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Creating EPLAN Parts PDF
Creating EPLAN Parts PDF
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Table of contents
Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................ 3
Creating a part ........................................................................................................... 4
Electrical / fluid power / process engineering parts ........................................... 5
Wires ........................................................................................................ 10
Cables ...................................................................................................... 11
Mechanical parts ................................................................................................. 13
Enclosures ............................................................................................... 13
Mounting panels ...................................................................................... 27
Doors ....................................................................................................... 29
Wire ducts ................................................................................................ 32
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Miscellaneous
This document describes the process of creating parts data in EPLAN Parts
management from the viewpoint of EPLAN Pro Panel Professional.
We distinguish between pure mechanical item types like wire ducts, mounting rails,
or enclosures and the parts for electrical and fluid power engineering. Only the part
properties of electrical / fluid power parts that affect installation in the enclosure or
the routing of connections need to be considered.
In addition, we will elaborate on differences that are important to existing EPLAN
Cabinet users.
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Creating a part
The prerequisite for using a part in EPLAN Pro Panel is that the part is set up in the
respective EPLAN parts database.
Start Parts management.
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The data needed for a part are first and foremost dependent on the chosen generic
product group, product group, and product subgroup.
To say it more simply: A contactor has different properties than a wire duct.
The following will only describe the data necessary for EPLAN Pro Panel for the
various part types.
"General" tab
Generic product
group
Product group
Product subgroup
You can select a group from preset entries in these fields. Depending on the
options selected under "[Extras] > Settings" for the tree view, the parts are
resorted in the tree according to the changes made in the product group.
Part number
The part number identifies the part, meaning, part numbers may only be used
once per hierarchical level. In the case of part variants, the combination of part
and variant number is the identifier. When saving parts or variants, this is
automatically selected.
Type number
In contrast to the part number, the type number, particularly for cables, is not
unique. The entry here should correspond to data from the manufacturer's
catalog as much as possible.
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Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in these fields, also
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog for instance.
Manufacturer
In this field you can use [...] to select the corresponding short and long names.
It is also possible to enter the short name directly, but the field for the long
name cannot be edited.
Supplier
In this field you can use [...] to select the corresponding short and long names.
It is also possible to enter the short name directly, but the field for the long
name cannot be edited.
Enter the order number for the part here, if possible, with the information
according to the manufacturer's catalog data.
Note:
Only the fields used by Pro Panel will be described in this document.
When using EPLAN Electric P8 you should make an entry in all the fields of course.
Width
Height
Depth
External placement Check this check box if the part should be labeled as "externally placed" and
thus excluded from evaluation in panel layout (e.g., motors or generators).
Parts marked this way will not be placed in the tree view and can be filtered out
of the 3D mounting layout navigator.
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Graphical macro
This will be an EPLAN macro with the representation type "3D mounting layout“.
Center offset
The default in EPLAN Pro Panel is to place a device in the center of a mounting
Clip-on height
The clip-on height describes the position in the side view or from the top /
bottom. The item is automatically placed on the rail to the correct mounting
depth, when it is placed on a mounting rail. If the rail is replaced, the height of
the item will move as well. The item is thus aligned above the top edge on the
base of the value entered here, rather than on the underside of the rail.
Cabinet graphical
macro
In Pro Panel this field is only used for bitmaps which are placed on the front side
of the part if no graphical macro is used.
Store the macro for EPLAN Cabinet here. This does not affect Pro Panel.
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Mounting clearance
width left / right
Mounting clearance
height above /
below
Mounting clearance
depth front / rear
You can define a safety region for placement of the items with the Mounting
clearance. EPLAN Pro Panel will consider these clearances automatically during
placement. Infringement on the mounting clearances are checked during the
check run. Plus, you can select an optical display of the mounting clearances.
After the data import of the Cabinet graphical macros and their conversion into EPLAN macros, these
newly created EPLAN macros must be entered into the "Graphical macro" field.
Macro
Store the 2D macro or a macro of other representation types in this field (multi-
line, overview, etc.).
Note:
To achieve optimal work performance with the EPLAN platform, you should not
save 2D and 3D data together in one macro file, but always in separate macro
files. This way you can ensure that 2D users do not have to access the
extensive 3D data volume unnecessarily.
We recommend that you store the macro file with the 3D data and the "3D
mounting layout" representation type in Parts management on the Mounting data
tab in the Graphical macro field. The macro file with the 2D data and the other
representation types (Multi-line, Overview, etc.) should be entered, as before, in
the Technical data tab of Parts management in the Macro field. The files could
be distinguished, for example, on the basis of name extensions (e.g. 3D macro
ABC.12345_3D.ema and the corresponding 2D macro ABC.12345_2D.ema).
In all actions in the 3D environment for which a part macro is used (e.g., Insert
devices), the "Graphical part macro" is always checked first. If on the Mounting
data tab a graphical macro has been entered for the part, and if it contains the
desired "3D mounting layout" representation type, this macro will be used. If this
is not the case, the "Technical part macro" defined on the Technical data tab will
be used.
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Connection point
pattern
You can assign a connection point pattern already set up in Parts management
for the item in this field. A connection point is the definition of geometric contact
data for the automatic wiring in Pro Panel.
"Manufacturing" tab
Drilling patterns
The drilling pattern in line 1 is the standard drilling pattern and will initially be
used during placement of the part in the tree view. The drilling pattern may be
exchanged as needed at the part placement in the part reference data, if more
than one drilling pattern has been stored at the part.
Detailed information for setting up a drilling pattern may be found in a separate
chapter of this document.
Preview The drilling pattern including the part will be shown, if you activate the checkbox
and the graphical preview is selected open.
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Wires
Parts for wires are used during wiring in EPLAN Pro Panel.
These wire parts are assigned to the connection points that are to be routed in the
layout space.
The following properties should be included as a minimum for practical use of a part
in EPLAN Pro Panel:
"General" tab
Product group
Product subgroup
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used
once per hierarchical level.
Designation 1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
Function template
Define a function template. Store the function definition, color, and the
cross-section.
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"Connection data" tab
External diameter
The external diameter is the basis for the wires' optical representation in the
layout space and for calculating the fill capacity of the channels.
Caution!
Always enter with a unit of measure. A value without unit of measure will be
calculated with "m", the default unit of measure.
The minimum bending radius can be calculated with the length calculation of
the wires.
Caution!
Always enter with a unit of measure. A value without a unit of measure will
Cables
Parts for cables are used for wiring in EPLAN Pro Panel.
The following properties should be included as a minimum for the meaningful use of
a part in EPLAN Pro Panel:
"General" tab
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used
once per hierarchical level.
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Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
Function template
Define a function template. Store the function definition, color, and the
External diameter
The external diameter is the basis for calculating the fill capacity of the
channels.
Caution!
Always enter with a unit of measure. A value without a unit of measure will
be calculated with "m", the default unit of measure.
The minimum bending radius can be calculated with the length calculation of
the wires.
Caution!
Always enter with a unit of measure. A value without a unit of measure will
be calculated with "m", the default unit of measure.
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Mechanical parts
Some product groups of the generic product group "Mechanics" require special
information during part definition. These items will be described in this section. The
following items are part of the section:
Enclosures
Doors for enclosures
Mounting panels for enclosures
Wire ducts
Mounting rails
C horizontal rails
Enclosures
The following properties should be included as a minimum for the meaningful use of
a part in EPLAN Pro Panel:
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General enclosures (independent of type)
"General" tab
Product group
Product subgroup
Body:
The enclosure consist of an enclosure housing without individual elements
(e.g. Rittal AE)
Gerneral:
All other enclosures whose structure is determined by a stored 3D macro.
(e.g. Rittal TP)
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used
once per hierarchical level.
Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
Designation3
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Note for existing EPLAN Cabinet users:
Parts data can continue to be used without modifications.
Width
Height
Depth
Note:
The 3 dimensions entered determine the size of the profile frame for an
enclosure of the "Component" type.
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For a "Body" type enclosure, the 3 dimensions entered determine the size
of the enclosure housing.
Function definition
Item
"Enclosure" tab
Wall thickness
Adjoining distance This field is only used in EPLAN Cabinet. EPLAN Pro Panel does not use it
anymore.
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Profile horizontal:
Height
If a profile frame (e.g. TS8) is given in an enclosure, then that value
determines the height of the horizontal profiles.
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Profile vertical: Depth
"Doors" tab
The information is stated from the left, rear, bottom corner of the enclosure.
If there is more than one door to be built in, information must be noted for
each door.
The position in direction X also depends on which way the door is hinged.
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Y position Y is the offset towards the front.
The information is stated from the left, rear, bottom corner of the enclosure.
The information is stated from the left, rear, bottom corner of the enclosure.
Part number Selecting the part number for the required door can be done via the
interface.
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Note:
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Y position Y is the mounting panel offset towards the front.
Part number Selecting the part number for the required mounting panel can be done via the
interface.
Note:
The assigned mounting panel has to be set up as a part beforehand.
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Variant "Variant" is always 1.
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Component enclosures (type dependent)
"Enclosure component" tab (Type = "Component")
Overhangs
A positive value means that the respective part has an overhang. A negative
value means that the field is smaller than the profile frame by that value.
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Spacing
The distance determines the position of the respective field. The reference for
the distance is the profile frame.
Rear panel: Distance of the rear wall interior to the profile exterior
Top cover: Distance of the top cover interior to the profile exterior.
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Floor: Distance of the floor interior to the profile exterior.
Depth
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Body enclosures (type dependent)
"Enclosure body" tab (Type = "Body")
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Door opening: Offset These values describe the location of the door opening on the front.
right
The door opening is centered if the value is 0.
Mounting panels
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used
once per hierarchical level.
Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
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Note for existing EPLAN Cabinet users:
Parts data can continue to be used without modifications.
Width
Height
Depth
These fields are for input of item specific dimensions. Using a graphical
macro for the mounting panel is not possible.
Function definition
Item
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"Locked areas" tab
X position The values X position and Y position describe the position of the left
lower corner of the locked area in relation to the zero point of the
Y position
mounting panel. The origin/zero point of the mounting panel is at the
lower left.
Front The field describes the position of the locked area on the front or rear of
the mounting panel
Type There are restricted placement areas and restricted drilling areas.
Doors
The following properties should be included as a minimum for the meaningful use of
a part in EPLAN Pro Panel:
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"General" tab
Generic product
group
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used
once per hierarchical level.
Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
Width
Height
Depth
These fields are for entry of the item specific dimensions in mm.
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Note for existing EPLAN Cabinet users:
Parts data can continue to be used without modifications.
Function definition
Item
"Doors" tab
Type
Hinge
Wall thickness
X position The values X position and Y position describe the position of the left lower
corner of the locked area in relation to the origin/zero point of the door. The
Y position
origin/zero point of the door is at the lower left.
Front The field describes the position of the locked area on the front or rear of the
door
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Type There are restricted placement areas and restricted drilling areas.
Wire ducts
"General" tab
Generic product
group
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used once
per hierarchical level.
Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
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"Mounting data" tab
Width
Depth
These fields are for entry of the item specific dimensions in mm.
Macro
An outline can be stored in the "Macro" field in Pro Panel if another form is to be
used.
When defining an outline the width and depth values are then no longer
considered.
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"Manufacturing" tab
Drilling patterns
You can change the position of a drilling pattern in relation to the part's
origin/zero point by using the "Offset direction X" and "Offset direction Y".
The drilling pattern in line 1 is the standard drilling pattern and will initially
be used during placement of the part in the tree view. The drilling pattern
may be exchanged as needed at the part placement in the part reference
data, if more than one drilling pattern has been stored at the part.
Preview The drilling pattern including the part will be shown, if you activate the
checkbox and the graphical preview is selected open.
Function definition
Item
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"Delivery length" tab
Delivery length
The length definition can be limited with the delivery length during placement of
the item. The drawing of the item is limited to the delivery length. If no delivery
length has been given, the item can be drawn infinitely long.
A check run can examine if items have a length greater then the delivery length.
Mounting rails
"General" tab
Generic product
group
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used once
per hierarchical level.
Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
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Note for existing EPLAN Cabinet users:
Parts data can continue to be used without modifications.
Height
Width top
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Width bottom
Delivery length
A check run can examine if items have a length greater then the delivery length.
Macro
An outline can be stored in the "Macro" field in Pro Panel if a non standard form
is to be used for mounting rails.
When defining an outline the width and depth values are not longer considered.
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"Manufacturing" tab
Drilling patterns
Define the assignment of one or more drilling patterns to a part in this table.
You can change the position of a drilling pattern in relation to the part's
origin/zero point by using the "Offset direction X" and "Offset direction Y".
The drilling pattern in line 1 is the standard drilling pattern and will initially
be used during placement of the part in the tree view. The drilling pattern
may be exchanged as needed at the part placement in the part reference
data, if more than one drilling pattern has been stored at the part.
Function definition
Item
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C horizontal rails
The following properties should be included as a minimum for the meaningful use of a part in EPLAN
Pro Panel:
"General" tab
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used once
per hierarchical level.
Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
Simply change the product subgroup to "C horizontal rails" during your switch to EPLAN Pro Panel.
You may then continue to use the part unchanged.
Width
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Depth
Macro
An outline can be stored in the "Macro" field in Pro Panel if a non standard form
is to be used for C horizontal rails.
When defining an outline the width and depth values are then no longer
considered.
"Manufacturing" tab
Drilling patterns
Define the assignment of one or more drilling patterns to a part in this table.
You can change the position of a drilling pattern in relation to the part's
origin/zero point by using the "Offset direction X" and "Offset direction Y".
The drilling pattern in line 1 is the standard drilling pattern and will initially
be used during placement of the part in the tree view. The drilling pattern
may be exchanged as needed at the part placement in the part reference
data, if more than one drilling pattern has been stored at the part.
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Preview The drilling pattern including the part will be shown, if you activate the
checkbox and the graphical preview is selected open.
Function definition
Item
The following properties should be included as a minimum for the meaningful use of a part in EPLAN
Pro Panel:
"General" tab
Generic product
group
Product group
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Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used once
per hierarchical level.
Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
Rails: Part number Selecting the part number for the rail can be done via the interface.
Note:
The assigned busbar has to be set up as a part beforehand.
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Rails: Number of rails
Part number
(Supports)
Selecting the part number for the required supports can be done via the
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interface.
If the busbars used for the busbar system are Rittal standard systems you can obtain the data from
the EPLAN Data Portal, including rails, supports and adapters.
Function definition
Item
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Busbar supports
The following properties should be included as a minimum for the meaningful use of a part in EPLAN
Pro Panel:
Generic product
group
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used once
per hierarchical level.
Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
Width
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Height
Depth
If you are not entering a macro for this part in EPLAN Pro Panel, these dimension
fields must be completed.
EPLAN Cabinet
graphical macro
This field is not used in Pro Panel.
Store the macro for EPLAN Cabinet here. This does not affect Pro Panel.
Graphical macro
After the data import of the Cabinet graphical macros and their conversion into EPLAN macros, these
newly created EPLAN macros must be entered into the "Graphical macro" field.
"Manufacturing" tab
Drilling patterns
Define the assignment of one or more drilling patterns to a part in this table.
You can change the position of a drilling pattern in relation to the part's
origin/zero point by using the "Offset direction X" and "Offset direction Y".
The drilling pattern in line 1 is the standard drilling pattern and will initially
be used during placement of the part in the tree view. The drilling pattern
may be exchanged as needed at the part placement in the part reference
data, if more than one drilling pattern has been stored at the part.
Detailed information for setting up a drilling pattern may be found in a
separate chapter of this document.
Preview The drilling pattern including the part will be shown, if you activate the
checkbox and the graphical preview is selected open.
Click the desired table cell to go there.
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Note for existing EPLAN Cabinet users:
Parts data can continue to be used without modifications.
Function definition
Item
Busbar adapter
"General" tab
Generic product
group
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used once
per hierarchical level.
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Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
Width
Height
If you are not entering a macro for this part in EPLAN Pro Panel, these dimension
fields must be completed.
EPLAN Cabinet
graphical macro
This field is not used in Pro Panel.
Store the macro for EPLAN Cabinet here. This does not affect Pro Panel.
Graphical macro
After the data import of the Cabinet graphical macros and their conversion into EPLAN macros, these
newly created EPLAN macros must be entered into the "Graphical macro" field.
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X position Distance in X direction of the rail insertion point relative to the handle of the
adapter
Y position Distance in Y direction of the rail insertion point relative to the handle of the
adapter
Z position Distance in Z direction of the rail insertion point relative to the handle of the
adapter
Selecting the part number for the required mounting rail can be done via the
interface.
In Pro Panel you have the option of placing the mounting rails directly in the macro. The entries of the
"Mounting rails" tab will then remain blank.
If the mounting rails are already contained in the macro you should activate the properties "Item is
fastened immovably to the superior item" and "Suppress in device tag list (if filtered)" at the mounting
rail.
Function definition
Item
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Note for existing EPLAN Cabinet users:
Busbar adapters were always placed centered on the busbar system in EPLAN Cabinet. This resulted
in the limitation that a graphical macro really could only be created fitting for one rail size at a time.
This characteristic was changed. You can now place the adapters at the upper edge of the upper pole.
This should be considered when creating a 3D macro.
You can continue to use a centered placement so that an existing EPLAN Cabinet user will not have
to adapt all graphical macros again. But the new technology should be adopted when new 3D macros
for busbar adapters are created.
Busbars
"General" tab
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used
once per hierarchical level.
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Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog.
Width
Depth
If you are not using a 3D macro for this part in EPLAN Pro Panel, these
dimension fields must be completed. The standard form (rectangular cross-
section) will be built from it.
Macro
An outline can be stored in the "Macro" field in Pro Panel if another form is to be used.
When defining an outline the width and depth values are then no longer considered.
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"Delivery length" tab
Delivery length
The length definition can be limited with the delivery length during
placement of the item. The drawing of the item is limited to the delivery
length. If no delivery length has been given, the item can be drawn infinitely
long.
A check run can examine if items have a length greater then the delivery
length.
Function definition
User-defined rails
The following properties should be included as a minimum for the meaningful use of a part in EPLAN
Pro Panel:
"General" tab
Product group
Product subgroup
Part number
The part number identifies the part, that is, part numbers may only be used
once per hierarchical level.
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Designation1
Additional specifications can be made for the part in this field, for instance
corresponding to the data in the manufacturer's catalog. They are not
subject to special processing, but they can be output in the bill of materials.
Simply change the product subgroup to "User defined rail" during your switch to EPLAN Pro Panel.
The outline must also be created and reassigned (see Technical data).
Macro
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Note for existing EPLAN Cabinet users:
The outlines must be recreated.
EPLAN Cabinet required 3D macros for special variants like PLC. In Pro Panel these are outlines. A
data transfer of the 3D macros and conversion into outlines is not possible.
"Manufacturing" tab
Drilling patterns
Define the assignment of one or more drilling patterns to a part in this table.
You can change the position of a drilling pattern in relation to the part's
origin/zero point by using the "Offset direction X" and "Offset direction Y".
Preview The drilling pattern including the part will be shown, if you activate the
checkbox and the graphical preview is selected open.
Delivery length
The length definition can be limited with the delivery length during placement
of the item. The drawing of the item is limited to the delivery length. If no
delivery length has been given, the item can be drawn infinitely long.
A check run can examine if items have a length greater then the delivery
length.
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"Function definition" tab
Function definition
Item
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Miscellaneous mechanical items
All other mechanical items (e.g. side panels, mounting chassis, base, pivoting
frame...) are to be defined with the same criteria as electrical items.
The only difference to pay attention to is that more than one function definition and
also more item IDs may be used for certain product groups (e.g. rear / side panels).
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