Panel Layout

Page scale and measurement units

Pages on a new Capital Electra X drawing template are set at 1:1 scale and measurement units are set at inches. These page settings are optimized for schematic drawings. To prepare a page for panel layout drawings:

  • Right click on a page tab and insert a page.
  • On the Page Setup dialog, select the Page Properties tab.
  • On the measurement units drop down, select millimeters.
  • On the Page Setup dialog, select the Drawing Scale tab.
  • Click on the custom scale radio button.
  • Type in your custom scale (Recommended: 1:5 for smaller panels and 1:10 for bigger panels).

Base plate, cable ducts and rails

During panel layout, one of the first thing is normally placing base plates, cable rails and cable ducts. Select the required layout shapes from the layout stencil, and drop them onto your drawings. All shapes in the layout stencil have automatic dimensions that you can select to show or hide.

Cable Duct, Rails and Plate
Cable Duct, Rails and Plate

Generating panel layout

To generate panel layout, click on menu Capital Electra X | Generate Layout.

The panel layout window
The panel layout window

When the Generate All button is pressed, Capital Electra X will automatically synchronize your panel layout to your schematics. For example, you may have added or deleted some symbols on your schematics, and Generate Layout will insert or delete components accordingly. If you have changed the references of your schematics, Generate Layout will also automatically reflect this change.

Using guides to place layout shapes

Once you have created a guide, drag your layout shapes to the guide and attach it to the guide (shape handles will turn red). When you move a guide, all shapes that are attached to the guide will automatically move and follow the guide.

Ruler Guide
Ruler Guide

Using 3D layout shapes

To use the Layout 3D shapes, click on the Stencil menu, and open the stencil Layout3D.

3D Layouts
3D Layouts

Making your own layout shapes

To make your own layout shape:

  • Draw your own shape, import CAD files into drawing or use a picture of the component.
  • Select your required shapes and group them.
  • Click on menu Capital Electra X | Create Layout Shape and type in a name and description.

Next step: Generating Reports

Capital™ Electra™ X