I have a need to purchase a symbol library of hydraulic and electical schematic symbols (must be ISO Standard symbols). The basic symbol library that comes with AutoCAD LT is not comprehesive enough for my needs. Most of my drawings are 90% hydraulic symbols with only a small portion of electical sy. The hydraulic schematic diagram is complete. If you want to create a pneumatic drawing, use the Insert Pneumatic Components tool on the Schematic tab Insert Components panel. Refer to the pneumatic demo drawing file (Demo03.dwg) in the Extra Library Demo project. Parent topic: P&ID and Hydraulic Diagrams Tutorial.
Insert hydraulic components from the icon menu.
The hydraulic symbol library in AutoCAD Electrical includes filters, valves, cylinders, pressure switches, motors, pumps, meters, restrictors, quick disconnects, flow arrows and more. The hydraulic symbol library consists of all the hydraulic symbols. It is found at UsersPublicDocumentsAutodeskAcade {version}Libshyd_iso125.
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Insert hydraulic symbols
For my work I use AutoCAD LT or ePlan Fluid to draw hydraulic, pneumatic, lube and P&ID schematics. Companies where I worked and where I have the work now, provide this software because the price of them is unbelievably high for the regular individual.
One day, after reading of this article I decided to try to find something absolutely FREE for Fluid Power schematic design.
All software what I found, I divided into three categories:
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FREE Generic 2D CAD software (Most popular only)
Most companies use 2D CAD software for their mechanical design and combine regular drawings design with the schematic design. For that, fluid power designers create own symbols libraries or use free and ready to use libraries from different suppliers (as an example).
1. AutoDesk AutoCAD, version for students
The link: http://www.autodesk.com/education/free-software/autocad
“Free Autodesk software is for personal use for education purposes and is subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies download of the software.”
Benefits:
Disadvantages:
2. nanoCAD from Nanosoft
The link: https://nanocad.com/products/nanoCAD/
“nanoCAD is a professional grade CAD tool. It has a familiar interface, powerful drafting and design tools, native DWG compatibility, and an open API. And it’s totally free to use and share.”
nanoCAD 5.0 screenshot
Benefits:
Disadvantages:
3. Dassault Systemes DraftSight
The link: https://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/
Free FOR STUDENTS, HOBBYISTS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS
Benefits:
Disadvantages:
Updates
Jan 30, 2019. Bad news: the last version of DraftSight 2019 for Windows is offered in paid versions only. The latest FREE version is DraftSight 2018. All free versions of DraftSight (2018 or earlier) will cease to run after 12/31/2019Read more…
But free versions still available for MAC OS and Linux OS. 4. LibreCAD
The link: https://librecad.org/
LibreCAD is a free Open Source CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux. Support and documentation is free from our large, dedicated community of users, contributors and developers.
LibreCAD screenshot
Benefits:
Disadvantages:
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FREE specialized Fluid Power design software for PC![]()
Above was the most popular 2D CAD software only (which can work with DXF/DWG format). And, there is a lot of other free 2D CAD software that you can use for schematic design. I don’t want to repeat others, you can google and find a lot of them.
But specialized products are more interesting for us. Let see what we have for today.
1. Bosch Rexroth Scheme Editor
The link: https://www.boschrexroth.com/en/xc/product…editor/dc-scheme-editor
The Scheme Editor software is available to you free of charge and allows you to intuitively create pneumatic circuit diagrams. This software helps you create standardized pneumatic circuit diagrams, from simple designs to complex projects. CAD skills are not required.
Benefits:
This is a very interesting product because it very flexible: if you do not have specific symbol in the library – you can create it, if you need an own template – you can design it. Working with this software I found the next issues:
Using Symbol Modelling Tool I’m creating my own hydraulic library (symbol-by-symbol each time by request of my task), so you need to spend time on that. I wrote the E-mail to the technical support about a hydraulic library and got the response: “We will release a hydraulic library in this year together with a new Scheme Editor version”. So, I hope it will happen! And when it happens, the Schematic Editor will be the best fluid power design utility!
Updates
Oct 10, 2016. The new version of the Bosch Rexroth Scheme Editor 6.2. has been released. And now it contains the Hydraulic library! Read more… Jan 27, 2017. The new version of the Bosch Rexroth Scheme Editor 6.3. has been released. The major change is an extended Rexroth Hydraulic Library. Read more… 2. SMCDraw
The link: https://www.smcworld.com/select/pcds/en-jp/index.html
A pneumatic circuit diagram can be easily created by using the database for pneumatic equipment drawing symbols.
Autocad Electrical Hydraulic SchematicAutocad Hydraulic Schematic Symbols
SMCDraw screenshot
Benefits:
Autocad Hydraulic Schematic Symbols
Disadvantages:
What I really like in this software – the idea of some components/system calculations. I think, the SMC team is selected the correct way, but the product is still too fresh for use. Hopefully, it will be more intuitive and more comfortable for work in future versions. And, unfortunately, this software is for the design of pneumatic schematics only.
3. HydraForce i-Design
The link: http://www.hydraforce.com/i-design.html
i-Design comes pre-loaded with everything you need to design a hydraulic schematic, featuring over 1000 configurable hydraulic components, including cartridge valves, pumps, motors and cylinders.
Benefits:
Disadvantages:
Theoretically, using this software you can try to design a generic schematic because some generic symbols like cylinders, pumps, motors, pressure gauges, and others also present in the library. But to make the design easily you have to use HydraForce hydraulic components mostly.
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FREE specialized online Fluid Power design software
What is really good with online design:
1. SUN QuickDesign SmartConnect
The link: http://www.sunhydraulics.com/abo…chematic-tool
Define your specs as you build your schematic. Submit to QuickDesign™. Get your custom integrated package design. Request a quote. All in a matter of minutes. In one handy, free online software tool. Seriously.
SUN QuickDesign screenshot
Benefits:
Disadvantages:
I have already wrote the article about this online application. SUN created really nice online application. Very intuitive and comfortable work, minimum buttons, no any complicated menus. But again, you can try to design generic schematic because some generic symbols like cylinders, pumps, motors, pressure gauges and others also present in the library. But first of all this application developed for SUN Hydraulic components using only.
Hydraulic Schematics In Autocad2. Danfoss EasyManifold
Added Sep. 25, 2019
The link: https://comatrol.com/easymanifold3d/
EasyManifold’s intuitive user interface allows you to create your hydraulic schematic circuit by dragging and dropping from Danfoss ICS’s complete digital library and the software will generate the full 3D!
Starting November 16th, 2018, Comatrol is a commercial brand name belonging to Danfoss and Comatrol’s “Easyvalve” is not available anymore. Instead, you can use the Danfoss EasyManifold online tool. The tool is free for use, but you need to contact a local Danfoss distributor to make an account and get access. I do not have access yet and can not comment a lot. But after watching the video how to use it at their website, it seems to me the online tool engine is 1:1 what the SUN Hydraulics has. Therefore, I suspect the same Benefits and Disadvantages will be applied for Danfoss product. As soon I get access to the tool I will make a full review of it.
Resume
If be honest, from all of free soft what I found, AutoCAD and DraftSight are still most preferred to use for schematic design. Hopefully, in the future, with a new version of Bosch Rexroth Scheme Editor (with integrated hydraulic symbols library) the situation can be changed. If I find something else, I will add all new applications reviews to this article. If you know something else what can help with FREE design of Fluid Power schematics – please let me know in comments below.
Updates
Aug 31, 2019. Since Comotrol is part of Danfoss, Comatrol Easyvalve is not available anymore, so info about this software was removed.
Sep 25, 2019. URLs were updated in this post. Dec 29, 2019. Info about QCAD was replaced with LibreCAD. Oct 14, 2020. Info about nanoCAD has been added. Comments are closed.
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