Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Transcript
00:00
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:08
Now that we've inserted a PLC module
00:10
and we can see the flexibility and benefit of what
00:13
a parametric PLC can do, let's talk
00:15
about how to create our own.
00:17
These are created in their own database file.
00:21
Under our other tools section of the schematic ribbon
00:28
is the PLC database file editor.
00:33
When we open it, you will see the same fields
00:37
that you see inside the Insert.
00:40
But this time, we actually get to edit or make
00:43
a new module inside this particular dialog box.
00:48
If I were to take a look at the one that I just inserted,
00:51
you can see where all of the fields come in.
00:54
This is the 1756 IB 16.
00:57
And you can see how it's defined in this dialog box.
01:01
It has all of the module info and the io point information
01:06
for this first terminal type.
01:07
Then I know my next terminal is another io point, the wire
01:11
being trimmed off from the left, and so on, and so
01:14
on all the way down.
01:16
To do these definitions, we right
01:18
click to say edit terminal and then
01:19
you can see images of what this might look like.
01:22
What a top input is, a top terminal,
01:25
a top output, and then input values, terminals, and outputs.
01:30
You customize these however you want.
01:33
So if I were to create a brand new one,
01:35
I would say new module.
01:37
I could put it in the same series type I'm in right now.
01:41
I'll just give it a fake code.
01:45
Then click OK on all of this.
01:47
And it will build me then blank terminal fields
01:50
to start filling in.
01:52
So I could do the same thing I just did, click Edit terminal,
01:55
and start defining what I want each one of these to look like,
01:58
all the way down the line.
02:00
And per each one of these, you can then
02:02
define what those attributes are that come in with it.
02:05
For instance , the module info with the top io point has
02:11
information for the catalog number,
02:12
the five lines of description.
02:14
It even has whether or not I want the module specifications
02:18
of rack and slot, and then any other description text
02:24
I may put on those individual io points.
02:28
If I look back at that original one again,
02:31
you'll see how each of these have different values put in.
02:35
For instance, this one has a procurement point of one,
02:38
the next one down is two, so you're defining all of these
02:41
as you go.
02:42
You could even prefill out the description text
02:44
if it's something that static and everything that you do
02:48
whenever you insert those PLCs.
02:50
Then you wouldn't have to edit that information within those
02:54
fields every single time you insert.
02:57
You don't need to put all of the information around the blocks
03:01
to insert or list to run if you just want
03:04
it to parametrically build.
03:06
The only time you would put a block in here
03:08
is if you want it to become a fixed PLC,
03:11
where it's the same size and shape
03:12
and it doesn't build parametrically.
03:17
Once you're done with this, you can even
03:19
test out any new modules you've created
03:21
by clicking Done and Insert, or you can just click Done.
03:26
Please take a moment to do the exercise on editing the PLC
03:29
file database.
Video transcript
00:00
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:08
Now that we've inserted a PLC module
00:10
and we can see the flexibility and benefit of what
00:13
a parametric PLC can do, let's talk
00:15
about how to create our own.
00:17
These are created in their own database file.
00:21
Under our other tools section of the schematic ribbon
00:28
is the PLC database file editor.
00:33
When we open it, you will see the same fields
00:37
that you see inside the Insert.
00:40
But this time, we actually get to edit or make
00:43
a new module inside this particular dialog box.
00:48
If I were to take a look at the one that I just inserted,
00:51
you can see where all of the fields come in.
00:54
This is the 1756 IB 16.
00:57
And you can see how it's defined in this dialog box.
01:01
It has all of the module info and the io point information
01:06
for this first terminal type.
01:07
Then I know my next terminal is another io point, the wire
01:11
being trimmed off from the left, and so on, and so
01:14
on all the way down.
01:16
To do these definitions, we right
01:18
click to say edit terminal and then
01:19
you can see images of what this might look like.
01:22
What a top input is, a top terminal,
01:25
a top output, and then input values, terminals, and outputs.
01:30
You customize these however you want.
01:33
So if I were to create a brand new one,
01:35
I would say new module.
01:37
I could put it in the same series type I'm in right now.
01:41
I'll just give it a fake code.
01:45
Then click OK on all of this.
01:47
And it will build me then blank terminal fields
01:50
to start filling in.
01:52
So I could do the same thing I just did, click Edit terminal,
01:55
and start defining what I want each one of these to look like,
01:58
all the way down the line.
02:00
And per each one of these, you can then
02:02
define what those attributes are that come in with it.
02:05
For instance , the module info with the top io point has
02:11
information for the catalog number,
02:12
the five lines of description.
02:14
It even has whether or not I want the module specifications
02:18
of rack and slot, and then any other description text
02:24
I may put on those individual io points.
02:28
If I look back at that original one again,
02:31
you'll see how each of these have different values put in.
02:35
For instance, this one has a procurement point of one,
02:38
the next one down is two, so you're defining all of these
02:41
as you go.
02:42
You could even prefill out the description text
02:44
if it's something that static and everything that you do
02:48
whenever you insert those PLCs.
02:50
Then you wouldn't have to edit that information within those
02:54
fields every single time you insert.
02:57
You don't need to put all of the information around the blocks
03:01
to insert or list to run if you just want
03:04
it to parametrically build.
03:06
The only time you would put a block in here
03:08
is if you want it to become a fixed PLC,
03:11
where it's the same size and shape
03:12
and it doesn't build parametrically.
03:17
Once you're done with this, you can even
03:19
test out any new modules you've created
03:21
by clicking Done and Insert, or you can just click Done.
03:26
Please take a moment to do the exercise on editing the PLC
03:29
file database.
Prerequisites
Completion of Using the PLC Database File Editor Lesson
Objective: In this project, you add a new drawing to your project and insert a ladder. After creating a PLC module with the PLC Database File Editor, you insert the new module in the ladder.
Process: Process to Create a Drawing and Insert a Ladder
Instructions
1: If the Project Manager is not displayed, on the Project tab, Project Tools panel, click Manager.
2: If PLC_Modules_NFPA is the active project, skip to step 6. If it is open but not active, in the Project Manager, do the following:
■ Right-click PLC_Modules_NFPA.
■ Click Activate.
■ Skip to step 6.
3: In the Project Manager, click Open Project.
4: Browse to where you installed the exercise files. Select PLC_Modules_NFPA.wdp. Click Open.
5: From the Projects list, double-click PLC_Modules_NFPA to expand the drawing list.
6: Click New Drawing.
7: In the Create New Drawing dialog box, do the following:
■ For Name, type PLC_Module_NFPA_11
■ For Template, click Browse and select ACAD_ELECTRICAL.dwt.
■ Click Open.
■ Click OK.
8: On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/Wire Numbers panel, Insert Ladder flyout, click Insert Ladder.
9: In the Insert Ladder dialog box, do the following:
■ For Width, type 9.0
■ For Spacing, type 1.0
■ For Rungs, type 20
■ Click OK.
10: In the drawing, for the start position, type 3.0,20.5. Press ENTER.
11: Define a New Module:
On the Schematic tab, Other Tools expansion panel, PLC Database File Editor flyout, click PLC Database File Editor.
12: In the PLC Database File Editor dialog box, click New Module.
13: In the New Module dialog box, do the following:
■ For Manufacturer, type ACME
■ For Series, type DI001
■ For Series Type, type DISCRETE INPUT
■ For Code, type 123-456-7A
■ For Description, type 8-POINT INPUT
■ For Module Type, type DI
14: Continuing in the New Module dialog box, do the following:
■ From the Base Addressing list, select Prompt.
■ For Rating, type 120VAC
■ For Terminals, type 11
■ For Addressable Points, type 8
■ Click Module Prompts.
15: In the Prompts at Module Insertion Time dialog box, do the following:
■ From the Prompt Number list, select %%1.
■ For New Prompt Text, type RACK NUMBER
■ Click Change.
■ From the Prompt Number list, select %%2.
■ For New Prompt Text, type SLOT NUMBER
■ Click Change.
■ Click OK.
16: In the New Module dialog box, click OK.
17: Specify a Terminal List:
In the PLC Database File Editor dialog box, on the terminal grid, in the Terminal Type column, right-click the Row 1 cell. Click Edit Terminal.
18: In the Select Terminal Information dialog box, do the following:
■ From the Category list, select Top Input.
■ Under Types for Category Top Input, select Module Info Input I/O Point Wire Left (first column).
■ Click OK.
19: In the PLC Database File Editor dialog box, on the terminal grid, do the following:
■ Under Show, select When Excluding Unused from the list.
■ Under Optional Re-prompt, select No from the list.
■ Clear the Break After check box.
20: In the Terminal Type column, right-click the Row 2 cell. Click Edit Terminal.
21: In the Select Terminal Information dialog box, do the following:
■ From the Category list, select Top Terminal.
■ Under Types for Category Top Input, select Module Info Terminal Point Wire Left (first row, first column).
■ Click OK.
22: In the PLC Database File Editor dialog box, on the terminal grid, do the following:
■ Under Show, select When Including Unused from the list.
■ Under Optional Re-prompt, select No from the list.
■ Clear the Break After check box.
23: In the Terminal Type column, right-click the Row 3 cell. Click Edit Terminal.
24: In the Select Terminal Information dialog box, do the following:
■ From the Category list, select Input.
■ Under Types for Category Input, select Input I/O Point Wire Left (first row, first column).
■ Click OK.
25: In the PLC Database File Editor dialog box, on the terminal grid, do the following:
■ Under Show, select When Including Unused from the list.
■ Under Optional Re-prompt, select No from the list.
■ Clear the Break After check box.
26: In the Terminal Type column, click the Row 4 cell. Drag to select all cells up to Row 10.
27: Right-click in any highlighted cell. Click Edit Terminal.
28: In the Select Terminal Information dialog box, do the following:
■ From the Category list, select Input.
■ Under Types for Category Input, select Input I/O Point Wire Left (first row, first column).
■ Click OK.
29: In the PLC Database File Editor dialog box, on the terminal grid, do the following:
■ Under Show, select Always from the list.
■ Under Optional Re-prompt, select No from the list.
■ Clear the Break After check box.
30: In the Terminal Type column, right-click the Row 11 cell. Click Edit Terminal.
31: In the Select Terminal Information dialog box, do the following:
■ From the Category list, select Terminal.
■ Under Types for Category Top Input, select Terminal Point Wire Right (first row, first column).
■ Click OK.
32: In the PLC Database File Editor dialog box, on the terminal grid, do the following:
■ Under Show, select Always from the list.
■ Under Optional Re-prompt, select No from the list.
■ Clear the Break After check box.
33: Click Save Module. Click Done.
34: Insert a New PLC Module:
On the Schematic tab, Insert Components panel, Insert PLC (Parametric) flyout, click Insert PLC (Parametric).
35: In the PLC Parametric Selection dialog box, select ACME 123-456-7A from the list. Click OK.
36: In the drawing, on the right side of rung 742, select an insertion point.
37: In the Module Layout dialog box, click Insert All. Click OK.
38: In the I/O Point dialog box, do the following:
■ For Rack Number, type 1
■ For Slot Number, type 2
■ Click OK.
39: In the I/O Address dialog box, for Beginning Address, select I:12/00. Click OK.
The module you defined is inserted in the drawing.
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in to start learning
Sign in for unlimited free access to all learning content.Save your progress
Take assessments
Receive personalized recommendations
