To make the digital creation of circuit diagrams even more effective, igus is publishing 2,046 new macros for the EPLAN planning software. The addition now also allows pre-assembled readycable cables to be visualised in the software within seconds.
Mechanical and plant engineering daily routine: control cabinet project planning is on the agenda. It is a task that more and more engineers are accelerating with digital tools. Particularly popular and now an industry standard: EPLAN Electric P8 – planning software for creating circuit and plant diagrams. One of the reasons for its popularity is an online database called EPLAN Data Portal. Here, component manufacturers store so-called macros for their products – building blocks in a uniform data format that can be dragged and dropped into the digital circuit diagram – without any adjustment effort. The tool supports plant design, from end-to-end planning to production, commissioning, maintenance and repair.
"Thanks to the EPLAN Electric P8 CAE software with its consistent, manufacturer-independent database, engineers save up to 50% of the time needed for electrical design. This is a real boost for the automation era, one we would like to support," says Markus Hüffel, Product Manager readychain and readycable at igus. “We have therefore decided to expand the EPLAN Data Portal, adding 2,046 new macros for pre-assembled readycable cables that are compatible with automation technology from Allen Bradley, Beckhoff, B&R, Heidenhain and Fanuc.” Macros for cables for Siemens, SEW and Bosch Rexroth were already available. "We hope that this update offers designers around the world even more options for economical automation solutions."
The path to the new macros is open: engineers can select the right pre-assembled cable for their e-chain from the readycable range in the igus online shop – one of over 5,000 ready-to-connect signal, encoder, servo, motor or drive cables. Any EPLAN macro stored for this cable can be downloaded in seconds via a link to the EPLAN Data Portal and used in the planning software. The macro then allows such actions as visualising the cable, including pin assignment and core identification, and linking it to components from other manufacturers in the circuit diagram – as quickly and intuitively as in a computer game. The cables used for online ordering can also be automatically summarised in a parts list.
