Introduction
After drawing the schematics, the next step is to build the mechanical layout of the panel: where each component will be installed, which rails and ducts will be used, and where the wires run. Then, the project is documented with reports and a Smart PDF.
In ARES Electrical, the schematic and the layout use the same components. A contactor inserted in the schematic is the same object that appears in the layout, with the same tag and the same data. Any change on one side is automatically reflected on the other.
In this chapter, the features are presented using the panel of the direct-on-line starter for the four motors from Chapter 2.
Mechanical layout of the direct-on-line starter panel with rails, ducts and components
Working with the Mechanical Layout
Layout Palette vs. Project Palette
ARES Electrical uses two palettes to organize the work:
Project Palette – shows the project elements: components, wires, terminals.
Layout Palette – lists the project components that have a layout representation and can be inserted into the project’s panel layout.
Project Palette and Layout Palette
Inserting Rails, Ducts and Panels
Panels, DIN rails and ducts form the structure of the layout. To insert them:
In the Catalog Parts Palette, browse to the Panels and Acessories folder and click the + icon to expand it.
Select the rail, wire duct or panel you want.
Right-click and choose Insert → Layout.
Place the item in the graphics area.
ARES Electrical inserts the item on the layout page with its real dimensions.
📖INFO: To insert a wire duct, click the start point and drag the mouse to the end point. The length of the duct is defined by the distance between the two points.
💡TIP: To correct the length of a rail or wire duct that is already inserted, use the Stretch command, on the Project tab, Layout panel. You can also double-click the rail or duct in the graphics area and change the value of the Length field.
Panels and Acessories folder in the Catalog Parts Palette, with panels, rail and wire ducts inserted on the layout page
Inserting Components into the Layout
The components inserted in the schematic already exist in the project. To place them in the panel, use the Layout Palette:
Open the Layout Palette.
At the top of the palette, click Show not inserted to display only the components that are still missing from the panel (see Inserted and Not Inserted Components).
Expand the location where the components are, for example Default/Default, by clicking the + icon.
Find the component by its tag, for example K1, and click the + icon to expand it.
Double-click Layout, or right-click it and choose Insert.
Place the component at the desired position in the graphics area.
ARES Electrical inserts the component into the layout with the real dimensions of the catalog part assigned to it.
📖INFO: After the component is placed, the icon in front of the name Layout is filled in orange. This indicates that the component is already inserted in the project layout.
📖INFO: In large layouts or layouts with many components, double-click the name Layout of a component that is already inserted. ARES Electrical shows the location of the component in the project layout.
📖INFO: The layout uses the dimensions of the catalog part. Components without an assigned part have no physical representation in the panel. Assign the parts before building the layout (Chapter 2 – Assigning a Part).
Contacts folder of contactor K1 in the Layout Palette, with the Layout item
Contactor K1 inserted in the layout and the Layout icon filled in orange
Inserting Layout Components from the Library
Some panel items do not appear in the schematic, such as fans, internal sockets, panel lighting or identification plates. These layout components are inserted directly from the library.
In the Components Palette, browse to the Panels and Acessories folder and click the + icon to expand it.
Select the layout component you want.
Right-click and choose Insert → Layout, or double-click the component.
Place the component on the layout page.
ARES Electrical inserts the component with its real dimensions and includes it in the project’s bill of materials.
Inserted and Not Inserted Components
The Layout Palette shows which components have already been placed in the panel (inserted) and which are still missing (not inserted). To check them, use the buttons at the top of the palette:
Show inserted – displays only the components that are already placed in the layout.
Show not inserted – displays only the components that are still missing from the layout.
To check the components:
In the Layout Palette, click Show inserted or Show not inserted.
Check the list of components displayed.
ARES Electrical displays in the palette only the components for the selected option.
💡TIP: Before generating the documentation, click Show not inserted. It is the fastest way to make sure that no component was left out of the panel.
Show inserted and Show not inserted buttons in the Layout Palette
Batch Insert
Batch insert places several components at once in the layout. Use it for groups of similar items, such as circuit breakers Q1 to Q4 or the terminals of terminal strip X3.
Before inserting, define the batch settings with the Batch Settings icon:
Distance – space between one component and the next.
Angle – rotation applied to the inserted components.
Scale – scale factor applied to the inserted components.
Fixed angle – when checked, the components are inserted with the angle entered in the Angle field, without ARES Electrical asking for the angle in the graphics area. When unchecked, the angle is indicated with the mouse at the moment of insertion.
To insert components in batch:
In the Layout Palette, select the components you want to insert.
Click the Batch Settings icon and define the Distance, Angle and Scale and, if necessary, check Fixed angle.
Click the Batch Insert icon.
Specify the insertion point in the graphics area and confirm.
ARES Electrical places the components side by side, in the order of selection, with the defined settings.
Batch Settings with Distance, Angle, Scale and Fixed angle
Components inserted in batch on the rail
📖INFO: When inserting components on rails, ARES Electrical centers the components automatically. The insertion point of each component’s layout representation is aligned with the midpoint of the rail.
Routing
Configuring the Routing
Routing calculates the path of each wire through the ducts, from one connection point to the other. The result is used to define the length of the wires when the panel is built.
Before routing, define the rules ARES Electrical must follow to trace the wires:
Distance duct–component – distance that ARES Electrical keeps between the duct and the component when tracing the section of the wire that leaves the component and enters the duct.
Distance Duct–duct – maximum distance between two ducts for ARES Electrical to consider them connected and route the wire from one to the other.
Horizontal connections only – when checked, the wires leave the components and enter the ducts only through horizontal sections. When unchecked, vertical sections are also used.
Use ducts to define wire connections – when checked, all wires must be routed inside the ducts. When unchecked, ARES Electrical can connect the points directly when there are no ducts along the path.
To configure the routing:
Open the Electrical Settings.
Go to Commands → Routing.
Define the distances and check or uncheck the options you want.
Click OK.
📖INFO: The routing settings are located in: Manage tab → Electrical Settings → Commands → Routing. You can also access them with the AECFG command, or with the OPTIONS command → Electrical tab → Commands → Routing.
Electrical Settings in the Commands → Routing section
Routing the Wires
To route the panel wires:
On the Project tab → Layout, click Wire Routing.
Wait for ARES Electrical to calculate the routing.
Check the path traced for each wire in the layout.
ARES Electrical traces the path of each wire through the ducts, according to the defined settings, and calculates the corresponding length.
Wires routed through the panel ducts
Duct Occupancy Rate
After routing, ARES Electrical can calculate how much of each duct is occupied by the wires, relative to its usable cross-section. A duct that is too full makes assembly difficult and leaves no room for future changes; a duct that is too empty indicates that the panel can be optimized.
The occupancy rate can be displayed in two ways: as a graphic, for a quick view of the whole panel, or as a percentage, to check the exact value of each duct.
📖INFO: The occupancy rate commands are only enabled after the calculation is activated. In Electrical Settings → Electrical → Commands → Routing, check the Compute Duct Occupation option. Then, run the wire routing again (see Routing the Wires) so that ARES Electrical calculates the occupancy.
📖INFO: Many panel builders keep duct occupancy below 75%, to make maintenance and future expansions easier. Always follow the limit defined by your company or by the customer.
Compute Duct Occupation option in the Electrical Settings
Duct Occupancy Rate – Graphic
Displays the occupancy of each duct visually, directly in the layout. It is the fastest way to identify, all at once, which ducts are the fullest in the panel.
Make sure the Compute Duct Occupation option is checked and that the routing has been run again.
On the Project tab → Layout, click Ducts occupation – Graphic.
Check the graphic representation of the occupancy on each duct in the layout.
Graphic representation of the duct occupation
📖INFO: The colors indicate the status of each duct:
White – duct with no wires running through it.
Green – occupancy within the recommended limit, less than 50% of the area occupied.
Yellow – occupancy close to the limit; there is still room, but little, between 50% and 75% of the area occupied.
Red – occupancy above the limit; the duct is too full and must be reviewed, between 75% and 100% of the area occupied.
⚠️WARNING: ARES Electrical does not perform the routing when the duct occupancy exceeds 100%. In this case, the duct is already fully occupied and cannot hold any more wires.
⚠️WARNING: ARES Electrical does not route wires connected to items that are not in the project. Insert the item into the layout before routing.
⚠️WARNING: ARES Electrical does not perform the routing when the routing conditions cannot be met. For example, when there is no possible path between the two connection points, or when the only available path goes through a duct that is already full.
⚠️WARNING: ARES Electrical does not route wires that are not numbered. Number the wires before routing (Chapter 2 – Wire Numbering).
Duct Occupancy Rate – Percentage
Displays the exact occupancy value of each duct, as a percentage. Use it to check whether each duct is within the limit defined for the project.
Make sure the Compute Duct Occupation option is checked and that the routing has been run again.
On the Project tab → Layout, click Ducts Occupation – Percentage.
Check the occupancy percentage shown on each duct in the layout.
Duct occupation rate displayed as a percentage in the layout
Working with the Documentation
Generating Reports
Reports are generated automatically from the project data. They are all located on the Reports tab, organized by type:
Bill of materials – each catalog part with quantity, manufacturer and code, including the linked accessories.
From-To list – the list of wires, with the number of each wire and its origin and destination points (“from” and “to”).
Cable list – each cable with its conductors and the connections of each one.
Terminal strip – each terminal strip with its terminals and the wires connected on each side.
Topographic diagram – a graphic report that shows a summary of the connections between the project components.
Most reports can be generated in more than one format:
Text file – exports the report to an external file, which can be opened as CSV, XML, HTML or XLSX.
Table – inserts the report as a table on the project pages, together with the schematics.
Drawing – available for the terminal strip, generates the drawing of the strip with its terminals and connections.
Reports tab with the Bill of Materials, From-To List, Cable List, Terminal Strip, Topographic and Templates panels
The following sections show how to generate each report.
Bill of Materials
Generates the list of all catalog parts in the project, with quantity, manufacturer and code, including the linked accessories.
On the Reports tab, go to the Bill of Materials panel.
Click Bill of Materials: Text File… or Bill of Materials: Table…
Select the template you want.
Confirm.
ARES Electrical generates the bill of materials with the current project data and creates, in the Pages Palette, a folder with the name of the report.
Bill of materials generated as a table, with the BILL OF MATERIALS folder created in the Pages Palette
From-To List
Generates the list of project wires, with the number of each wire and its origin and destination points (“from” and “to”). It is used to assemble and check the panel connections.
On the Reports tab, go to the From-To List panel.
Click Wire List: Text File… or Wire List: Table…
Select the template you want.
Confirm.
ARES Electrical generates the From-To List with the current project data and creates, in the Pages Palette, a folder with the name of the report.
From-To List generated as a table, with the WIRES LIST folder created in the Pages Palette
Cable List
Generates the list of project cables, with their conductors and the connections of each one.
On the Reports tab, go to the Cable List panel.
Click Cable List: Text File… or Cable List: Table…
Select the template you want.
Confirm.
ARES Electrical generates the cable list with the current project data and creates, in the Pages Palette, a folder with the name of the report.
Terminal Strip
Generates the list of each terminal strip with its terminals and the wires connected on each side. In addition to the text file and the table, the terminal strip can also be generated as a drawing.
On the Reports tab, go to the Terminal Strip panel.
Click Terminal Strip: Text File…, Terminal Strip: Table… or Terminal Strip: Drawing…
Select the template you want.
Confirm.
ARES Electrical generates the terminal strip with the current project data and creates, in the Pages Palette, a folder with the name of the report.
Terminal strip X3 generated as a drawing, with the TERMINAL STRIP folder created in the Pages Palette
Topographic Diagram
Generates a graphic report that shows a summary of the connections between the project components.
On the Reports tab, go to the Topographic panel.
Click Topographic Diagram…
Select the template you want.
Confirm.
ARES Electrical generates the topographic diagram with the current project data and creates, in the Pages Palette, a folder with the name of the report.
Topographic diagram generated for the direct-on-line starter, with the TOPOGRAPHICAL folder created in the Pages Palette
📖INFO: Whenever the project changes, generate the reports again so that they match the drawings. The Report Templates… button lets you customize the layout of the reports, as explained in Chapter 5 – Report Configuration.
Exporting Project Data
In addition to the reports on the Reports tab, the Export window in the Poject tab lets you take the project data and pages to external files, in several formats.
The window is divided into two areas:
Data – in Export, choose what will be exported:
Wire markers – the identification of the wire markers, for printing.
Terminals – the project terminals and their connections.
Cables – the cables and their conductors.
Components – the project components and their data.
Components and wires – the components together with the wires connected to them.
Wires – the project wires with their numbers and connections.
Pages – the project pages themselves, as a drawing or document.
All – all project data in a single file.
The Advanced and Pages buttons let you refine the export, choosing additional options and which project pages will be included.
Output – in Format, choose the file type. The options change according to what is being exported:
For data (wire markers, terminals, cables, components, wires or all): CSV (comma-separated values), XLSX (spreadsheet), HTML (web page) or XML (extensible markup language).
For pages: DXF (drawing exchange format), DWG (drawing), DWF (read-only drawing), PDF (portable document format), PNG (image) or EMF (Windows metafile).
In Output file, define the name and folder of the file.
To export:
On the Project tab, click Export…
In Export, choose the data type.
If necessary, use Advanced and Pages to refine the selection.
In Format, choose the file type and, if available, adjust the Options.
In Output file, click … and define the name and folder of the file.
Click Export.
📖INFO: The icons at the top of the window let you save the export configuration and open it again later. This way, frequent exports, such as the wire marker list in XLSX, can be repeated without redoing all the choices.
Export window with the All option and the XML, HTML, XLSX and CSV formats
Export window with the Pages option and the DXF, DWG, DWF, PDF, PNG and EMF formats
Smart PDF (with Hyperlinks)
Smart PDF generates a single PDF file of the project in which the cross-references are clickable. Anyone reading the PDF can click the reference of a coil and go straight to its contacts, or click the address of a wire (such as 6/A9) and go to the next page, without needing ARES Electrical.
On the Project tab, click Export…
In Export, choose Pages.
Click Pages and select the pages or page groups that will be included.
In Format, choose Portable Document Format – PDF.
Click Options and make sure the hyperlinks are enabled.
Define the output file and click Export.
Share the file with the customer or with production.
Key Points
The schematic and the layout use the same components: a change on one side appears automatically on the other.
The Layout Palette lists the components to be placed and shows what is still missing from the panel.
Rails, ducts and components are inserted into the layout, either from the Layout Palette or directly from the library; batch insert speeds up repetitive tasks.
Routing defines the length of the wires and the occupancy rate of the ducts.
Reports, exports and the Smart PDF are generated from the project data and must be updated whenever the project changes.
The Export window takes project data and pages to formats such as CSV, XLSX, PDF and DWG.
Still have questions?
Feel free to contact our support team at [email protected].