this technical information and cannot be held liable for damages that may result directly or indirectly from the delivery, performance, and use of this material.

This document contains legally protected proprietary information that is subject to copyright. All rights are protected. This document or parts of this document may not be copied or reproduced by any other means without the prior consent of EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG.

The software described in this document is subject to a licensing agreement. The use and reproduction of the software is only permitted within the framework of this agreement.

RITTAL® is a registered trademark of Rittal GmbH & Co. KG.

EPLAN®, EPLAN Electric P8®, EPLAN Fluid®, EPLAN Preplanning®, EPLAN PPE®, EPLAN Pro Panel® EPLAN Smart Wiring® and EPLAN Harness proD® are registered trademarks of EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG.

Windows 7®, Windows 8®, Windows 8.1®, Windows 10®, Windows Server 2008 R2®, Windows Server 2012®, Windows Server 2012 R2®, Microsoft Windows®, Microsoft® Excel®, Microsoft® Access®, Mi-crosoft SQL und Notepad® are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.

PC WORX®, CLIP PROJECT®, INTERBUS® und PROFINET® are registered trademarks of Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co.

AutoCAD® and AutoCAD Inventor® are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.

STEP 7®, SIMATIC® and SIMATIC HW Config.® are registered trademarks of Siemens AG.

InstallShield® is a registered trademark of InstallShield, Inc.

Adobe® Reader® and Adobe® Acrobat® are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc.

TwinCAT® is a registered trademark of Beckhoff Automation GmbH.

Unity Pro® is a registered trademark of Schneider Electric.

RSLogix 5000® and RSLogix Architect® are registered trademarks of Rockwell Automation.

All other product names and trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

EPLAN uses the Open Source software 7-Zip (7za.dll), Version 16.00, Copyright © by Igor Pavlov. The source code of 7-Zip is subject to the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). The source code of 7-Zip and details on this license can be found on the following Web site: http://www.7-zip.org

EPLAN uses the Open Source software Open CASCADE, Version 6.9.1, Copyright © by Open CASCADE S.A.S. The source code of Open CASCADE is subject to the Open CASCADE Technology Public License. The source code of Open CASCADE and details on this license can be found on the following Web site: http://www.opencascade.org

EPLAN provides an import function which uses eCl@ss. Usage of the eCl@ss standard is subject to license and requires registration and ordering in the DownloadPortal: http://www.eclassdownload.com


The described functionalities are only available for certain module packages. See the Licensing Overview chapter.

3

Table of Contents

Introduction ······································································ 9

We Develop Solutions for More Efficiency ············································ 9

EPLAN Platform – Your Key to Success ············································ 10

EPLAN Pro Panel Professional ··········································· 13

Virtual 3D Enclosure Design ···························································· 13

Innovative 3D Mounting Layout and Wiring ········································· 13

EPLAN Pro Panel Copper ······························································· 14

User Interface ·································································· 16

Look & Feel ················································································· 16

Workflow & Integration ··································································· 17

Method ··········································································· 18

Project Structure – 3D Mounting Layout ············ ·················· 18

The Layout Space ········································································· 18

Navigators in the 3D Mounting Layout ·············· ·················· 19

3D Mounting Layout Navigator ························································· 19

Layout Space Navigator ································································· 19

Logical Structure in the Layout Space Navigator ·································· 20

Device Representation in the Layout Space Navigator ·························· 20

3D Mounting Layout ······································································· 20

Device Placement ····························································· 21

Placing Mounting Panels ································································ 21

Placing Free Mounting Panels ························································· 22

Placing Enclosures ········································································ 22

Placing Mounting Rails ··································································· 22

Placing Wire Ducts ········································································ 23

Placing Busbar Systems ································································· 23



4

Placing C Horizontal Rails ······························································· 24

Placing User-defined Rails ······························································ 24

Inserting Cut-outs ·········································································· 25

Defining Locked Areas ··································································· 25

Defining Restricted Drilling Areas ····················································· 25

Placing Devices in the 3D Mounting Layout ········································ 26

Editing Components Graphically ···················· ···················· 26

Duplicating Objects in the 3D Mounting Layout ···································· 26

Rotating Objects about a Freely Selectable Axis ·································· 26

Changing the Length of Objects in the Layout Space ···························· 27

Fitting Rails and Wire Ducts ···························································· 27

Device Logic ···································································· 28

Importing 3D Graphic Data ······························································ 30

Merging Objects in the Layout Space ················································ 30

Defining a Mounting Surface···························································· 30

Defining a Handle ·········································································· 30

Defining Mounting Points ································································ 31

Defining a Mounting Grid ································································ 31

Defining and Changing Placement Areas ··········································· 31

Defining a Base Point ····································································· 32

Transfer Base Point Scheme ··························································· 32

Interpreting and Carrying over Enclosure Logic ··································· 33

Defining Connection Point Pattern in Layout Space ······························ 33

Mounting Lists ································································· 34

Mounting List Report ······································································ 34

Checking and Positioning Aids ····················· ····················· 35

Using Collision Check ···································································· 35

Displaying Mounting Clearances ······················································ 35



5

Displaying Mounting Aids ································································ 36

Auxiliary Lines ·············································································· 36

Connection Preview ······································································· 37

Measuring in the Layout Space ························································ 37

Updating Main Elements ································································· 37

Updating the Part Placement ··························································· 38

Editing Legend Items ····································································· 38

3D Macros ······································································· 38

Creating 3D Macros ······································································· 39

Placing 3D Macros ········································································ 39

Changing the Rotation Angle ··························································· 39

Model Views ···································································· 39

Changing Model Views ··································································· 40

Moving Property Texts ··································································· 40

Generating Machining Data for Automatic Equipment Systems ·········································································· 41

NC Record ··················································································· 41

Drill Exceptions ············································································· 42

Generating Manufacturing Data for Machining ····································· 43

Inserting 2D Drilling View ································································ 43

Generating Mounting Data for Terminal Placement Machines ················· 43

Routing Connections ························································ 44

Generating Routing Connections ······················································ 44

Displaying Connection Points Graphically ·········································· 44

Inserting Routing Paths ·································································· 45

Inserting Curves ············································································ 45

Inserting Routing Ranges································································ 45

Inserting Wiring Cut-outs ································································ 45

Using Connection Filters ································································· 46



6

Generating a Routing Path Network ·················································· 46

Displaying Routing Path View ·························································· 46

Optimizing Nets Automatically·························································· 47

Routing Connections ······································································ 47

Routing Connections Freely ···························································· 47

Changing Routing Tracks································································ 48

Displaying Fill Capacity ·································································· 48

Bundling Connections ···································································· 49

Generating Manufacturing Data for Wire Fabrication Machines ··············· 49

EPLAN Project Processing – Importing Devices ·································· 50

EPLAN Pro Panel Copper Design of Busbars and Flexib le Current Distributors ·························································· 52

Creating Manufacturing Data for the Processing Machines ···················· 54

EPLAN Pro Panel 3D Data Export ······································· 54

Exporting EPLAN Pro Panel Data to 3D PDF ······································ 54

Exporting 3D Graphic Data in VRML Format ······································· 55

Exporting 3D Graphic Data in STEP Format ······································· 55

Exporting Wiring Data in EPDZ Format ·············································· 56

EPLAN Design Space Exchange – Interdisciplinary 3D Data Exchange ········································································ 56

EPLAN Thermal Design Integration – Virtual Planning , Dimensioning and Validation of Climate Control Solu tions ···· 58

EPLAN Revision Management ············································ 59

EPLAN Multi Language Translation ·················· ·················· 60

EPLAN Project Options ····················································· 61

EPLAN Project Management ·············································· 62

EPLAN User Rights Management ······································· 63

EPLAN Project Reference ·················································· 64



7

Multi-user ········································································ 65

EPLAN Data Portal ··························································· 65

Hardware Requirements ···················································· 66

Workstation ·················································································· 66

Recommended workstation configuration ··········································· 66

Network ······················································································ 66

Multi-user ···················································································· 67

Software Approvals ·························································· 67

Operating systems ········································································ 67

Microsoft products ········································································· 68

SQL Server (64-bit) ······································································· 68

PDF redlining ··············································································· 68

PLC systems (PLC & bus extension) ················································· 69

Overview of Functions ······················································ 70

Extended Functional Scope of the Stand-alone Varian t ········· 83

Licensing Overview ·························································· 91



8



9

Introduction EPLAN Software & Service develops CAE solutions and advises companies in the optimization of their engineering processes. Customers profit from in-creases in efficiency in the production creation process through standardized procedures, automated processes and consistent workflows. EPLAN supplies customized concepts for system introduction, setup as well as made-to-measure integration into the IT / PLM system landscape – on the basis of standard engineering solutions.

The service portfolio furthermore encompasses customizing, consulting and training. The development of individual and standardized interfaces to ERP, PDM and PLM ensures data consistency in the product creation. Consistent customer orientation, global support and innovative development and interface competence are factors in success. EPLAN belongs to the Friedhelm Loh Group and thus stands for continuity and investment security.

Optimized engineering processes are our promise. – Customized and practical.

We Develop Solutions for More Efficiency

Globalized markets, higher cost and time pressure as well as increasing com-petition place pressure on companies to permanently work more efficiently. As the only way to meet the challenges in their branch and achieve their ambitious targets such as leadership in innovation, worldwide growth and operational ex-cellence.

In the pursuit of these targets unused potentials are often found in particular in engineering that have an effect on the entire process of product development process.

Under the motto "EPLAN – efficient engineering" the company has been devel-oping practice-oriented engineering solutions and individual concepts for opti-mizing engineering processes for its customers for more than 30 years. EPLAN advises companies with the aim of perfectly synchronizing processes, reducing project durations and lowering engineering costs.



10

More than 45,000 customers of various sizes and from different branches now-adays rely on EPLAN and its products daily to secure their competitiveness and the future of their company in the long term.

Ensure that you have a decisive head start against your competitors and in-crease the efficiency of the engineering processes in your company sustaina-bly!

EPLAN Platform – Your Key to Success

The EPLAN Platform interconnects expert systems for the various disciplines such as electrical, fluid power and E-I&C engineering as well as enclosure man-ufacturing. Thus all applications are supplied with the same basic data and edit-ing functions, ensuring high project quality and a mechatronical working method.

EPLAN Electric P8

EPLAN Electric P8 is a CAE software solution for designing, documenting and managing electrical-engineering automation projects.

EPLAN Fluid

EPLAN Fluid is a CAE software solution for designing and documenting fluid-plants in the fields of hydraulics, pneumatics, cooling and lubrication.

EPLAN Preplanning

EPLAN Preplanning is a CAE software solution for the technical pre-planning of machines and plants. The software supports graphical and database-based working methods with data transfer to the interdisciplinary detailed planning. Individual system configuration allows flexible customizing to established engi-neering processes.

EPLAN Preplanning P&ID

EPLAN Preplanning P&ID is a CAE software solution for creating plant over-views, PFDs (Process Flow Diagrams) and P&IDs (Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams) for process-engineering machines and plants.



11

EPLAN Pro Panel

EPLAN Pro Panel is a CAE software solution for configuring and verifying en-closures and switch gears in 3D including the provision of data for material lo-gistics and production integration.

EPLAN Smart Wiring

EPLAN Smart Wiring is a browser-based software solution for the requirements of manual wiring.

Whether DT, connecting point, cross-section, color, wire length, termination processing or exact routing track: All the required information for wiring is made available in 100% digital form and visualized. The visualization references the 3D layout and the results of the virtual wiring in EPLAN Pro Panel.

EPLAN Harness proD

EPLAN Harness proD is a CAE software solution for efficient designing and documenting of cables and wire harnesses in 3D / 2D, from a digital prototype to the creation of complete production documents.

EPLAN Engineering Configuration One

The use of EPLAN Engineering Configuration One (EEC One) is the first step into the world of automated Excel-based schematic generation for electrical en-gineering and fluid power on the basis of predefined standards such as EPLAN macros, value sets, variants.

EPLAN Engineering Configuration

EPLAN Engineering Configuration Professional (EEC Professional) is a type of "central control unit" that forms the bridge between mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and control technology as well as documentation. A mod-ular system and a set of rules allow variant management in machine and plant engineering.

EPLAN Data Portal

Integrated, web-based data platform for the provision of up-to-date device data of leading component manufacturers for direct use in the configuration with EPLAN software solutions.



12

Our software is conceived as an integrated system and connects all disciplines.

Note:

The scope of service contained in this performance description applies for the product "EPLAN Pro Panel" with all extension modules and add-ons. For the features of all available program variants and module packages, please see the "Licensing Overview" chapter at the end of this document.



13

EPLAN Pro Panel Professional

Virtual 3D Enclosure Design

With EPLAN Pro Panel you conceive and design control system enclosures, switch gears and flexible power distribution systems for the energy supply in 3D. The scope of performance of the software includes 3D mounting layout, vir-tual 3D wiring as well as the design, modification and customizing of copper rails.

Further functionalities apply to the manufacturing integration: All the project re-ports, drawings and unfolds including the data required for the machine control that are relevant for manufacturing and mounting can be generated directly in EPLAN Pro Panel – both for the machining of enclosure components or copper rails as well as the controlling of automatic machines and the use of service concepts for the cable and wire fabrication, the automatic equipping of terminal strips as well as robot-supported wiring of devices. Innovative bundle technolo-gies are also supported.

Innovative 3D Mounting Layout and Wiring

Free selection of workflow approach and engineering methods – EPLAN Pro Panel is flexible: You determine your working method yourself – whether on the basis of device and connection lists, electrotechnical or fluid-power schematics; whether in 3D mounting layout directly on the mounting panel or in the course of the design of busbar systems and flexible power distributors. All the relevant components can be identified very easily and for example mounted on the mounting panel. Thanks to the innovative eTouch technology you place devices and components in 3D just as precisely and simply as in 2D.

Optimum dimensioning with planning reliability: The virtual 3D model of the en-closure or of the switch gear supports you in dimensioning and in the perfect usage of space. Integrated planning aids such as the collision checks, the online connection display, or the consideration of the manufacturer specifica-tions about installation requirements, minimum distances, material properties and bending radii, allow rapid and optimal positioning and installation.



14

Disturbance recognition and other aspects of consistent quality assurance are moved to the development phase and eliminated at an early stage – including planning reliability.

Virtual wiring

For perfect wiring of the control technology EPLAN Pro Panel uses the 3D mounting layout and for example the schematic. Virtual wiring of the enclosure is carried out on the basis of the combination of the exact position of the item in the mounting layout and the connection information. At the click of a button the system determines the optimum conductor and cable routing tracks as well as all the resulting connection lengths. The result of the virtual wiring can be used, in turn, to optimize the schematic.

EPLAN Pro Panel Copper

Measuring, cutting, bending, fitting and connecting: Copper rails are an im-portant factor in planning energy distributors. The "EPLAN Pro Panel Copper" extension module can be used to plan individual busbar systems and flexible current distributors including the copper rails to be bent and their connections, and to fit them to the installation situation. All the required data for drill holes, punched holes, bending angles or radii are also provided in the form of draw-ings and machine data for NC-supported manufacturing – the new dimension in design, manufacturing and mounting.



15

With its deep integration, the EPLAN Pro Panel sustainably speeds up parallel-ized engineering on a uniform data basis.

The bottom line is this: elimination of need for data conversion, data checking and "Reverse Engineering"; decreasing costs, rising quality, reduced "time-to-market", and sustainable investment security.

The core features of EPLAN Pro Panel as well as the delimitation of the Profes-sional module package and the optional extension modules are described in the following chapters.

However, it is beyond the scope of this document to provide all details. If you have any further questions – particularly on details you don't find in this descrip-tion – just contact us at [email protected].

Monheim, September 2016

Product Management EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG



16

User Interface

Look & Feel

The system provides an intuitive user interface. Windows-compatible operation with functionalities such as Tooltips, toolbars, drag & drop and Online Help al-low beginners and occasional users to get to grips quickly.

Users can easily adapt the entire interface including window arrangement and toolbars to their needs and wishes. The settings can be saved and retrieved as workspaces as needed.

This allows you e.g. to save defaults for work standards and processes. Users can then focus optimally on their actual work – engineering – as the user inter-face customized to their task allows efficient and rapid designing.

In addition, users can customize their own keyboard shortcuts. User-defined keyboard shortcuts are also displayed in the menu bar. Experienced users achieve high input speeds using continuous keyboard control.

In addition to the default input boxes for properties , configurable properties are also available to which the users can assign their own names and predefined values. This allows terms and default values that are established in a company to also be used in EPLAN Pro Panel. Rapid familiarization and the implementa-tion of company-specific standards are thus easily possible.



17

Workflow & Integration

The system can be configured by means of settings to meet the needs of the user, company, and project. The result: The workflow is accelerated and the re-quired work result achieved efficiently.

You also have access to an extensive online didactic help system which pro-vides efficient work support.

Functions for backing up data, archiving, and sending projects via e-mail en-sure the necessary security and transparency of work results. A compression function removes the non-essential data from a project, if desired, to reduce the storage medium load, to simplify data maintenance and, if necessary, to protect your company know-how when projects are passed on.

Data formats, such as TXT, CSV, XLS, XML, PDF and DXF / DWG with layers and blocks are available as interfaces for exchange with Microsoft Office prod-ucts.

The possibility of using existing data beyond engineering and the online provi-sion of documents are the basis for simple service and maintenance processes.

Interfaces facilitate interdisciplinary cooperation.

The program can be integrated into the existing added value chain. The infor-mation and work flow can be automated using scripts or API in the ".NET" envi-ronment. An active automatic exchange of information simplifies integration into PDM and ERP systems. And this comprehensive approach doesn't just help project engineers to achieve the correct result faster – other departments such as Materials Management, Production, Controlling, and Sales also benefit from transparent IT processes.



18

Method The CAE program reflects the specific working method and methodology of an engineer in the context of wire harness design – thus ensuring the highest pos-sible effectiveness within the product creation process. This should be differen-tiated as follows:

• Graphical combination of mounting layouts and the derivation of drawings for manufacturing and mounting.

• Start of the planning in the schematic or optionally in the 3D mounting layout, for example directly on the mounting panel or in the enclosure.

• 3D mounting layout of the basis of electrical-engineering and fluid-power schematics or on the basis of device and connection lists.

The work method changes frequently or is combined between individual pro-jects but also during the project phases. Any editing sequence is possible.

The program is designed so that editing in the system can always follow the ac-tual course of the project. The system allows the project to be edited at any time from different views. This releases new potential productivity in engineer-ing and also increases transparency.

Project Structure – 3D Mounting Layout

The Layout Space

In addition to the display of the logical structure within a project and the graph-ical representation on the EPLAN project pages, there is also a graphical 3D display area that shows placed devices. This display is independent of any pro-ject page. The 3D model is displayed in a layout space that allows the 3D ob-jects and their editing to be viewed.

It is therefore a basic requirement for working with 3D components in an EPLAN project that a layout space has been created. This is the environment / workspace for the 3D data and the functional logic that connects it.



19

Navigators in the 3D Mounting Layout

3D Mounting Layout Navigator

The 3D mounting layout navigator is used to list the electrical engineering and fluid power as well as mechanical devices available in the project so that they can be placed in a layout space.

All the electrical engineering, fluid power and mechanical devices to which a part is assigned are listed.

The view in the tree view is always identifier-based 3D mounting layout naviga-tor. The list view is alternatively available.

Parts without a device tag are grouped in a separate node.

Devices that have already been placed in the 3D layout space are identified by an additional icon, if there is a matching device in the schematic or in the device navigator. If this is not the case, devices placed in the layout space have a spe-cial identification.

Multiple entries may be selected in both the tree view and the list view. These selected devices can then be placed at the same time on the mounting panel or, for example, on doors or side panels. It is also possible to select a node in the tree view. All devices that are affected by this selection are placed together.

Layout Space Navigator

The layout space navigator gives you a logical overview of your project data within a 3D mounting layout:

In the layout space navigator you can create layout spaces in order to view and to place devices independently of project pages in a 3D view.

You can activate mounting surfaces in the layout spaces for the placement of devices.

You can filter the display and switch between the tree and list views in the lay-out space navigator in just the same way as in other navigators.



20

Logical Structure in the Layout Space Navigator

The layout space navigator maps the logical structure of the placed part. There are hierarchical dependencies between all the items. If a superior item (such as a mounting rail) is moved or deleted, the devices that are placed on it will be moved or deleted as well. This logical structure can also be included in reports.

Device Representation in the Layout Space Navigator

The layout space navigator displays all devices that exist in the layout spaces of the opened project.

Tree view

The layout spaces form the top hierarchical level in the tree. Beneath a layout space, the devices it contains are arranged in hierarchical order: Starting from the mounting panel or the superior enclosure, all devices are displayed beneath the item on which they are placed.

3D Mounting Layout

EPLAN Pro Panel is used for placing electrical engineering and fluid power de-vices from the EPLAN project, from the EPLAN parts management or from the EPLAN Data Portal, as required. In conjunction with mechanical components such as cable ducts, mounting rails, mounting panels or entire enclosures, EPLAN Pro Panel simplifies the construction of complex 3D mounting layouts dramatically.

Some mechanical components can have several individually selectable mount-ing surfaces, allowing the placement of other items. These include mounting panels, doors, walls, profiles, and also electrical engineering and fluid power devices, which are represented by a 3D graphical macro. Other mechanical components, e.g., mounting rails, have only an internally defined mounting sur-face for devices, which cannot be changed and which are therefore also not shown in the tree view of the layout space navigator.



21

You can generate 2D model views of the mounting panels and enclosures mounted in the layout space, and these are saved on project pages. These model views can include dimensions and other information and can be used as production documents.

Reports in the form of enclosure legends and bills of material help you with cal-culating and planning materials requirements.

You can influence the display of the tree view. If you have placed a mounting panel in the layout space, for example, the grouping sign is inherited by all the items arranged beneath it and is prefixed before their designation text. This en-sures that it is always clear which part placement belongs to which mounting panel or enclosure in the navigator tree.

Device Placement To place devices correctly on mounting panels, mounting rails, doors, walls, etc., the required mounting surface or item must be identified for placement. There is an option in the Layout space navigator dialog to enable you to acti-vate surfaces of this type automatically or directly.

Automatic activation is suitable for all surfaces and items that are not covered by other components.

Use direct activation to access the mounting surfaces of covered components or components that are at the back, from the layout space navigator. This is not possible in the graphical representation without hiding the covering compo-nents. The viewpoint is toggled to the front view. All components that are not in-volved are hidden.

Placing Mounting Panels

For quick and easy design and configuration, it is possible to place an individual mounting panel in the layout space without surrounding enclosure profiles and without selecting from parts management. When mounting panels are placed as parts, an automatic filter is set on the "Mounting panel" part group.



22

Placing Free Mounting Panels

The free mounting panel has the same properties and editing options as the mounting panel associated with a specific part. The mounting panel is defined geometrically by the entry of the height, width and depth. The part selection al-lows the mounting panel to be retrospectively assigned a part.

Placing Enclosures

Enclosures are placed in a layout space in the 3D mounting layout. The parts management dialog contains various predefined series of enclosures; you can select enclosures from them to be placed. There are two different enclosure types, which are defined in parts management in separate product subgroups. With both enclosure types, the elements are grouped and fixed to the enclosure by the "Item is fastened immovably to the superior item" property.

Placing Mounting Rails

Mounting rails are normally placed on mounting panels or on the mounting sur-faces of enclosure profiles. The automatic activation or direct activation options help with accurate placement. The handle of the mounting rail can be changed before placement.

Mounting rails can be inserted in one of two ways, which differ in the method by which the length is entered:

• Variable-length placement by entering the start and end point; here the length is defined by the distance between the two points.

• Adoption of the length of an already placed item; here the mounting rail is placed by entering a single point.

With the second method the mounting rail can also automatically be positioned centrally between two already placed items.



23

Placing Wire Ducts

Wire ducts are normally placed on mounting panels or on the mounting sur-faces of enclosure profiles. They are placed in the same way as mounting rails. The automatic activation or direct activation options help with accurate place-ment. The handle of the wire duct can be changed before placement. Wire ducts can be inserted in one of two ways, which differ in the method by which the length is entered:

• Variable-length placement by entering the start and end point; here the length is defined by the distance between the two points.

• Adoption of the length of an already placed item; here the wire duct is placed by entering a single point.

With the second method the wire duct can also automatically be positioned cen-trally between two already placed items.

Placing Busbar Systems

Busbar systems can be placed in a layout space from the following sources:

• Via the menu

• From the part master data navigator

• From the bill of materials navigator

• By inserting devices

• From the device list

• From window macros

• From the EPLAN Data Portal.

Busbar systems are usually placed on mounting panels, but can also be placed on any other mounting surfaces. The selection and placement method are simi-lar to those of mounting rails and wire ducts: in addition the number of busbars can be specified and the corresponding busbar supports assigned and auto-matically placed during the definition of busbar systems.



24

Placing C Horizontal Rails

C horizontal rails can be placed in a layout space from the following sources:

• Via the menu

• By inserting devices





C horizontal rails are usually placed on mounting panels, but can also be placed on any other mounting surface. Selection and placement are similar to those of mounting rails and wire ducts:

Placing User-defined Rails

With this function it is possible to assign a profile outline created with the 2D outline editor to a part and to extrude this 2D outline with a definable length in the course of the rail placement. The profile outline and the defined length form the rail.

User-defined rails can be placed in a layout space from the following sources:

• Via the menu

• Via the inserting of devices





User-defined rails are usually placed on mounting panels, but can also be placed on any other mounting surface. Selection and placement are similar to those of mounting rails and wire ducts.



25

Inserting Cut-outs

Cut-outs are manually placed openings in construction items, mounting panels and sheets that are drilled or manufactured by NC robots. Cut-outs do not actu-ally model the 3D body in which they are inserted, but rather are visualized by a placeholder that penetrates the item and contains all the information on coordi-nates and material thickness. NC machines can interpret such information and implement it as manufacturing steps.

Cut-outs of the following types can be inserted individually or in multiples:

• Drill hole

• Threaded hole

• Rectangle

• Slotted hole

• Hexagon

• Octagon

• User-defined outline

• From drilling pattern.

Defining Locked Areas

Parts of mounting surfaces on components in the layout space (mounting pan-els, enclosure profiles, walls, doors) can be locked for positioning so that part placements cannot occur on them. Locked areas are independent 3D objects drawn as rectangles.

Defining Restricted Drilling Areas

Restricted drilling areas exclude the affected area from the calculation of drilling coordinates. Drill holes within these areas are not displayed in the drilling view or output with NC data and so are not drilled. User-defined drill holes cannot be placed on restricted drilling areas either.



26

Restricted drilling areas are placed in the same way as restricted placing areas. In contrast to restricted placing areas, however, the restricted drilling areas pen-etrate the entire item and are also visible and effective on the opposite side.

Placing Devices in the 3D Mounting Layout

Devices are placed as devices on mounting rails, mounting panels or on any other items. The automatic activation or direct activation options help with accu-rate placement. The handle of the device can be changed before placement. The device dimensions are specified in the part definition or in the assigned graphical macro, and cannot subsequently be changed.

Editing Components Graphically

Duplicating Objects in the 3D Mounting Layout

Using the Duplicate command, you can insert multiple copies of 3D objects and 3D macros in the layout space very easily at the same time. Duplication only works within the layout space, not across layout spaces.

Rotating Objects about a Freely Selectable Axis

The "Rotate around axis" functionality rotates one or several objects in the lay-out space (e.g. 3D bodies imported from STEP files) around the center of the invisible rectangular body enveloping them. Edges, auxiliary lines, or the axis of a mounting point or a base point can be used as axes of rotation. Thus it is pos-sible to rotate 3D objects also around non-orthogonal lines and edges, inde-pendently of the coordinate system of the layout space.



27

Changing the Length of Objects in the Layout Space

The length in the layout space of placed items variable in length, such as mounting rails or wire ducts can be changed subsequently. The length can al-ways be changed only for an individual object; it is not possible to select several objects.

Different forms of input can be used to define the new length:

• Free point entry by clicking

• Snapping a projection point to another object

• Entering a positive or negative value in the input box.

Fitting Rails and Wire Ducts

Fitting is about reconciling the lengths of length-variable items placed in parallel to each other (wire ducts, mounting rails, busbars, C horizontal rails, user-de-fined rails) with selectable points and edges. Possible uses are:

• All rails and wire ducts of varying lengths placed on a mounting panel are drawn towards an edge of the mounting panel in a suitable manner in a single work step.

• All rails and wire ducts of varying lengths placed next to a vertical wire duct are drawn towards it in a suitable manner in a single work step.

• All rails and wire ducts of varying lengths placed between two vertical wire ducts are drawn towards them in a suitable manner in two work steps.



28

Device Logic 3D objects that are to be used as mechanical or electromechanical devices in the 3D mounting layout must have a range of properties that allow them to be used in the mounting layout:

• The objects can be placed in the layout space and on other objects.

• Other objects can be placed on the 3D objects.

• The placed objects fit in with the logical structure of the items.

All these properties in their entirety are known as the device logic. There are a number of functions available for creating and editing the device logic. These functions are used following the use of graphical import and editing functions and prepare the 3D graphic - which immediately after import has no logic func-tions - for use as a 3D macros for devices. To ensure correct placement it is necessary as a minimum to define a placement area; the other logic functions are optional.

Graphic Definition for Devices The following functionalities are available for defining the 3D graphics:

• Importing of 3D graphics

• Uniting of several graphics components

• Rotating of a graphic around an axis.

These functions can be used in the schematic project and in the 3D macro pro-ject.



29

Logic Definition for Devices The device logic can be defined through dedicated functionalities. Certain points and areas are only visible in a 3D macro project. This applies to:

• Placement areas Defined area on an item on which the 3D object itself is placed and aligned.

• Mounting points Defined points which as 3D snap points allow other components to dock to the 3D object.

The following functionalities can be used in the schematic project and in the 3D macro project:

• Mounting surface: Definition of surfaces on which components can be placed; these surfaces are found by automatic activation or can be selec-tively activated.

• Handle: Definition of points by which the 3D object is moved on the cur-sor on placement; these points can dock to other 3D objects if placed on 3D snap points.

• Base points: Definition of points on which accessory parts can be placed automatically at fixed defined positions in enclosures.

Handles and Mounting Points: Interactive Points, Li nes, and Areas in the Device Logic The functions for defining the device logic work with interactive points, lines, and areas.

User-defined points and surfaces can be used to create dependencies in the assembly of 3D components. Interactive points can also be added if necessary to components that have been imported from external 3D CAD systems using the STEP exchange format, to control placing options or to define degrees of freedom in the rotation and alignment of components to one another.



30

Importing 3D Graphic Data

You can import 3D graphic data to create your own items and 3D macros. The item data must be available in the common international STEP format (STand-ard for the Exchange of Product model data). A new layout space is generated for each import, and is given the name of the imported STEP file. Once im-ported, the item data can be edited and given functional logic.

Merging Objects in the Layout Space

A 3D macro (in other words a layout space in a macro project) can contain sev-eral individual bodies if there were several bodies included in the imported source file. Although a geometrical addition of bodies is not possible, there is a function available which merges all components of the layout space in such a way that a 3D macro is treated like one item. This functionality is only available in layout spaces and is intentionally differentiated from grouping in the 2D mounting layout.

Defining a Mounting Surface

Individual surfaces of bodies imported as 3D data can be defined as mounting surfaces. These are areas on the item on which other components can be placed. They are used for capturing the handles of rails, channels and compo-nents that are to be placed on them. The mounting surfaces can be activated automatically by touching them with the cursor or selectively from the layout space navigator. Mounting surfaces can be deleted in the navigator.

Defining a Handle

A handle is used to place a 3D macro. In addition to the handles, which are generated automatically for 3D bodies, there is a user-defined handle in the macro. When placing an item in the project, select this handle in the placement options in the Handle field under the name "Graphical macro".



31

Defining Mounting Points

Mounting points are used to define points on 3D objects on which other compo-nents can be placed. Mounting points can be used for the exclusive placement of a suitable handle on a 3D object. Example: Placement of the center of a mounting rail drill hole on the center of a drill hole on a support. A mounting point is therefore a snap point.

Mounting points can have a direction and a rotation, which means that place-ment of the 3D objects can be controlled using a set of rules:

• The direction determines the direction in which the object to be placed on the mounting point should be aligned.

• The rotation also allows the object to be placed to be moved around the selected direction axis.

Defining a Mounting Grid

Mounting grids are assigned to individual areas of a 3D part placement, and during the placement of other components are displayed on these areas. Thus, placement is only possible on the intersections of the grid lines. Using the mounting grid, it is possible to represent a manufacturer and type-specific hole pattern, for example, on enclosure profiles, within which screw connections are set during the mounting.

Defining and Changing Placement Areas

In order to be placed correctly on other 3D objects, 3D macros require infor-mation about the area with which they are placed and the direction in which they may have to be turned. This information is stored in the 3D macro by the definition of a placement area. The position of the placement area also deter-mines the mounting depth to which the 3D object is positioned on a mounting surface. Nine handles are then automatically generated on the placement sur-face. You can use these for positioning. In addition you can define a further handle. This handle is always projected onto the defined placement area when placing it.



32

Defining a Base Point

Base points are components of the device logic that are used in working with enclosure accessories.

Base points are fixed defined mounting points in a layout space. You can use base points to install enclosure items (e.g., side panels, base) at a fixed defined location in the accessories management. A distinction is made between auto-matically generated base points and user-defined base points. You can use au-tomatic base points to place enclosures and matching accessories from acces-sories management, without having to generate detailed macros for this purpose. But there is also the option to store user-defined base points in a macro and to use them in accessories management as the property of an ac-cessory placement.

Automatic Base Points Automatic base points are generated for all enclosures that are generated di-rectly without macro from the parts database. (Product group "Enclosure", Product subgroup "Component" and "Body"). In the data transfer of accessory parts from EPLAN Cabinet, the existing base points are applied and converted to automatic base points.

User-defined base points are mounting points with predefined properties manu-ally placed in a macro by the user that can be used as the property of an acces-sory placement in accessories management. This way you define the positions on frame profiles and housings where the macro may be placed as an acces-sory part.

Transfer Base Point Scheme

In connection with the creation of enclosures of the Rittal series "TS8", "AE", and "CM", which have been imported into the layout space as STEP data, it is possible to place the base points automatically in a manner suitable for the en-closure series.



33

Interpreting and Carrying over Enclosure Logic

Using the Automatic enclosure interpretation you transfer the existing logic of an enclosure to another, newly to be defined, enclosure of the same design. This way you can substantially simplify and speed up the work steps to create your own enclosure series.

The preparatory step is always the selection of a suitable interpretation tem-plate that contains the device logic to be interpreted and corresponds to the de-sign of the enclosure to be interpreted.

In addition to enclosures other devices can also be interpreted automatically in this form and have design-specific logic assigned to them. Logic elements of items from a project other than the active project, for example a macro project, can be used as the interpretation template.

It is furthermore possible to selected an existing part via the parts management as the interpretation template.

Defining Connection Point Pattern in Layout Space

Part placements receive information about their connection points mostly from the definition of the connection point pattern at the part that was carried out in the central parts management. If in the properties of the part placement on the Connection point pattern tab the Local connection point pattern check box is ac-tivated, the connection points defined on the part will be copied to this part placement. Subsequently, the referencing to the parts data is canceled, and the connection points can be modified individually.

If the placed part does not have predefined connection points, it is possible to define the connection points on the part placement graphically.

These graphical connection points are also local and apply to the edited part placement.

If connection points are already defined at the part, these are converted auto-matically into local connection points.



34

Like all local connection points, the graphically defined connection points, too, can be modified individually (position, connection point direction). The modified connection point data of local connection points can then be used again in or-der to transfer them to connection point patterns in parts management.

Mounting Lists In EPLAN Pro Panel, you can generate the Mounting list report for 3D part placements of a layout space. Mounting lists are used to map in a report the hi-erarchical structure of a mounting layout in the layout space. The report can be done for a very specific part placement (mounting panel, enclosure, busbar, etc.).

Mounting List Report

In such a function-based report, the 3D part placements are evaluated for which the "Create mounting list" property has been activated in the property dialog. This property can be selected via the property selection for all 3D functions (ex-cept for mounting surfaces). For devices with the activated property, all devices of the hierarchy level immediately below are listed in the output mounting list.

To create a mounting list, you can use the new "Mounting list" report type lo-cated in the "Select report" dialog. As with other function-related reports, too, when outputting the mounting list you can make a manual selection. In the sub-sequent "Manual selection" dialog, all 3D part placements are listed for which the Create mounting list property has been activated.



35

Checking and Positioning Aids

Using Collision Check

The collision check checks whether items overlap or penetrate each other dur-ing placement and editing. It always kicks in when items are placed, moved, copied, duplicated, rotated or extended. Resulting collisions are visualized by coloring the affected items. The color used to this purpose can be specified by using the user options.

• The collision check includes all item types, regardless of whether they are displayed or hidden.

• The collision check can be turned off at any time.

• When placing length-variable items, the collision check is activated after defining the first placement point.

• Intentional collisions are not treated as collisions (e.g., a monitor inte-grated into a door).

• The safety areas (mounting clearances) defined on a part are evaluated and taken into account by the collision check.

• There is a check run to check for collisions subsequently.

Displaying Mounting Clearances

Parts management can be used to define a mounting clearance in terms of width, height, and depth on the Mounting data tab in the part properties. This mounting clearance ensures that the permitted thermal stress on parts placed beside or on top of one another is not exceeded.

To monitor this, the specified mounting clearances can be shown during place-ment. They are shown as transparent, surrounding bodies. In the placement op-tions, the handle of a part to be placed can be set relative to the edges of the item (default) or to the mounting clearances.



36

Displaying Mounting Aids

Mounting aids are the following elements of device logic:

• Handles

• Mounting points

• Base points

• Mounting grid.

These elements are visible in a schematic project only if they are in use, that is, during the placement in a layout space. Sometimes you may want to render mounting aids visible even outside of placement actions, so that they can be edited. The visibility of the mounting aids in the schematic project can be con-trolled as required.

Auxiliary Lines

3D lines can be placed in the layout space as auxiliary lines. Auxiliary lines can be used to build a symmetrical or also irregular grid whose intersections can be used as positioning aids when inserting mounting rails, wire ducts, and devices.

3D lines are placed on mounting surfaces; but placement outside of mounting surfaces is also possible. In contrast to 2D lines, the starting and end points of 3D lines have a Z coordinate containing information on their position in the space.

There are two different types of auxiliary lines:

• Line "Through 2 points" (defined by starting and end points)

• Line "Parallel through point".

End and center points of auxiliary lines are found when object snap is turned on. "Real" intersections of auxiliary lines are also found when the lines are at the same height in the space.

Auxiliary lines can be moved, copied, duplicated and deleted like 2D lines. Aux-iliary lines are displayed in model views.



37

Connection Preview

The connection preview is useful when placing devices on the 3D mounting lay-out navigator. A blue line shows which device, already placed, is electrically connected to the device that is about to be placed in the project plan. The con-nection preview makes it easier to group associated devices and helps avoid unnecessarily long wiring.

Measuring in the Layout Space

The "Measuring" functionality is available for checking the equipment of the mounting panels and enclosures in the layout space. The distance from points and edges can be measured, and the measurement result is displayed in a dia-log. This contains the coordinates of both the measured elements, the dis-tances of the measured points and the shortest distance between the two measured elements.

The measurement of the coordinates and the distance from points and edges is output relatively, parallel to a common mounting surface. If the measured points are not on a common mounting surface, the measured values are relative to the origin of the layout space.

Updating Main Elements

All the part references of all the associated part placements can be transferred to the main function in the 3D mounting layout as well. This replaces the part references in the main function with the part references contained in the part placements. As in the 2D mounting layout, identification is by the complete de-vice tag.



38

Updating the Part Placement

When the part number is exchanged in a part placement in a layout space or when modifications are made to the 3D mounting layout macro, the part dimen-sions have to be updated. It is only possible to update the part dimensions for devices, mounting rails and wire ducts on mounting surfaces, and for individu-ally inserted mounting panels and free mounting panels.

Editing Legend Items

The 3D mounting layout also has the option of editing legend items and chang-ing numbering.

3D Macros The macro technique in "EPLAN Pro Panel" corresponds to the way of working in the EPLAN platform.

The following applies to 3D macros:

• 3D macros are managed in a macro project.

• 3D macros can be created and used as window (*.ema) and / or symbol macros (*.ems).

• 3D macros are always created with the "3D mounting layout" representa-tion type. Both creating and inserting with this representation type is only possible in a layout space.

• The 3D macros can be assigned to the parts in parts management. As a result, the part is displayed in detail and very realistically. If there is no graphic macro for the part, the graphic is implemented as a cuboid by en-tering the height, width, and depth, in as far as these entries exist at the part.

• If a 3D macro is assigned to an enclosure, then the graphic of the enclo-sure is not generated automatically during placement; in this case the content of the graphic macro defines the graphic.



39

Creating 3D Macros

3D macros can be created as follows:

• Manually by saving selected objects from a layout space

• Automatically from imported STEP files (*.ema only)

• Manually or automatically from a macro project.

Placing 3D Macros

3D macros are placed in the layout space in the same way as devices. These macros can only be placed in an open layout space with the "3D mounting lay-out" representation type.

Changing the Rotation Angle

When you insert a 3D macro, you can rotate the angle of the macro in 90° in-crements at the handle. Up to 40 different mounting positions can be imple-mented with a single 3D macro by changing the handles. These options also apply to devices whose parts have been assigned a 3D macro.

Model Views Model views are standardized views and views of equipped mounting surfaces. They are used for display purposes and for creating drawings. Mode views can be compiled in templates and specifications for the required dimensionings as-signed to them. The drawings including dimensioning and legend required for a manufacturing documentation can be generated automatically on the basis of the templates.

Additional information such as dimensioning, texts, etc. for enclosure produc-tion (enclosure equipment) can be drawn in the model views using standard platform functions.

A model view can be inserted in any page type.



40

Changing Model Views

You can use the following actions to modify how the content of model views is displayed and arranged:

• Update

• Center contents

• Move contents

• Edit properties

• Show / hide 3D objects.

Updating the Model View If the content of the layout space referenced by the model view was changed, the message "Model view not up to date" appears over the top of the model view when the page is opened. The model view must be updated to match the contents of the layout space and model view.

Centering the Contents If the display in the model view was changed by modifying the frame size or by using the "Move contents" or "Update" action, you may find that the graphic no longer appears centered in the model view. You can run the "Center contents" action to return the graphic to the center of the model view.

Moving the Contents This action moves the entire content of the model view. You can use this option to change the position of the graphic in the model view without having to create a new model view. The centered status can be restored with the Center con-tents action.

Moving Property Texts

The "Move property texts" command activates the insertion points of the prop-erty texts of items in a model view and these are made visible by clicking on the individual components. The text can then be moved using Drag & Drop.



41

Generating Machining Data for Auto-matic Equipment Systems NC machines are drilling, cutting, and milling robots which convert planning in-formation into production processes by means of a control program. Mounting panels, doors, and other equipable enclosure components are mostly manufac-tured by NC machines when it comes to enclosure design. In the EPLAN Pro Panel module package manufacturing data can be created for NC machines and exported using appropriate interfaces.

The NC interface modules transmit the coordinates and dimensions of drill holes, cut-outs or locked areas, as well as other production data to edit mount-ing panels, doors or side sections directly on NC drilling and milling robots. For the NC manufacture of user-defined outlines, outline records, adjusted for the machine in use, can be generated.

EPLAN Pro Panel furthermore allows for the output of item-specific drilling pat-terns in a ratio of 1:1 in PDF files. This template, printed on a plotter or large-format printer in the same size, serves as a template for the manual drilling of the mounting panel.

NC Record

An NC record is an NC program that can drill and mill an outline on a machine. In this context, the focus is on the specific possibilities of the machine and its tools. The outline is created graphically in the outline editor and equipped with the machine-specific information by generating an NC record.

Field for NC Machining A field in the NC export is a (part) surface that is machined by the NC machine. Each NC-relevant surface (i.e. with a specific item ID) and each item with NC relevance (i.e., with the "Machining" property activated) is treated as a field dur-ing the export to an NC robot or when creating a drilling template. Of course, this applies only if it is included in the selection for the export, and only if this field has been equipped in the project and if, thus, machining occurs.



42

Field Size in 3D Macros When creating 3D macros with NC-relevant surfaces, you must define the mounting surface as well as a field size, which generally corresponds to the surrounding rectangle of the mounting surface. NC-relevant surfaces without a field size are not exported. A check run checks whether all NC-relevant mount-ing surfaces have a defined field size.

Mounting Check The mounting check checks whether all items that have been placed on NC-relevant surfaces have a drilling pattern. This check is done via a check run. The check run message is always output if a part placement has been placed on an NC-relevant mounting surface and no valid drilling pattern has been as-signed.

Drill Exceptions

In machine-based manufacture, it depends on the machine in use whether the required drill hole type can be generated. For example, a laser can produce ex-act hexagons, but a milling cutter cannot. This is not set definitively in the parts data, because it is not known yet which machine will be used for the manufac-ture.

For each machine, for DXF output and drilling templates, specific drill excep-tions can be defined in the settings. This way, drill holes that cannot be manu-factured on one machine are replaced by another type that the machine can manufacture.

When exporting NC drill data, then, the alternatives are exported rather than the originals. In the case of real machines, after the exception, alternative pro-cessing triggered by missing tools is also selected (if the thread cutter is miss-ing, drill only core hole, etc.).



43

Generating Manufacturing Data for Machining

EPLAN Pro Panel allows for the output of manufacturing data for NC-supported machines of different manufacturers and for sharing it with service providers:

• Rittal - Perforex / Secarex

• STEINHAUER eCAB

• General NC-DXF interface

Each of these formats must be licensed as separate interfaces.

Inserting 2D Drilling View

The drilling view (2D) is a form of model view specialized in the display of NC-relevant data. It shows the NC-relevant data, drill holes, cut-outs, as well as outlines of basic items and parts. Dimensioning can be inserted into the drilling view.

Generating Mounting Data for Terminal Placement Machines

Optional interfaces allow EPLAN Pro Panel to output data for the automatic placement of terminals on mounting rails.

• Rittal - Athex

This output interface is optional and has to be licensed separately.



44

Routing Connections

Generating Routing Connections

Routing means the generation of routing connections of the "3D mounting lay-out" representation type. These connections can be routed in the layout space. A routing connection has all the properties that a multi-line connection also has, but it also additionally contains information about its routing track.

It is generally multi-line connections being routed for whose targets there is a placed 3D part placement. The routing generates a routing connection if only an existing multi-line connection is routed. For connections of a single-line repre-sentation type, routing is not possible, and the option is deactivated.

Routing connections are displayed in the layout space in their conductor color and with their external diameter. If neither is defined, a default representation will be displayed.

Displaying Connection Points Graphically

Connection points at 3D part placements can be rendered visible in the layout space. This allows you to better estimate whether their position and connection point direction are suitable for existing routing paths and wire ducts, so that routing connections can find the connection points reliably. If this is not the case, you must modify either the connection point direction or the course of the routing paths.

In the graphical display, connection points cannot be deleted, moved or dupli-cated. Connection point data is modified in the property dialog of the part place-ment.



45

Inserting Routing Paths

Routing paths are automatically or manually inserted default paths along which connections can be routed. Routing paths are displayed graphically by means of lines with snap points at the starting, end and center points. The colors of the routing paths can be set.

Automatic routing paths are generated when you execute the "Generate routing path network" action on the basis of placed wire ducts, routing ranges, and wir-ing cut-outs.

Manual routing paths are not linked to wire ducts, etc.

Inserting Curves

Curves are manually inserted default paths along which electrical engineering and Fluid power connections can be routed.

The curve is defined by a starting point and at least two successive control points. Once the placement of a curve is completed, the last-placed control point is interpreted as end point.

Graphically, the curves, like routing paths, are displayed as blue lines with snap points at the starting/end points and at the control points.

Inserting Routing Ranges

Routing ranges are part of the routing path network. In routing ranges, connec-tions are not routed along a routing path, but always it is the shortest possible and direct connection that is routed. This way, for example, it possible to imple-ment wiring on the back of a mounting panel.

Inserting Wiring Cut-outs

Wiring cut-outs are used to steer connections during routing to the back of a mounting panel or of a door.



46

Using Connection Filters

Wire ducts, routing paths, routing ranges, and wiring cut-outs have the Connec-tion filter property. The connection filter is used for routing to control which con-nections may be routed through the routing track. The criteria and the associ-ated values can be defined and can, for example, be color assignments of wires or voltage values.

The assignment of values to the connections to be routed is purely textual. Free text is used to define the values, but it must also be added to the connection parts.

Generating a Routing Path Network

The graphical objects in the layout space are the basis for creating the routing path network in which the connection is routed. Wire ducts are equipped auto-matically with routing paths in the process. Wire ducts do not necessarily have to be placed at a distance = 0 from the next channel to locate a connection be-tween channels. A corresponding project setting can be used to set the dis-tance tolerance that is to be bridged in routing between ducts.

By adding appropriate routing paths, the routing path network can be extended, or several individual areas can be connected to each other, e.g., mounting panel and door. After modifying the course of the routing paths, the routing path network has to be generated anew.

Displaying Routing Path View

Routing path view is defined as the highlighting of the currently valid routing path network. The routing path view can be displayed in full or filtered through the respective valid connection filter.



47

Optimizing Nets Automatically

With automatic optimization, the connections of the net / daisy chains are rede-signed in such a way that the following conditions are met:

• All connection points continue to be connected.

• The sum of the wires to be routed is a short as possible.

• No more than connections terminate in a connection point.

• A daisy chain is always generated.

Connection Filter for Routing Path View In connection with the display of the routing path view, you can set in the con-nection filter the criteria to be considered for the routing path view. Connections that correspond to the activated criteria are hidden. Non-activated ones are dis-played transparently.

Routing Connections

Routing generates routing connections between the 3D part placements that follow the real course of the wires and cables in the routing path network. If there are no connection points defined for a suitable part placement, they will be generated prior to the routing.

Apart from the routing track, the length of wires is also determined. All infor-mation thus determined can be used as wiring instructions or to control wire fabrication machines.

Routing Connections Freely

The function for the free routing of connections allows you to route wire, cable or also tube connections freely in the layout space without any prior definition of a routing path network or the use of wire ducts.

Freely routed connections can be realized as wires and cables between electri-cal engineering items as well as tubes between Fluid power items.



48

Free routing of connections forms part of the extension module "EPLAN Pro Panel - Process Wiring".

Changing Routing Tracks

The routing track of a connection determined by routing can be influenced by modifying the route.

Use the Routing points to modify a route. These points are displayed during manual modifications to the route. By moving a routing point to another, it is possible to modify the routing path of connections. If several connections run through the routing path or duct, a selection dialog will be displayed where you choose the connection that is to be moved into the new routing path / new duct.

Displaying Fill Capacity

After connections have been routed, the system knows the wire ducts and rout-ing paths through which the wires run. If the dimensions of the wire ducts and external diameters of the wires are known, the system can estimate whether the routing paths are dimensioned sufficiently large in order to accommodate all wires.

As the number of connections increases, so does also the number of wires in the wire duct increase. This can create space problems particularly in the junc-tion area of wire ducts. The "Display fill capacity" function provides feedback on the space reserves in wire ducts and manual routing paths. This way, the user can see where specific routes have to be modified in order to force routing through less crowded routing paths even if another path would be shorter, but would result in over-allocation.

In the case of automatic routing paths (wire ducts), the cross-section available to the routed connections is calculated from the dimensions of the wire ducts in-volved. This cross-section can be carried over to manual routing paths if they are connected to an automatic routing path. If not, then you have to enter a de-fault value in the "Cross-section" routing path property. The actual fill capacity is calculated from the available cross-section of the routing paths and the cross-section that is taken up by the routed connections.

The fill capacity limit and alert limit are project settings and thus adjustable.



49

Updating the Fill Capacity After each modification to the routing path network of routed connections, the fill capacity has to be calculated again.

Bundling Connections

The option of organizing and combining wires routed consecutively or in parallel into bundles and of making them available as labeled bundles for wiring accel-erates the wiring process and streamlines further the entire enclosure manufac-ture.

There are two methods for bundling routing connections:

• In the case of Automatic bundling, bundle numbers are determined by the program and written into the "Bundle" property of the routing connections.

• In the case of Manual bundling, bundle numbers are entered by the user manually in the "Bundle" property of the routing connections.

Using the interfaces for wire fabrication, you can evaluate this information and transfer to the manufacturing robots that produce the appropriate combined and labeled bundles.

Generating Manufacturing Data for Wire Fabrication Machines

Through optional interfaces EPLAN Pro Panel allows for the output of manufac-turing data for wire fabrication machines of different manufacturers and for sharing it with service providers:

• CadCabel

• Komax

• Metzner (Triathlon Kabelcenter)

• Schleuniger (Easy Production Server)

• Steinhauer (Personal Wiring Assistant)



50

Each of these formats must be licensed as separate interfaces.

In addition, it is possible to configure and output a "General wires parts list". The exported file can be used by manufacturing machines, which interpret this format, for the purposes of automatic cutting to length, labeling and production of conductor ends of cables. The wires parts list contains the information on connections between devices, their part numbers, their flows and length:

• Wire number

• Starting device with unique DT

• Connecting point of such device

• Target device with unique DT

• Connecting point of such device

• Part number of the wire

• Length of wire

• Starting direction from the connecting point of the first device

• End direction to the connecting point of the second device

• Bundle number.

EPLAN Project Processing – Importing Devices

The optional extension module makes it possible to import data from external programs (other CAE systems, ERP systems, MS Excel, etc.) into an EPLAN project.

It is possible on the basis of these imported device data to create a mounting layout including routing connections even without a schematic.

In addition to the device tag lists, terminal lists and wiring lists with the file name extensions TXT and CSV, as well as text files with the file name extension ASC are imported.

MS Excel files can furthermore be read in directly.



51

Importing with a sequence of various dialogs and status recognition makes it possible for you to control the import process interactively. A synchronization di-alog can be used to define which of the available data are to be imported. It is also possible to delete devices or routing connections that only exist in the EPLAN project.

Assigning a part

Suitable parts from the EPLAN parts management can be assigned to the data to be imported, if part numbers which do not exist in the EPLAN parts manage-ment are assigned to the devices / routing connections in the external data source, or if no part numbers are assigned.

Multi-line main functions with one or several parts arise in the EPLAN project through the import of the device tag list. These parts are placed manually in the layout space.

In the second step, the routing connections are imported. Non-routed routing connections result. Precondition: Both the source and the target of the imported routing connections are defined and are found.

The following properties are supported for devices:

• DT (full) (for terminals including the designation)

• Part number

• Level (terminals)

• Function category

• Function group

• Function definition.



52

The following properties are supported for routing connections:

• DT (full)

• Part number

• Function definition

• Source (separator colon)

• Target (separator colon)

• Internal / External source (terminals)

• Internal / External target (terminals)

• Connection color / number

• Connection: Cross-section / diameter

• Connection designation.

EPLAN Pro Panel Copper Design of Busbars and Flexible Current Distribu-tors Using the optional "EPLAN Pro Panel Copper" extension module, you can con-struct freely individual copper rails and connection elements. The necessary ex-pertise about materials, manufacturing techniques or manufacturing machines can be stored in EPLAN, and can be utilized as part of special planning assis-tance and to verify the construction. Potential disturbances are identified early on in the 3D prototype – this accelerates the process of switchgear construction and allows for project resources to be scaled.

EPLAN Pro Panel Copper offers you the following options:

• Configuration of busbar systems on the basis of system technology com-ponents of various busbar system manufacturers such as Rittal. Precondition: The manufacturer data are available in EPLAN Pro Panel and are provided in suitable form through the parts and accessories man-agement. The shape and form of copper items can be defined individually and adjusted for the circumstances in the enclosure.



53

• Length and angle changes and associated moving of bending positions can be effected directly on the item by moving the cursor, without any de-tours via parameter dialogs. This allows for actual designing in the mounting environment.

• The manufacturing data of the individually constructed copper items are provided via special machine interfaces and transferred to cutting, bend-ing, milling, punching, or also drilling machines.

• Standardized copper items that are to be purchased in a fixed preset form are assigned the "Prefabricated" property. This makes it possible to control that the copper items cannot be modified after the placement.

Engineering of power distribution and busbar systems consists of the following working steps:

• Create a form (path of the rectangular profile form to shape the copper rail) in the outline editor.

• Place a "Busbar (bending)"; in the process, a rail part of defined height and width is selected, a form is assigned, and a bending radius is deter-mined for the bending positions.

• Modify the length, angle and bending positions at the placed rail; adjust for the specific spatial circumstances in the enclosure; in the process, the "unfolded total length" of the copper item is calculated and updated per-manently.

• Copy, rotate, move the placed rail.

• Place other rails; this generates copper bundles.

• Create report on copper parts (mounting list).

• Unfold bent rails; this takes into account bending radii, material stretching and compression.

• Transfer unfold to manufacturing machines.



54

Creating Manufacturing Data for the Processing Ma-chines

The optional interfaces allow EPLAN Pro Panel to output manufacturing data for NC-supported machining of copper rails for various manufacturers.

The data format of the Copper NC interface is manufacturer-neutral and can be adapted by machine manufacturers.

Each of the following export interfaces has to be licensed separately:

• EPLAN Production Copper NC

• EPLAN Production Copper DXF

EPLAN Pro Panel 3D Data Export

Exporting EPLAN Pro Panel Data to 3D PDF

The EPLAN PDF export provides the option of outputting the 3D contents of the layout spaces of a project in addition to the pages of an EPLAN project. In the case of a PDF export of the layout spaces, one additional page will then be added at the end of the page data for each layout space.

Free viewers, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, make it possible to display the embedded 3D data of the PDF file, to rotate the contained 3D mounting layouts or to navigate in the shown model structure. The respective display and naviga-tion possibilities depend on the viewer.



55

Exporting 3D Graphic Data in VRML Format

The VRML export writes the geometry of a layout space's 3D components into a file in the VRML format. The exported data is displayed as 3D models in browsers, and there can be rotated all around and zoomed.

Exporting 3D Graphic Data in STEP Format

The STEP export writes the geometry of a layout space's 3D components into a file in the STEP format. Information about the solids, analytic surfaces and vol-umes is transferred in as far as it is available in the EPLAN 3D macro. The ex-ported data can be imported into external CAD systems and be visualized there.



56

Exporting Wiring Data in EPDZ Format

EPLAN offers the possibility to publish a project by exporting a file of the file type EPDZ. The EPDZ file contains, in compressed form, the complete project structure (project properties, page properties, layout space properties, function properties). For each project page, a file with the 2D vector graphic (*.svg) and for each layout space, a file with the 3D graphical data (*.e3d) is included.

The 3D graphical data contain the 3D data for the 3D layout space, the 3D mounting layout and, if appropriate, the 3D routing connections. The basis for the conversion of wires is the wiring itself.

By means of the optional software EPLAN Smart Wiring, a browser-based soft-ware solution for the requirements of manual wiring, the wiring information from the EPDZ data package can be visualized and edited on Windows mobile de-vices and Windows PCs. Details about the EPLAN Smart Wiring as well as the hardware and software requirements please refer to the EPLAN Smart Wiring Performance Description.

EPLAN Design Space Exchange – Inter-disciplinary 3D Data Exchange The principle: The 3D CAD program makes a geometric space available (for ex-ample in the form of an enclosure housing) into which the electrical devices are installed. This geometric area is called the design space.

In this defined installation environment the 3D mounting layout with wire ducts, mounting rails, busbar systems and devices is carried out then in EPLAN Pro Panel. The concurrent integration of manufacturing information in the form of drill holes, threads or cut-outs forms the basis for the next process step: The provision of this information for the M-CAD application.

Subsequently the data existing in EPLAN Pro Panel for fastening holes, threads or cut-outs are transferred to the M-CAD application, read in there and inte-grated into the original 3D M-CAD model using the methods of the M-CAD sys-tem. This is carried out completely automatically and, if desired, including the wiring ducts, mounting rails and devices placed in EPLAN Pro Panel.



57

The result: A complete 3D-parametric M-CAD model of the enclosure housing, including all the information required for manufacturing as the basis for all fur-ther process steps, for example for the housing manufacturing and the machin-ing of the components.

At the same a comprehensive project documentation including all the wiring in-formation for the fabrication of cables and wires exists on the EPLAN end.

The following is possible:

• Importing of model data that were exported from 3D CAD programs

• Automatic interpretation of the geometry model

• Implementation of the required 3D mounting layout in EPLAN Pro Panel in the geometry model from the 3D CAD program. Insertion of information about drill holes, threads, standard form cut-outs or outline-based cut-outs

• Exporting of the EPLAN data supplemented in 3D mounting layout (mounting rails, wire ducts, information about drill holes, threads, cut-outs) in the form of an XML file

• Integration and interpretation of the data from the XML file in Autodesk Inventor. Automatic placement of the mechanical and electrical devices in the parametric 3D model in Autodesk Inventor

• Automatic implementation of the NC-relevant information from EPLAN Pro Panel in fully parametric Inventor geometry components (drill holes, threads, slotted holes, cut-outs, etc.).

These results are available:

In the electrotechnical field: A fully developed control system enclosure includ-ing as-built documentation for the manufacturing.

In the mechanical field: A complete parametric 3D model supplemented with in-formation from EPLAN.



58

EPLAN Thermal Design Integration – Virtual Planning, Dimensioning and Val-idation of Climate Control Solutions EPLAN Thermal Design Integration is a concept for the virtual planning and di-mensioning of energy-efficient climate control solutions and for the validation of mounting layouts of switchgear:

EPLAN Thermal Design Integration makes available functionalities, extended product data, sets of rules and software-based decision-making tools to support the planner and to validate the planning results:

• Determination of the total power dissipation of all the devices

• Visualization of the power dissipation density in order to avoid hot spots

• Determination of the power dissipation layout for optimal configuration of the components in the enclosure

• Interface to Rittal Therm for designing and dimensioning the climate con-trol components

Optional: Utilization of the extended Rittal parts data for climate control solu-tions via the EPLAN Data Portal.

Optional: Representation of the optimal air-conditioned area per climate control component in which the components are to be laid out in the enclosure.

Optional: Airflow-specific reserved areas per climate control component for opti-mizing the cooling air circulation and for protecting the components against overheating or undercooling.



59

Notes:

The concept is based on parts data of the manufacturer Rittal that has been supplemented by process-relevant data as support for EPLAN Thermal Design Integration. These data will be available in the EPLAN Data Portal as of Sep-tember 2016 (Release of Version 2.6).

Usage of the extended parts data for "Views of airflow directions", "Optimally air-conditioned areas" and "Airflow-specific reserved areas" requires registra-tion and licensing / validation by Rittal. The license validation can similarly be obtained as of September.

The following general conditions apply for the further processing of calculation results in Rittal Therm:

• EPLAN Data Portal access in the context of the Software Service

• Rittal Therm license

• Internet access.

EPLAN Revision Management Via the "EPLAN Revision Management" extension module, subsequent modifi-cations of existing plants can be captured and documented automatically on the basis of a revision control. You can also access older versions of the project and mark the modified project pages with an approval stamp.

Revision markers can be generated in two ways:

If you have created a revision and continued working in this, changes are high-lighted automatically (change tracking). When changes are made to a project page in a revision, the system identifies the changes as a draft. This is dis-played graphically by a watermark on the project page. This mark is retained until the project page is closed. If you position the cursor over a modified object in a revision, a Tooltip is displayed containing information about the revision.



60

Alternatively you can "freeze" a specific project state and compare it with an-other project state later. In this way, you can e.g. quickly identify which project pages have changed in order to start a new print order. You can specify in de-tail which properties should be compared. The settings are stored in a scheme. You can therefore create different schemes for different purposes and re-use settings once they have been specified.

If you have changed an object in a revision, then this is displayed with a graph-ical marker in the schematic.

The revision states created for a project can be output in revision overviews, which can be either printed or inserted into the current report as separate report pages.

Revision management fulfills the requirements regarding traceability of changes. Changes can be automatically identified, listed, graphically high-lighted, and commented by the user. This makes working with revisions trans-parent and efficient.

EPLAN Multi Language Translation Increasing globalization makes the ability to work confidently with foreign lan-guages and output mono- or multilingual schematics essential. The "EPLAN Multi Language Translation" extension module provides this option, while allow-ing you to keep using your native language.

The program can represent Unicode characters. The texts are translated online automatically. The support of professional translation agencies can be inte-grated through data exchange via XML or TXT.

The "AutoComplete" functionality minimizes typing work just as in your Internet browser. The documentation is easier to understand using standard terms, and typing errors are avoided. Existing electrical engineering expertise can there-fore be used around the world – with minimal time expenditure.



61

EPLAN Project Options The "EPLAN Project Options" extension module allows you to define areas of a machine or plant as project options and then reveal or hide them within the EPLAN project. This way, configuration characteristics or a different dimension-ing of a machine or plant can be easily represented and managed by means of project options. Hidden project options are not evaluated any more so that re-ports of a project are also automatically adapted to the selected project options. For the management of project options, a new navigator, the "Project options navigator", is available. This can also be activated from the "Project data" menu. If particular customer requirements mean that you do not require part of a machine or plant for which a project option has been defined, then simply de-activate the project option in the navigator. The schematic and the reports are automatically adjusted.

A project option can also be displayed transparently. This means, the sections in the schematic are displayed transparently, but not evaluated. With the trans-parent display it is easy to recognize that at this project point in the documenta-tion an option has been defined which is, however, currently deactivated. By simply switching on and off the project options, the order processor can eas-ily create a project in accordance with customer requirements.

A basic project is used to create a new project; then some settings are deter-mined – and the documentation for the actual order is complete. Due to the central management of all project options in the navigator, operation of the soft-ware is very easy and intuitive for the user.

As processing preparation, your specialists can define template schematics and project options. The order result is therefore not editor-related any more, but can be reproduced at any time due to standardization and is always top-quality. Processing preparation through templates and project options files off the engi-neering know-how of the company in the system transparently and inde-pendently of persons. Knowledge transfer can be controlled by creating the pro-ject options.

Additional information (e.g. in deactivated project options) can be removed from a project prior to delivery. A special report is available for indicating which pro-ject options are contained in the project and which ones are selected.



62

The workflow can be controlled even more specifically in connection with rights management. While the colleagues in the development department create tem-plates and options, the project editors access the prepared components easily, securely, and quickly, instead of re-inventing these from scratch.

Fluid and electrical engineering can be integrated in the combination of project options. Based on the mechanical and fluid-specific planning, the result of indi-vidual project options is thus directly controlled within electrical engineering (in-cluding structure diagram and I/O assignment of PLCs).

EPLAN Project Management The "EPLAN Project Management" extension module offers the option of cross-drive project management. To find existing projects via project management from other workstations, you can import the header data of the projects into a project management database.

In project management, you can also view project-specific and cross-project in-formation. Extensive functionalities enable ease of use – e.g., when revising, backing up, or filing off multiple projects.

Project properties can be processed in blocks in project management. You can also output a complete overview of the project header data from a project, and display the users currently working on the selected project if you wish.

These properties enable the continual re-use of existing (sub-)projects and avoid the need to plan projects entirely from scratch.



63

EPLAN User Rights Management The workflow in the system can be administered easily, similar to the Windows rights management.

Using the "EPLAN User Rights Management" extension module, which is dis-played in a tree structure, you can block dialogs, menu items, and toolbars in the user interface. The rights can be assigned blockwise to groups. If required, individual editing functions such as "Delete project" can be blocked specifically. If certain rights are revoked from a user, the associated menu items will be grayed out. In this way, the system only offers users the commands they need to perform their tasks.

This allows an administrator to configure the access rights and the menu struc-ture. This avoids the user having to deal with menu items that they do not need. This increases the clarity of the program, and therefore improves the operating speed and allows the user to work more effectively.

The division of the processing steps is different in each company and depends on working methods, project, knowledge level of the user, etc. The users obtain their rights by belonging to one (or more) group(s). The permitted editing rights can be assigned to the user groups by the administrator. The groups give their assigned rights to all users in the group.

Both users as well as groups that have already been defined in a company can be transferred simply into the rights management by using Active Directory.

If the user logged on in Windows is set up as a system user, then the logon oc-curs automatically and the user does not need to enter his / her user name and password again.

If the rights management is to be used, the module has to be used at all the EPLAN workplaces in the company. This is the only method of ensuring that a user cannot circumvent the rights structure.

With rights management, users can be employed according to their abilities. Planning tasks can be distributed and controlled, and operating errors are avoided. Rights management also supports adherence to standardization rules.



64

EPLAN Project Reference This optional extension module is used to support the cooperation between the client and the supplier. The incoming project from the supplier can be checked rapidly and without manual work against the specifications and guidelines of the client. A structured overview of the test results allows a substantiated assess-ment of the project quality with regard to the specifications. The client can thus decide rapidly whether the supplied project is to be accepted or amendment by the supplier is required.

Often, project participants, e.g. the client, will send the project status to another participant, e.g. the supplier as engineering service providers. They edit the project and send an advanced project status back. Using the project verification the client can check the project status before loading it as to whether the project has met the requirements or whether it is of the standard required. For compari-sons between a comparison project and an incoming project you can check the following criteria:

• Is the project free of errors? A project is free of errors if none of the sched-uled check runs generate messages.

• Are the project-related settings unchanged?

• Are the project data properties unchanged?

• Are they compliant with the project planning specifications?

If the project status does not fulfill the requirements, a message report can be created that documents the differences from the project specifications.

The "EPLAN Project Reference" functionality can be used to set and automati-cally check specifications regarding quality standards to be observed for the documentation. This simplifies and accelerates the management of projects during a project exchange between different companies.



65

Multi-user Multiple users can edit one project simultaneously in multi-user operation. You can see which users are currently working on a project in project management.

Please contact EPLAN Support with regard to the hardware requirements for multi-user operation. We can advise you specifically according to your individ-ual requirements.

EPLAN Data Portal The "EPLAN Data Portal" extension module makes web-based device data and master data of major manufacturers available for direct inclusion in the EPLAN Platform. In addition to alphanumeric parts data, these master data also contain schematic macros, multilingual parts information, preview images, documents, etc.

The data provided by the manufacturers is integrated directly into the EPLAN Platform when downloaded. The option to download each part and component selectively ensures a clear structure and specific updating of your personal parts management.

High-quality master data facilitates uniform use in EPLAN and increases the quality of the project documentation, from the schematic, through detailed re-ports, to integration of manufacturer documentation (data sheets, operating manuals) in high-quality manufacturing specifications.

The EPLAN Data Portal simplifies considerably for the designer the integration of parts data with the engineering process. While planning, he or she can di-rectly access master data that has been classified and checked for EPLAN compatibility, without time-consuming searching of manufacture catalogs, which thus reduces the project planning time.

Detailed item data is of crucial significance even in downstream use of docu-mentation during servicing and maintenance work.

A software maintenance agreement is the prerequisite for using the EPLAN Data Portal.



66

Hardware Requirements

Workstation

The computer platform is a PC with an Intel Core i5 or i7 or compatible proces-sor. Rather select a high-speed computer with less CPU cores than a slower computer with more CPU cores.

Recommended workstation configuration

Processor: Multicore CPU, not older than 3 years

RAM: 8 GB*1

Hard disk: 500 GB

Monitor / graphics resolution: 2-screen solution 21" or 16:10 graphics system with a resolution of 1680 x 1050

3D display: Graphics card from ATI or Nvidia with the latest OpenGL driver *2

*1: Individual functions like PDF or DXF output require more memory in connection with large projects or very ex-

tensive graphics.

*2: A graphics card comparable with an Nvidia Quadro 600 should be used when EPLAN Pro Panel is used.

Network

We recommend using a Microsoft Windows network.

Net transfer rate of the server: 1 Gbits/s

Net transfer rate of the client computer: 100 Mbits/s

Recommended latency < 1 ms



67

Multi-user

With regard to minimum requirements for multi-user operation, please contact EPLAN Support. We can advise you specifically according to your individual re-quirements.

Software Approvals In the current Version 2.6 the programs of the EPLAN platform are only availa-ble as a 64-bit version.

Operating systems

The EPLAN platform supports the 64-bit variants of the Microsoft operating sys-tems Windows 7, Windows 8 / 8.1 and Windows 10. The EPLAN user interface language installed must be supported by the operat-ing system. The Microsoft .NET framework 4.5.2 is required to operate the EPLAN platform.

The program is released for the following operating systems:

Workstation

• Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 (64 bit) Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate

• Microsoft Windows 8 (64 bit) Pro, Enterprise

• Microsoft Windows 8.1 (64 bit) Pro, Enterprise

• Microsoft Windows 10 (64 bit) Pro, Enterprise

Server

• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 (64 bit)

• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (64 bit)

• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (64 bit)

• Terminal Server with Citrix XenApp 7.6 and Citrix Desktop 7.6



68

Microsoft products

Prerequisite for the creation of Microsoft Office file formats from EPLAN is a functioning installation of an Office version as approved by EPLAN on the PC.

• Microsoft Office 2010 (32 bit and 64 bit)*

• Microsoft Office 2013 (32 bit and 64 bit)*

• Microsoft Office 2016 (32-bit and 64-bit)*

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 10

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 11

• Microsoft Edge *Depending on the selection of the databases for the parts management, the project management and the dictionary, the use of the 64 bit Office version is mandatory.

SQL Server (64-bit)

• Microsoft SQL-Server 2012

• Microsoft SQL-Server 2014

PDF redlining

• Adobe Reader Version XI

• Adobe Acrobat Version XI Standard / Pro

• Adobe Reader Version DC

• Adobe Acrobat Version DC Standard / Pro



69

PLC systems (PLC & bus extension)

• ABB Automation Builder 1.1

• Beckhoff TwinCAT 2.10

• Beckhoff TwinCAT 2.11

• 3S Codesys

• Mitsubishi GX Works2

• Schneider Unity Pro 8.1 / 10.0

• Siemens SIMATIC STEP 7 version 5.4

• Siemens SIMATIC STEP 7 version 5.5

• logi.cals Automation

• Rexroth IndraWorks

• RSLogix Architect V20 / V21


The described functionalities are only available for certain module packages. � Included � Optional − Not available

70

Overview of Functions � Standard functionality O Optional extension module / add-on - Not available

Integration into the EPLAN platform �

Support of the EPLAN parts management �

Planning of 3D mounting layouts �

Graphical detail display and EPLAN 3D macro technique �

Integrated design aids �

Model views and drawings �

Automatic reports and legends �

Consistent change tracking in schematic and mounting layout �

Further editing of third-party data from CAE and ERP systems �

3D data import �

EPLAN Data Portal access �

Rittal Therm coupling via EPLAN Data Portal (validation by Rittal required)

�

Method

Direct designing in 3D mounting layout �

3D mounting layout on the basis of an EPLAN schematic �

3D mounting layout of the basis of external device and connection lists �

Parts data / Master data

Central management of parts data �

User interface

Windows-compliant operation �

Dockable windows �

Multiple window arrangements can be saved �

"Drag & Drop" �

Customizable toolbars �



71

Exporting / importing of toolbars �

Configurable keyboard shortcuts �

Extendable menu structure �

Undo / Redo with action tip �

Undo / Redo of several steps �

Transfer format (brush function) �

Direct editing without dialog �

Support for every language in the world �

Use all Windows fonts �

Graphical preview �

Preview for properties �

Didactic help system �

Data exchange via XML, text format, CSV, ODBC, COM �

EPLAN Pro Panel Pro Panel Pro Panel

Professional Pro Panel

Professional

Variant Add-on Add-on Stand-alone

3D layout space

Create a new layout space � � �

Open a layout space � � �

Close a layout space � � �

Copy a layout space � � �

Insert a copied layout space � � �

Delete a layout space � � �

Edit properties of layout space (component) � � �

Open and edit several layout spaces in a project � � �

Layout space navigator for managing layout spaces

� � �



72



Professional


3D mounting layout

3D mounting layout navigator � � �

Display of items planned for equipping � � �

Identifier-based view � � �

Separate grouping of parts without device tag � � �

3D macro technique

Support of 3D window macros � � �

Support of 3D symbol macros � � �

Create macros � � �

Manual saving of 3D macros from the layout space

� � �

Manual / automatic saving from 3D STEP files � � �

Manual / automatic saving from macro projects � � �

Management in macro projects � � �

Assignment of 3D macros to parts in the parts management

� � �

Use of placeholder objects in 3D macros � � �

Device logic

Combining 3D objects into one object � � �

Defining mounting surfaces � � �

Defining handles � � �

Defining mounting points � � �

Defining mounting grids − � �

Defining a placement area � � �

Editing a placement area � � �

Defining a base point − � �



73



Professional


Carrying over base point schemes (Rittal-data specifically)

− � �

Interpreting and carrying over enclosure logic − � �

Defining the connection point pattern graphically − � �

Inserting components

Inserting a 3D window macro � � �

Inserting a device � � �

Inserting an enclosure � � �

Replacing an enclosure � � �

Inserting a mounting panel � � �

Inserting a free mounting panel � � �

Inserting a mounting rail � � �

Inserting a wire duct � � �

Inserting a busbar system − � �

Inserting C horizontal rails − � �

Inserting user-defined rails − � �

Outline editor for profile definition � � �

Database-based accessory placement − � �

Component placement from

EPLAN parts management � � �

EPLAN Data Portal � � �

EPLAN navigators � � �

EPLAN device list � � �



74



Professional


Editing components

Duplicating 3D components � � �

Rotating 3D components around spatial axes x, y, z

� � �

Modifying the length of length-variable 3D compo-nents

� � �

Fitting mounting rails � � �

Fitting wire ducts � � �

Fitting C horizontal rails − � �

Fitting self-defined rails − � �

Checking and placement aids

Collision recognition / collision avoiding – online / offline

� � �

Consideration of mounting clearances to manu-facturer specification

� � �

Mounting aids – handles � � �

Mounting aids – mounting points � � �

Mounting aids – base points � � �

Mounting aids – mounting grid − � �

Mounting aids – consideration of defined mount-ing surfaces

� � �

Mounting aids – consideration of defined place-ment areas

� � �

Mounting aids – auxiliary lines � � �

Measuring in the layout space � � �

Graphical connection preview – online � � �

Checking for placement context � � �

Supporting of placement options � � �



75



Professional


Parts data / Master data

Central management of parts data � � �

Extended accessories management − � �

Defining a connection point pattern in the EPLAN parts management and assigning parts

� � �

Jump functions between the schematic and 3D mounting layout

� � �

Model views – drawings for manufacturing and documentation

Model views – settings � � �

Model views – 3D object selection � � �

Model views – showing / hiding objects � � �

Model views – selection schemes � � �

Model views – labeling � � �

Model views – labeling schemes � � �

Model views – legend position � � �

Model views – scale definition � � �

Model views – defining a property arrangement � � �

Model views – dimensioning interactively or auto-matically

� � �

Model views – creating interactively or automati-cally

� � �

Model views – updating interactively or automati-cally

� � �

Model views – jump functions to 3D � � �

Model views – orthogonal � � �

Model views – isometric � � �

Model views – on any layers � � �



76



Professional


Model views – edge representation � � �

Model views – hidden lines � � �

Model views – shaded representation � � �

Model views – simplifying representation � � �

Model views – creating an enclosure legend � � �

Model views – creating drilling views − � �

Project processing – external data processing

Importing of device tag lists − � �

Importing connection lists − � �

Importing in MS Excel format (*.xls, *.xlsx, *.xlsb, *.xlsm)

− � �

Devices − � �

Importing − � �

Synchronizing − � �

Deleting − � �

Changing properties − � �

Assign parts − � �

Routing connections − � �

Importing − � �

Synchronizing − � �

Deleting − � �

Changing properties − � �

3D data import / export

3D STEP import � � �

3D VRLM export − � �

3D PDF export � � �

Publishing a project � � �



77



Professional


3D STEP data export

Exporting layout space contents to STEP � � �

Exporting defined 3D components to STEP � � �

Process NC – manufacturing-oriented NC data

Defining and editing drilling patterns in the EPLAN parts management

� � �

Assigning drilling patterns to parts in the EPLAN parts management

� � �

NC outline editor for defining free NC outlines − � �

Testing defined NC outlines − � �

Cleaning defined NC outlines − � �

Creating and editing NC records − � �

Saving an NC record − � �

Copying an NC record − � �

Defining and inserting cut-outs − � �

Inserting a drill hole − � �

Inserting a threaded hole − � �

Inserting a rectangle − � �

Inserting a slotted hole − � �

Inserting a rectangle − � �

Inserting an octagon − � �

Inserting a defined outline − � �

Inserting from a defined drilling pattern − � �

Labeling drilling templates − � �

Outputting drilling templates − � �

Displaying a drilling view in the 3D model − � �



78



Professional


Generating manufacturing data for NC ma-chines

Rittal - Perforex / Secarex export

Rittal - Perforex / Secarex – creating / editing ma-chine-specific records

− � �

Rittal - Perforex / Secarex – defining fins − � �

Rittal - Perforex / Secarex – defining a tool config-uration

− � �

Rittal - Perforex / Secarex – drill exceptions defin-able

− � �

Rittal - Perforex / Secarex – thread definition − � �

Rittal - Perforex / Secarex – settings for export − � �

Rittal - Perforex / Secarex – defining drill excep-tions

− � �

NC DXF export

NC DXF – settings − � �

NC DXF – thread definition − � �

NC DXF – outline definition − � �

NC DXF – settings for export − � �

NC DXF – defining drill exceptions − � �

Production Rittal - Athex – terminal equipment

Rittal - Athex terminal equipment – creating / edit-ing machine-specific records for automated equip-ping of terminals

− � �



79



Professional


Process wiring – routing conductors & cables in the layout space

Defining a connection point pattern graphically and assigning parts

� � �

Definition of routing path networks for routing con-nections

− � �

Routing path networks – automatic definition of routing paths

− � �

Routing path networks – manual definition of rout-ing paths

− � �

Routing path networks – manual definition of curves

− � �

Routing path networks – definition of routing ranges

− � �

Routing path networks – inserting wiring cut-outs − � �

Routing path networks – defining connection fil-ters

− � �

Routing path networks – generating − � �

Routing path networks – deleting routing paths in the routing path networks automatically

− � �

Routing connections – settings − � �

Routing connections - generating − � �

Routing connections – representation of cross-section and color

− � �

Routing connections – routing in a space free routing of electrical engineering and fluid power connections (in combination with EPLAN Fluid)

Routing connections – displaying − � �

Routing connections – hiding − � �

Routing connections - routing connections − � �



80



Professional


Routing connections – changing the route − � �

Routing connections – defining and taking into consideration fill capacities

− � �

Routing connections – taking function definitions into account

− � �

Routing connections – determining the wire and cable lengths

− � �

Routing connections – termination processing of the wires and conductors

− � �

Routing connections – bundling routings automati-cally

− � �

Routing connections – bundling routings manually − � �

Optimizing nets and routing connections − � �

Wires parts list – settings − � �

Creating wires parts lists for manufacturing − � �

Publishing wiring information for EPLAN Smart Wiring in EPDZ format

− � �

Production wiring – manufacturing data for the conductor fabrication

Output of manufacturing data for wire fabrication machines

− � �

Setting wires – all machines − � �

Settings conductor termination processing - all machines

− � �

Settings machine commands - all machines − � �

Settings labeling – all machines − � �

Wire fabrication - CadCabel − � �

Wire fabrication - Komax − � �

Wire fabrication – Schleuniger (Easy Production Server)

− � �



81



Professional


Wire fabrication – Metzner (Triathlon Kabelcenter)

− � �

Wire fabrication – Steinhauer PWA (Personal Wiring Assistant)

− � �

EPLAN Pro Panel Copper design of busbars

Creating of copper rail - forms − � �

Busbars − � �

Part definition and assignment − � �

Definition of minimum bending radii − � �

Placement − � �

Copying, rotating, moving − � �

Definition of copper bundles from several rails − � �

Reporting of the copper items − � �

Mounting list − � �

Bill of materials − � �

Order list − � �

Unfolding of bent rails − � �

Creation of manufacturing drawings − � �

Production Copper NC – manufacturing data for the copper rail processing

NC-based output of manufacturing data for bend-ing, punching or drilling machines

− � �

Production Copper DXF – manufacturing data for the copper rail processing

DXF-based output of manufacturing data for bending, punching or drilling machines

− � �



82



Professional


Rittal Therm coupling via EPLAN Data Portal

Design of an air-conditioning solution � � �

Download of the determined components from the EPLAN Data Portal

� � �

Component transfer into device list � � �

Project planning in 3D mounting layout on the ba-sis of the data in the device list

� � �



Professional


Supported EPLAN systems and modules

EPLAN Project Management − − �

EPLAN Revision Management − − �

EPLAN Multi Language Translation − − �

EPLAN User Rights Management − − �

EPLAN Multi User − − �

EPLAN Project Reference − − �

EPLAN Project Options − − �

EPLAN API Extension − − �



83

Extended Functional Scope of the Stand-alone Variant The stand-alone variant of EPLAN Pro Panel contains additional functionalities from the field of electrical engineering design which are described in more detail below.

EPLAN Pro Panel

Professional Stand-alone

Editing the schematic from the reports �

Integrating documents from other programs as project pages �

Method

Planning start with schematic �

Planning start with bill of materials �

Function-oriented View �

Projects

Opening multiple projects �

Creating new projects from a template / with wizard �

Importing projects from EPLAN 5 / EPLAN 21 �

Copying a project �

Creating own project templates �

Creating an own user-defined identification structure in the project �

Storing projects on any "file servers" �

Project exchange via storage medium or e-mail �

Structuring projects (e.g., by customer) �

Meeting of corresponding standards ISO, EN, DIN, NFPA, IEEE, GOST

�

Pages

Creating own symbols �

Symbol logic controllable �



84

EPLAN Pro Panel


Updating symbols in the schematic �

Eight variants per symbol �

Inserting symbols by drag & drop �

Electrical engineering IEC / DIN symbol library �

Electrical engineering NFPA / JIC symbol library �

Open multiple pages and display as workbooks �

Copying / numbering pages �

Numbering page supplementary fields / determining total number of pages per property

�

Saving pages as macros (partial circuits) �

Design variants �

Multi-line representation �

Overview display �

Black box representation in the schematic �

Support for any page format �

Viewing path division with auxiliary lines �

Designating schematic paths automatically �

Visualizing empty text boxes �

Enlarging text on screen to minimum size �

Autoconnecting (draw connection automatically) �

Pre-connecting (connection preview) �

Smart connecting (rubber band function) �

Graphical grouping of symbols and graphics �

Diagonal autoconnecting (rotate connections) �

Logical grouping of machine parts �

Nesting logical groups of machine parts �

Automatic cross-references of interruption points �



85

EPLAN Pro Panel


Placing contact image and designations individually �

Configurable coordinate system / grid, base point shift, relative coordi-nate input

�

Grid and grid snap can be activated �

Aligning elements horizontally and vertically �

Object snap can be activated �

Layer management �

Defining your own layers �

Scale display. �

Dimensions: Linear dimension, aligned dimension, continued dimen-sion, incremental dimension, baseline dimension, angular dimension, radius dimension

�

Conversion of dimensions metric to inch �

Scaling, stretching graphics �

Putting graphic in foreground or background �

Processing bar for graphics format �

Graphic functions: Line, polyline, polygon, rectangle, circle, circle through 3 points, arc through center, arc through 3 points, sector, el-lipse, spline

�

Texts: Rotating by any angle, scaling, italics and bold �

Docking texts together �

Automatic path function texts �

Processing bar for text format �

Printing in color or black and white �

Importing / exporting image formats �

Importing / exporting DXF / DWG �

Output as PDF with search function, navigation and links �

PDF export configurable, PDF-A �



86

EPLAN Pro Panel


Items

Planning of multiple bus systems �

Planning of multiple PLC systems �

Managing terminals �

Managing plugs �

Managing cables �

Adding up cable types �

Designating items automatically, cross-referencing automatically, pre-planning without schematics

�

Planning of potentials and signals with highlighting �

Device list import / export �

Property arrangement import / export �

Editing Items

Elements without logical report �

Page-independent navigation in the project �

Parts management with technical data �

Parts management with sales data �

Connecting parts management externally �

Definition of assemblies �

Definition of modules �

Definition of accessory parts �

Varied graphical representation of parts �

Parts selection with automatic prefilter �

Planning of parts included in delivery �

Pre-definition of devices �

Wiring devices without schematic �

Checking of the schematic for logical inconsistencies �



87

EPLAN Pro Panel


Finding unused devices �

Finding devices without designation �

Finding incomplete devices �

Finding under-assigned devices �

Finding over-assigned devices �

Protecting devices against schematic changes �

Suggest identifiers intelligently �

Suggesting connection point designations intelligently �

Automatic Cross-reference �

Searching and editing with two independent result lists �

Jumping from search results to the page �

EPLAN Interfacing

Labeling of labels and signs �

Bulk Data Processing

Automated processing �

Tabular editing functions �

Edit properties externally �

Editing blockwise �

Scripts �

Command line parameters �

Automatic DT designation �

Correcting terminal strips automatically �

Correcting plugs automatically �

Correcting cables automatically �

Numbering cables �

Automatic cable selection �

Generating cables automatically �



88

EPLAN Pro Panel


Numbering connections �

Exchanging symbols single-line <--> multi-line �

EPLAN Assembly Reports

Automatic reports �

Online reports �

Freezing report pages �

Automatic table of contents �

Automatic title page / cover sheet �

Automatic structure identifier overview �

Automatic plot frame documentation �

Automatic form documentation �

Automatic symbol overview �

Automatic connection list �

Automatic terminal diagram �

Automatic terminal line-up diagram �

Automatic plug diagram �

Automatic cable diagram �

Automatic cable assignment diagram �

Automatic revision overview �

Automatic parts list �

EPLAN Article Reports

Automatic summarized parts list �

Automatic device tag list �



89

EPLAN Pro Panel


EPLAN Administration

Creating own macros �

Creating macros automatically from macro projects / DXF / DWG �

User-structuring of macros �

Creating own symbols �

Creating own plot frames �

Creating own form templates �

Creating own filter templates �

Creating own numbering schemes �

Managing structure identifiers (==, =, ++ , +, …) �

System behavior configurable �

User-defined properties �

Central management of symbols �

Central management of forms �

Central management of plot frames �

Central management of parts �

EPLAN Project Options

Editing Placeholder Objects �

EPLAN Revision Management

Revision management - logging �

Revision management – comparing �

Conversion documents for revision as list �

Conversion documents for revision as graphic �

Write-protecting revised projects �



90

EPLAN Pro Panel


EPLAN Multi Language Translation

Translation (Unicode) �

Multiple use of translations �

Integration of translation agencies �

Automatic completion of words �

Translating by word or sentence �

EPLAN Project Management

Project management across drives �

Backing up, filing off, copying, managing several projects �

Creating project lists �

Outputting project header data �

Block editing for project properties �



91

Licensing Overview

Program variant

EPLAN Pro Panel

Add-on

EPLAN Pro Panel

Professional Add-on

EPLAN Pro Panel


EPLAN Pro Panel

Professional + Stand-alone

Functions for the electrical engineering project plan-ning

Precondition: Basic installation EPLAN Electric P8 Compact, Select,

Professional

Precondition: Basic installation EPLAN Electric P8

Select, Professional

� �

Functions for the fluid-power project planning

Precondition: Basic installation

EPLAN Fluid Compact,

EPLAN Fluid

− − −

STEP import � � � �

Process NC − � � �

EPLAN Multiuser − − � �

EPLAN Revision Manage-ment

− − � �

EPLAN Multi Language Translation

− − � �

EPLAN Project Manage-ment (Basic + Workplace)

− − � �

EPLAN User Rights Man-agement (Basic + Work-place)

− − � �

EPLAN Project Options − − � �

EPLAN Multi User Manage-ment (Basic + Workplace)

− − � �

EPLAN Project Reference (Basic + Workplace)

− − � �

EPLAN Project Processing − � � �



92

Program variant

EPLAN Pro Panel

Add-on

EPLAN Pro Panel

Professional Add-on

EPLAN Pro Panel


EPLAN Pro Panel

Professional + Stand-alone

EPLAN Pro Panel — extension modules

EPLAN STEP export � � � �

EPLAN Process Wiring − � � �

EPLAN Pro Panel Copper

− � � �

EPLAN Pro Panel Design Space Exchange

− � � �

EPLAN Production NC

Rittal - Perforex / Secarex

− � � �

NC DXF − � � �

EPLAN Production Rittal - Athex

Rittal - Athex − � � �

EPLAN Production Wiring

Komax − � � �

Schleuniger − � � �

Steinhauer PWA − � � �

CadCabel − � � �

Metzner Cabel Center − � � �

EPLAN Production Copper

NC − � � �

NC DXF − � � �

Errors and changes reserved.

PerformanceDescription EPLAN Pro Panel · Contents: EPLAN Pro Panel Version 2.6 Status: 09/2016 The...

Documents

Transcript of PerformanceDescription EPLAN Pro Panel · Contents: EPLAN Pro Panel Version 2.6 Status: 09/2016 The...